The sliding door on the driver side is stuck closed and will not unlock either manually or electonically. I have the panel off and the black plastic pulled down, but am unable to get the electical lock(?) assimbly out. What can I do? Is there a diagram or something that will show me how to do this?

Armrest Door Pull
Remove Rubber Cover
Remove 10mm ***** The first step is to pry out the plastic trim plate behind the chrome colored door release handle using a small flathead screwdriver.Then remove the 10mm ***** behind the plate using a ratcheting wrench with an extension bar attached.
Next pry out the rubber cover at the bottom of the door pull located in the center of the arm rest. Use a Torx T-25 (star bit) screwdriver to remove the two screws.
Remove Torx T25 Screws
2 T-25 Torx & 1 10mm *****
Pry Up Arm Rest Panel Use a flathead screwdriver to pry up the rear of the plastic arm rest panel. There is a plastic hook at the front of the panel, so only pry it up from the rear edge.
Lift Rear End First
Plastic Hook At Front of Panel
Power Window Connector After you lift out the arm rest panel, you'll need to disconnect the power connector for the window and door lock switches.
Push Connector Release Tab
Power Connector Unplugged
Two More T25 Screws Push on the release tab with a flathead screwdriver and pull out the power window / door lock connector.Use a Torx T25 screwdriver to remove the two screws located below the arm rest panel.
Remove T25 Torx Screws
Outer Edge of Panel
Push In Center of Fastener Then move to the outer edge of the door panel and locate the two small round fasteners. Use a small screwdriver to pop in the center pins of the two fasteners.
Pull Out Plastic Rivet
Black Plastic Fastener Removed
Remove Lower Fastener Pull out the two plastic rivet fasteners and set them aside in a safe place.
Pull Panel Away From Door
White Plastic Pop Rivets
Pull Off Sail Panel Grab the door pull in the arm rest and tug it towards yourself to disengage the pop rivet friction fasteners that hold the panel to the door frame.Move to the top corner of the door panel and pry off the triangular "sail" panel. On some vehicles, the sail panel contains the tweeter speaker.
Lift Panel Off Door Lock
Pull Out Door Pull Cable Lift the door panel off the door lock button and tilt the top of it out towards yourself.Use a pair of needle nose pliers to gently lift the metal ball at the end of the door opener cable out of the mechanism.
Disconnect the door cable from the back side of the door panel.
Door Pull Cable Removed
Disconnect Power Mirror Then disconnect the power connector for the side view mirror by lifting up on the release tab. Slide the power connector off the plastic anchor on the metal door frame.
Slide Connector Off Anchor
Unlock Connector
Connector Detached Look behind the door panel and locate the large wire connector with the pink lever lock. Swing the lever open to unlock the connector and separate it from the socket.


Door Panel Removed
Power Window Motor
10mm Bolts Now the door panel can be completely removed by lifting it up and off the door frame.To replace the power window motor, remove the 10mm bolts.
Stock OEM Door Speaker
Remove 7mm ***** The stock "OEM" speaker is held in place by a single 7 mm *****. Remove it with a socket and ratcheting wrench.
Pry Off OEM Speaker
Speaker Removed
Disconnect Power Plug If the speaker is stuck to the door frame, gently pry it off with a small flathead screwdriver.Disconnect the speaker's power plug by pressing the release tab with the small flathead screwdriver.
Fits 5.25", 6.5", 6.75"
Re-installing Door Panel According to the Crutchfield website, the 2008 to 2012 Chevrolet Malibu's front door speakers can be replaced withaftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 5 1/4", 6 1/2" or 6 3/4" speakers with the use of a bracket.If you'd like to reduce road noise, make your car quieter and also improve the sound from your speakers, I'd recommend applying some Dynamat Sound Deadener on to the metal door frame.
Re-Attach To Anchor
Plug In Power Side View Mirror
Re-Insert Power Connector To re-install the door panel, first hold the panel close to the door frame before re-connecting the large wire plug. Swing the pink lever closed to lock it in place.Slide the socket for the power side view mirror back on to its anchor and insert the power plug.
Lock Power Connector
Pink Lever Locked
Re-Insert Door Pull Cable Ball Insert the metal ball at the end of the door opener cable back in to the door handle mechanism.Slide the black plastic cone part of the cable back into the slot in the door opener assembly.
Door Opener Cable Reinstalled
Hang Door Panel On Frame Gently lower the door panel down on to the edge of the door frame with the door lock switch through the opening at the top.
Line Up White Plastic Fasteners
Push On Sail Panel
Push Door Panel In Place Move to the bottom of the door panel and line up the white plastic pop rivet fasteners with the holes in the metal door frame.Push all around the door panel to re-insert the pop rivet fasteners.
Re-attach the sail panel at the top corner of the door frame.
Push Panel Flush Against Frame
Insert Side Edge Fasteners
Insert Larger Piece First Next move to the side edge of the door panel and first re-insert the larger piece of the two fasteners. Then insert the smaller "pin" piece of the fastener into the middle of the larger piece.
Insert Small "Pin" Piece
Install Lower Edge Fastener
Tighten 2 T25 Torx Screws
Re-Attach Power Connector
Insert Front Hook First Insert and tighten the two Torx T-25 screws located under the arm rest.Re-attach the power connector to the plastic arm rest panel.
First insert the hook at the front of the arm rest panel and then snap the rear end in place.
Pop Arm Rest Panel In Place
Tighten 2 T25 Screws
Replace Rubber Cover Insert and tighten the two T25 Torx screws into the door pull cup. Then replace the rubber cover over the two screws.
Tighten 10mm Door Handle *****
Replace Door Handle Trim Plate
Malibu Door Panel Replaced Replace the 10mm ***** that goes above and behind the door opener handle and tighten it. Pop in the plastic trim plate behind the door handle.

