1999 Rx300 Door Won't Open From Inside

[Matt17]

I am new to the site---wish I would have found this great source of information long ago.

I have a 1999 RX300 that I have owned since new. A few days ago, I attempted to open the drivers door from the inside and heard a "pop". The door would not open. There is still tension on the cable attached to the handle. The door will open from the outside, but you have to lower the window and use the exterior handle--quite an inconvenience.

The door locking mechanism seems to operate fine from the inside, outside and remote.

I took the door panel off easily (GREAT instructions with photos found on a thread on this site--Thank you) but don't know what to go next. Is the door opening mechanism mechanical or is it part of the dreaded "door lock actuator" unit?

Your help and suggestions would be most appreciated.

[code58]

I am new to the site---wish I would have found this great source of information long ago.

I have a 1999 RX300 that I have owned since new. A few days ago, I attempted to open the drivers door from the inside and heard a "pop". The door would not open. There is still tension on the cable attached to the handle. The door will open from the outside, but you have to lower the window and use the exterior handle--quite an inconvenience.

The door locking mechanism seems to operate fine from the inside, outside and remote.

I took the door panel off easily (GREAT instructions with photos found on a thread on this site--Thank you) but don't know what to go next. Is the door opening mechanism mechanical or is it part of the dreaded "door lock actuator" unit?

Your help and suggestions would be most appreciated.

Do you still have the door panel off? It should be easy to follow the mechanism from the handle to the latch without taking anything further apart. If you have the inside handle off, put it back on. 1st, pull the inner plastic liner down part way so you can see the cables an the door latch. the plastic that the cable "snaps" into may have broken, but when you pull the handle as if to open the door, you should be able to see what is not working properly. The cable end may have popped out of it's snap cradle or it may have broken. Let us know what you see when you do this. The door opening mechanism is part of the door locking actuator, but I am not aware of anyone complaining of anything BREAKING in there.

[Matt17]

I am new to the site---wish I would have found this great source of information long ago.

I have a 1999 RX300 that I have owned since new. A few days ago, I attempted to open the drivers door from the inside and heard a "pop". The door would not open. There is still tension on the cable attached to the handle. The door will open from the outside, but you have to lower the window and use the exterior handle--quite an inconvenience.

The door locking mechanism seems to operate fine from the inside, outside and remote.

I took the door panel off easily (GREAT instructions with photos found on a thread on this site--Thank you) but don't know what to go next. Is the door opening mechanism mechanical or is it part of the dreaded "door lock actuator" unit?

Your help and suggestions would be most appreciated.

Do you still have the door panel off? It should be easy to follow the mechanism from the handle to the latch without taking anything further apart. If you have the inside handle off, put it back on. 1st, pull the inner plastic liner down part way so you can see the cables an the door latch. the plastic that the cable "snaps" into may have broken, but when you pull the handle as if to open the door, you should be able to see what is not working properly. The cable end may have popped out of it's snap cradle or it may have broken. Let us know what you see when you do this. The door opening mechanism is part of the door locking actuator, but I am not aware of anyone complaining of anything BREAKING in there.

Code58:

Thanks for your help. I ended up taking the actuator assembly out. It appears to me that the cable itself broke away from the green plastic connector it is supposed to be attached to. I took a picture of the cable end and the connector. Hopefully, I loaded it correctly. Now what do I do?

[code58]

Code58:

Thanks for your help. I ended up taking the actuator assembly out. It appears to me that the cable itself broke away from the green plastic connector it is supposed to be attached to. I took a picture of the cable end and the connector. Hopefully, I loaded it correctly. Now what do I do?

Matt- It's a little hard for me to tell from that picture but if that is the other end of the cable that comes from the inside door handle itself, that cable is replaceable. I have replaced both of the cables in the drivers door of my DIL's RX. Not because they broke but because I was working on it and not yet fully understanding all the interworkings of the drivers door actuator assy., I accidently ran the window up and caught the cables and damaged them. Probably be Lexus only, seemed like they were about $20. each, but don't quote me on that, it was about 3 years ago.

[Matt17]

Code58:

Thanks for your help. I ended up taking the actuator assembly out. It appears to me that the cable itself broke away from the green plastic connector it is supposed to be attached to. I took a picture of the cable end and the connector. Hopefully, I loaded it correctly. Now what do I do?

Matt- It's a little hard for me to tell from that picture but if that is the other end of the cable that comes from the inside door handle itself, that cable is replaceable. I have replaced both of the cables in the drivers door of my DIL's RX. Not because they broke but because I was working on it and not yet fully understanding all the interworkings of the drivers door actuator assy., I accidently ran the window up and caught the cables and damaged them. Probably be Lexus only, seemed like they were about $20. each, but don't quote me on that, it was about 3 years ago.

Code58:

Yes,that is the other end of the cable from the inside door handle. The picture was an extreme close-up. I will contact Lexus to get a new cable.

Thank you very much for all of your help.