So, I know these questions are all over the forums, if this one has been asked, I APOLOGIZE profusely, but I've spent over 8 hours perusing the fourms and not able to find mention of this problem.

I have a "4 door" 2000 blazer, in other words with the tailgate that lifts straight up, glass and all. Therefore my lock and handle mechanism is just above the bumper. Most of the previous issues specifically dealt with the two door Blazer model with the glass that opens up and tailgate that goes down.

Over the winter it stopped working 50% of the time and now it never opens. I've cut back the trim since I read on the forum that saving the trim when its locked closed is nearly impossible. I'm ok with that anyway. My problem is that now that I'm in here, looking at the locking mechanism, I see no easy way to automatically release the lock. The handle appears to be functioning correctly (moves a few of the internal lock parts), and the actuator appears to be working (cycles what I think is the lock mechanism on and off). For some reason though, the thing doesn't open, and I can't find away to remove the whole unit so I can even replace it (though I'd hate to buy an actuator if it seems to be working still).

So how do I continue to take this apart, or is there a traditional GM piece (translation: over-engineered highly breakable piece) that I should look at to have isssues? I figure that if I could open the door I would probably see the two screws that hold the lock in place, but I can't open it. Is there a manual switch inside that i'm not seeing?

Here's some photos of my lock....
The actuator effectively moves pieces 1. and 3.
The door handle effectively moves Piece 2.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

bump.... Can anybody help me? Or am I stuck taking this piece of junk to a dealer for $400 door repair? Anybody please?

 

Watch how things move. If you press the unlock button and lever 2 moves, try helping it move in that direction to see if it may be a weak actuator or a sticking linkage. Everything is controlled by that latch. If the lock is not completely disengaging, there is no hope for opening the latch.

If you are sure that the lock is disengaging after helping it and it still does not open, try helping the latch.

If I still had my old 2000 Bravada, I would take off the rear trim and go through the steps with you, but I do not...

 

Thanks... I'll give it a shot and post back.... I never really thought about a "weak" actuator. I assumed it either worked or it didn't... bad assumption....

 

Yeah, they can get gritty along with getting a bit weak due to age of the electro-magnet coils/etc. Corrosion also affects them.

 

ok..... all three move to the max that I can push them... I'm unfortunately still unlucky.

1 and 3 are moved by the actuator, and 2 moves all the way when the handle is lifted.... Nothing. Door doesn't open..... If I just start removing all these latch components will I eventually be able to get this thing open? Or is it not possible to disengage this latch from the inside either?

Worst case the whole lock mechanism with actuator is a $140 part, I'm thinking I can salvage the handle at this point.

But it sounds like at this point I have no choice but to start taking the whole thing apart....

 

Just try pulling on things. Once thing that we go through for fire/rescue is that the lock will be the only one that does not return when moved. So if you pull on a lever inside there and it returns, that is part of the latch release. If it does not return, then it is the lock mechanism. There is a finite number of possibilities.

If nothing works, then you have to get into it and start disassembling the lock.

 

Ok, well given that knowledge, #3 is the lock latch (lock/unlock), and that is solidly moving back and forth from the actuator, the handle (#2) is also moving it's component through its full range of motion, and not triggering the door to open, so its almost like #2 is not triggering what its supposed to.... not sure how to figure that out, guess i'll just start pulling it apart....