Update
I've managed to get the internal door handle out and relocate the lock lever. I have reconnected the pull cable to the door handle, but left it hanging outside the door card for convenience until I hopefully get the door open. Right now the front passenger door will not open, no matter what I try.

 

Further Update
I spoke to a local Jaguar Specialist this morning. He said that if the lock is genuinely stuck in the deadlock position and no amount of effort will release it, then he basically smashes the lock. He said that once the door card and black panel are removed, there is enough room to get a long chisel in the door cavity and use it to break the lock mechanism including the deadlock. I'm going to have a long think about this before doing anything else.

 

I'm very interested in how you can get the door card off a closed front door. I'm in the same pickle; front passenger door won't open, and I think its might be deadlocked.

I have a spare old lock to study, to understand whats being smashed by a hammer and chisel, and how that releases the deadlock.

Edit: I saw earlier in the thread the outer card removed. I think I'd sooner botch the inner card than drill the door frame though.

 

Isbap,

I don't think the outer (leather-covered) door trim card will come off completely with the door closed. I think the door card panel clips fixing the front vertical edge of the card will prevent that. However, it may pull out enough to gain access to the black inner door card fixing screws. Again, it will not be possible to completely remove this inner door card, or get to all its fixing screws, but it will probably pull out enough to get access to the lock mechanism.

Some observations:-

• the outer door trim card pulls out away from the door - it does not have to be lifted up to remove, like some earlier models.
• once the three screws (one in the internal door handle and the two fixing the door armrest/pull handle) are removed, the door trim card can be partially pulled away from the door at the top.
• once it's pulled away at the top, you should be able to get at the two screws that fix the internal door handle to the inside of the outer door trim card. It's tight, but do-able (I've had to do it three times now). Use a magnetic screw driver to help prevent dropping the screws down inside the door.
• there is another single fixing underneath the door trim card roughly in the middle and pointing up - you will be able to feel it. My one was plastic and I was able to cut its head off with a sharp wood chisel.
• the passenger seat will have to come out to give room to work and enable the outer and inner door cards to be pulled out enough to access the lock. Right now I don't know if this is a simple case of just removing the fixing bolts and disconnecting all the electrics. I read somewhere about disconnecting ground first, so I'll need to look into this.

This is not a job for the feint-hearted. I've had an initial survey of the task and will only undertake it as a last resort. As my door was opening only last week and I have had lots of experience of intermittent working/not working over the years with the other doors, I'm going to leave it alone for a week, or so, and see if it decides to open again and during that time I'm going to try and identify exactly where the deadlock mechanism sits within the lock - any help on this would be much appreciated.

 

Confused. I thought this the door in this post did have a door card removed with the door closed;

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...4/#post2683472

 

Update

Having left the deadlocked door problem for a while, to see if it would decide to open (it didn't), I decided it was time to take action. I didn't want to use the method that SWB1 excellently describes, as I didn't like the idea of cutting a hole in the door. Instead, I decided to try and release the deadlock by smashing the lock. Below is a summary of the steps involved, but be aware beforehand that both the inner door trim card and the lock will be destroyed in the process. I obtained replacements for both of these items before starting.

SUMMARY STEPS TO GET ACCESS TO THE LOCK

1. Firstly, the front passenger's seat does not have to be removed as I thought in my previous post.
2. Remove the three outer door trim card fixing screws.
3. Pull the top left corner of the outer door trim card away from the door and most of the fixings between the outer and inner trim cards will be visible.
4. The top right corner of the outer trim card is wedged between the door and the dashboard and will likely crack across the top surface, as mine did, but this is easily repairable.
5. Remove the two screws that fix the internal door handle to the inside of the outer door trim card and remove the handle.
6. There should be enough space to disconnect the grey-coloured electrical block.
7. There are two yellow locating pegs attached to the outer trim card that locate in recesses in the inner door trim card.
   • The one nearest the top left corner will come out easily when the outer trim card is removed
   • The one nearest the top right corner will not fully exit its recess in the inner door trim with the door shut and will have to be broken. There is just enough space to get a long chisel, or screwdriver, to this yellow peg to break it.
8. Remove the single fixing underneath the door trim card roughly in the middle and pointing up - you will be able to feel it. It will be tricky to get out - Mine was already out, but it's only plastic and you can probably get a wood chisel or similar on it to cut the head off.
9. Remove as many of the fixings between the outer and inner door trim cards as you can and then move the outer door card about as much as you can until you either break, or dislodge, the other fixings.
10. Once all the fixings are removed, or broken, the outer door trim card will pull backwards and up. It's tight but it will come out without removing the front passenger seat.
11. You will now have access to the black plastic inner door trim card, but it will not come out because it's sandwiched between the door and the door opening.
12. Cut out as much of the centre of the inner trim card as you can to enable access to the lock. I used a Multi-Tool, which is perfect for the job and makes very little mess.
13. Disconnect the external door handle link to the door lock mechanism.
14. Using a long thin chisel and hammer start breaking up the lock. It's mostly plastic, so you don't need to hit it too hard and risk damaging the door skin.
15. Keep chiselling at the lock mechanism until the deadlock mechanism is released and the door can be opened.
16. Remove the now damaged inner door card trim
17. Remove the now damaged door lock mechanism

I fitted the replacement lock and inner door trim card, but have not replaced the outer trim card yet. Before I do, I am taking the car to my local Jaguar Specialist to see if he can disable the deadlock function.