Gear Tunnel Door stuck; DON'T USE emergency button!

[HarryBrowne]

My driver side gear tunnel door latch will not release. The motor whirs, but the door doesn't budge. I thought it a bright idea to crawl in the tunnel (the passenger side still works) and push on the door while pressing the emergency release button. Bad idea. Now the truck thinks there's a living being in the tunnel and will not stop sounding an alarm when I drive. And I mean will not stop; it's been days. The sound system is disabled to make sure I'm hearing the alarm. Over-the-phone technician says nothing he can do. Next week I'll get a visit from a mobile tech--I hope still to be among the sane when s/he arrives!

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[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Sorry for the "laugh react" and your predicament. But the idea of crawling in and pushing on the door is amazing. ?

Please keep us updated what the fix is. Good luck!

 

[COdogman]

I could easily see myself doing the same thing If that door was stuck. I appreciate the warning!

 

[Dark-Fx]

There's a physical pull release for those doors too, it's hard to get to though, you either have to remove the upper trim or pry down on it enough to get access.

I don't have the interior trim in my gear tunnel currently, so pretty easy to demonstrate it.

 

[Andystroh]

Hmm I think you need to go back in, close BOTH doors, and then try opening you one you came in through. Maybe that will stop it

 

[Dark-Fx]

Hmm I think you need to go back in, close BOTH doors, and then try opening you one you came in through. Maybe that will stop it

Best part is, if it doesn't work, there won't be an incorrect indication on the dash anymore.

 

[COdogman]

There's a physical pull release for those doors too, it's hard to get to though, you either have to remove the upper trim or pry down on it enough to get access.

I don't have the interior trim in my gear tunnel currently, so pretty easy to demonstrate it.

What do you have cooking in there? Slide out t shirt cannon?

 

[teartags]

How does it detect a "living being" in there? Heartbeat? Heat pattern? I mean, hypothetically speaking of course, what if there was a NON-living being in there? Would the alar still go off?
Asking for a friend....

 

[Dark-Fx]

How does it detect a "living being" in there? Heartbeat? Heat pattern? I mean, hypothetically speaking of course, what if there was a NON-living being in there? Would the alar still go off?
Asking for a friend....

I've seen people have this happen because the wiring was starting to come unplugged from the switch, so probably the switch being activated will just show this on the display.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

Have you tried unplugging the emergency button and doing the old turn off and back on?

 

[HarryBrowne]

Have you tried unplugging the emergency button and doing the old turn off and back on?

I've done the old turn off and back on, of course, but I haven't a clue how I would unplug the emergency button -- especially since I do not have access through the tunnel door. I barely fit in the tunnel; there's definitely not extra room to work in there!

 

[Greg Chick]

Use a small person? with a flash light?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I vote for the manual release @Dark-Fx posted about. If you can get the door opened and back closed it should stop the alarm. Thanks for the FYI though I won't be pulling any releases.

 

[crashmtb]

Best part is, if it doesn't work, there won't be an incorrect indication on the dash anymore.

Found the engineers

 

[Rawb Carnage]

My driver side gear tunnel door latch will not release. The motor whirs, but the door doesn't budge. I thought it a bright idea to crawl in the tunnel (the passenger side still works) and push on the door while pressing the emergency release button. Bad idea. Now the truck thinks there's a living being in the tunnel and will not stop sounding an alarm when I drive. And I mean will not stop; it's been days. The sound system is disabled to make sure I'm hearing the alarm. Over-the-phone technician says nothing he can do. Next week I'll get a visit from a mobile tech--I hope still to be among the sane when s/he arrives!

Pulling the manual string was able to open the gear tunnel door AND the alarm was terminated! good thing, it is 9 weeks until my service appointment was able to get on the calendar... I sent my 9 year old in and showed her where to pull. Safety disclaimer, I left the other door and the back seat access open while she was in there! (someone needed that disclaimer).

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