The rod from the handles to the lock mechanism could have come off or become bent to the point that it won't work the latch anymore. The prior problems were probably just symptoms of the problem you have now. Will have to take the door panel off and manually trip the latch.

This is what fixed the my car's driver's door that was stuck closed and locked: the plastic piece that function as the manual lock/unlock on the inside of the door (it's black but when the door's unlocked it has a red side facing out) had essentially popped out and everything was jammed. So you push the button back in while you flip the inside handle open. But maybe I was lucky, in that it was only the button that was jammed.

1 does the led's light up on the master window switch [drivers side] 2 when you rocker the drivers side down can you hear a audio click down under the steering wheel. the i/p fuse panel is down there where you rest your left foot.3 power is from battery saver relay to master ins. relay to one touch window relay. this is the one you should hear click. the back side of this fuse panel calls out the locations down there. the owners manule also helps some.4. if you take the interior door cover off remove the screw on extenstion on door lock and one screw under plastic button where you pull the door shut.arm rest support bracket. the rest is held in place with snap in plastic buttons [christmas trees like]. the door latch unlock should slide out of the opening when you slide it froward.there are 4 male/female electrical connections, 2 to the master door switch.one to the power/heated mirror, 1 to power locks. 5. don't unsnap them yet.with a test light you can check for battery voltage. on the master door switch the blue/black tracer wire should be hot[12 volt dc]. at all times. put one end in the backside and the other to a bolt or rivet on the door. the light should come on.next with one end on the blue/black tracer and one on white/black tracer rocker driver side up/down switch, the light should come on.there are only 13 wires on the master window switch 2black wires are ground, 2blue/black tracer[hot] 1 red/blue tracer should be [hot] when you unlock the window lock rocker switch.know the passanger and back seat switches should work. switch it to lock and they should only work from the driver side master switch.the 8 wires left are 2 for each window one up one down.try this with a friend it makes it easyer. good luck doug.

More than likely the connecting rod that goes from the door lock actuator to the locking mechanism itself came unattached. These rods are usually held in place by a small piece of plastic that the rods "pop" in and out. The only other thing i can imagine possible is that the door lock itself is actually seized up. In order to attempt to fix this, you would have to remove the door side panel to see the inner workings of the door, and this is quite difficult on most side sliding doors (i have a 2000 pontiac montana w/dual sliding doors). Hope this can help you solve your problem.

try and change the fuses or add a little w-40 on all the rolling parts

you should clean the locking mecanism and then lubricate with WD40. If this is a van, my van has a sliding power door on the pass side and a manual slider on the drivers. alot of times the drivers locks and dont lock like it has a mind of its own but it always works with the drivers controls. and then the next time i dont think about it and it works. now it also has child proof locks on them, a little plastic lever you slide up and down as to put in a lock position so child cant open from inside and down to allow door to open from inside. double check this. it wont unlock with the key or power? you might have to take off inner door panel to manually unlock this and get it lubed

good day, well sir your so close from opening the doors. if you find the metal wiring that connects to the door lock then you have to force it a little to let loose. Its gonna be a little tight coz the electronic lock is still connected. if its too tight try removing the steel wires from the power lock connection then try letting the steel wires again. hope this helps and have a nice day.

something jammed between lock /pin or inside door lock rod damaged or disconnected need to remove interior door panel to access lock and latch area

there is a cable of wires that lay in the track under the slider they break from normal use.. the harness it fairly easy to change.. when you open the door lok in the opening you will see the harness there in black plastic