1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Passenger door won't open

On my 03 Justa, the handles would get ice behind the lever on the outside handle. When this happened the cable/latching mechanism would not cycle properly, so nothing worked. The temp fix was be very diligent about cleaning snow off the handles before using them. If ice did form, spray with deicer.

The long term fix was replace with late build 04 handles that had stronger springs to push the lever back. Never had the problem again after that.

This was in Manitoba, where 300 below was considered rather balmy

Mark

 

Does it unlatch but not quite all the way? Idk if the 2nd gen door latch system is the same but my drivers door does that periodically. I just push and keep trying until it opens.

 

I had the same problem with the drives door. You need to have the door open to take off the inside panel. Try to lock and unlock the door with the remote then try to open the door from the outside.

If it opens take off the door panel and check the cable from the inside handle to the latch. Next make sure it has not moved from its cable holders.

It should be held to the door with clips with a sag in the middle. If the sag is missing pull on the cable to make one. Close the door and try and open it from the inside again holding the sag in the middle and you will feel the cable inside try to open the door. If the door opens the cable was out of position causing to latch to not fully open.

To fix this in my car I secured the sag in the cable with a screw and wire tie and have not had the problem again.

Hope this helps you out, good luck.

 

Awesome glad that helped you out.