I am working on a friend's 1988 XJ40 after a multi-year outdoor storage (6 - 8 years of sitting idle outside) and it seems that over this period of time the driver's door has gotten stuck closed.
I can get into the car from the passenger's door or either of the two rear doors but even when trying the handle inside the car does not allow the driver's door to be opened.
When I try the interior handle it feels very stiff and does not seem to have the full range of motion. The lock button seems to be up.
Is it even possible to remove the interior door panel if the door is closed?

Also the fuel filler door seems to be locked. I can get into the trunk of the vehicle so I am wondering if the locking mechanism for the fuel filler door can be accessed from inside the trunk.

BTW, I am really surprised at the extensive differences between this 1988 XJ40 and my 1994 car. Even the construction of the cowl area where the windshield wiper is mounted is completely different.

 

I think there's a lever underneath the filler cap in the trunk - but not sure if it works if the lock is engaged, worth a try though..

If you can get the door panel off or at least loosened enough at the lock area to pry it back, you should be able to trip the lock mechanism.

If the door doesn't spring open, keep the latch in the open position with a wire or whatever you can McGyver, brace yourself against the passenger door and give the driver's door a good boot.

Larry

 

Today I was able to figure out why the inner door latch on this 88 car was not functioning.
The steel cable that runs from the inner latch handle to the actual latch had popped out of the retainer on the back side of the latch handle.
Once I reattached that, the inner door latch works now.
The outer door handle however still does not function.
I checked the latch mechanism and did not think the problem was with the latch/lock assembly in the door so that left the exterior handle itself.
I pulled the door panel off of the door and removed the handle from the door so I could examine it more closely.
I found out the 1988 door handles are COMPLETELY different than the 93 - 94 handles I am used to.
For one thing I am used to removing exterior door handles, after taking the two nuts off of the retaining bracket, through the outside of the door.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the 1988 handles could only be removed by pulling them out from the inside of the door (after turning them to fit back through the opening in the door skin).

Then I looked at the release mechanism and was also amazed by how different the handle release itself functioned.
There is this little white plastic puck that gets pressed against a lever that has a pivot and on the opposite side of the lever is the connection for the rod that goes down to the latch mechanism itself.
It seems that on this driver's door handle, there is a gap between the white plastic puck and the end of the lever that must be overcome before there is any movement of the lever.
Anyone have any idea how to fix this? Perhaps by adding something to take up the gap between the two pieces?
BTW, I think this whole white plastic puck pressing against a larger pivoting lever is a real Rube Goldberg type of design.
See the photo below:


release lever and white plastic puck that gets pressed against the one end of the lever

 

Also I was able to reach the fuel filler door lock mechanism through the trunk but so far it has resisted any and all attempts to get it to release the door.
I will try to post photos of that tomorrow.

 

To open fuel door you do push on it 2 secondes and it's open. To close you put it 2 secondes and it's closed.

 

If the fuel door is supposed to release if you push down on it for two seconds, shouldn't it move when depressed? When I push down on the fuel door, there is no downwards movement at all.

 

Hi Sovejag13190,

On my U.S.-spec '88 and '93 cars the fuel door unlocked anytime the doors were unlocked. I never knew it could unlock by pushing on the door for 2 seconds. I wonder if that feature was not implemented in the U.S.?

Cheers,

Don

 

From what I can see of the early fuel flaps Don, they're totally different from the later cars and use a pin-in-a-hole to lock and release the flap - I can see unlocking the flap with the door locks, but opening? I don't think the early flaps have a finger lift indent or am I wrong about that?

Could be, I've only seen photos, no actual memory of seeing an early filler flap

Larry

 

Up to VIN 629285, the parts catalog shows both an electrical release option and a manual release option. The electrical release part number is CBC9734, and the manual release is EC4321. Unfortunately the parts diagram doesn't give us illustrations of these parts, and both are NLA.

The catalog shows a manual release for Canada/U.S.A. cars up to VIN 594575:


Your question about the filler flaps is a good one! I can't recall whether our '88 had a finger lift or not, and I can't find any illustrations of the flaps in the parts diagrams. Maybe some of our members can tell us.

Cheers,

Don

 

If by "finger lift" you mean the small opening on the back edge of the fuel filler door on the later cars that you stick the end of your finger in to lift the door, then no, on the 1988 car I have in my shop the fuel filler door is totally flat.
If there is interest I will post comparison photos tomorrow.

 

I wonder if Steve's pal's car has a manual release and nobody's pulled it yet ...Nah, couldn't be that could it?

Larry

 

I do NOT see any sort of cable connection to the gas door release mechanism that would indicate there is any sort of manual remote release.
The only "manual" release I have found is the funny little white "lever" at the very back corner of the release mechanism that can only be reached after pulling back the trunk carpet or trim panel.
I have repeatably tried pushing and pulling on this white lever but it does not seem to do anything.
I will try to get some photos of all this stuff tomorrow when I go over to my shop.

 

BTW, just wanted to update this thread to say I was finally able to get the gas door to release. I am now trying to figure out how to hold it closed since I am really certain if I push it down all the way it will get stuck again. Someone on the Jag-Lovers XJ40 forum suggested using a magnet to hold the door closed instead of the normal gas door latch pin. However it is completely not clear to me how to mount a magnet to accomplish this since the interior of the filler pocket does not really have a place to mount such a magnet. Also since there is no finger lift pocket in the edge of the door I am wondering how to pull up on the gas door to release the magnet.

Any tips & tricks for this would be appreciated.


Finally got gas door open Really dirty inside

 

BTW, here is a photo of the totally flat gas filler door


Totally flat gas filler door on MY88

And here is a photo of the small plastic release lever that did nothing and is accessed from the underside of the filler assembly that is located inside the trunk of the vehicle


Small white lever is supposed to release the door

 

I think you could hot-glue a magnet under there with no problem, and as far as opening it without a finger-lift how about attaching one of these?


or just swap the door for a late model one


Larry

 

I tried putting a Tiger in my tank but it wouldnt fit. And it bit me. As far as the door goes, does anyone know if the newer latches or handles can be swapped in? (once its open)

 

I filled up today and had a look while I was at it - the latch mechanism is way different although the door looks like a 2 bolt swap

I suppose a late model gaiter and latch could be fitted to match a later door, if you could get one.

Larry