Rear Compartment will not open on a '92 OCC.

Hello, I have a 192 Olds Custom Cruiser that I got about a month and a half ago, and I've finally tried opening the opening the compartment opposite the one housing the spare tire and jack, only to find that it doesn't open. I put the key in, and it turns to the right more than 90 degrees, and then nothing. I've tried wiggling the hell out of it, but that didn't accomplish anything. Does anybody have tips for getting that thing open?

When you say more than 90 degrees, how much more are you talking about?

If you can't get the lock open, You can remove the entire panel, pop the fasteners around the perimeter, then remove the screws holding the striker to the top. Once you have the door open, you can check the operation of the lock. It is possible to remove the tumbler from the lock, but to the best of my knowledge you can not remove the lock from the door. The door is held on by a row of screws along the bottom of the door. What color is your interior?

Buickman1 wrote:

When you say more than 90 degrees, how much more are you talking about?

Probably about 20 degrees.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

If you can't get the lock open, You can remove the entire panel, pop the fasteners around the perimeter, then remove the screws holding the striker to the top. Once you have the door open, you can check the operation of the lock. It is possible to remove the tumbler from the lock, but to the best of my knowledge you can not remove the lock from the door. The door is held on by a row of screws along the bottom of the door. What color is your interior?

I was hoping I wouldn't have to go that far, but I might have no choice. It's a blue interior.

Nuttyboy812 wrote:

Buickman1 wrote:

When you say more than 90 degrees, how much more are you talking about?

Probably about 20 degrees.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

If you can't get the lock open, You can remove the entire panel, pop the fasteners around the perimeter, then remove the screws holding the striker to the top. Once you have the door open, you can check the operation of the lock. It is possible to remove the tumbler from the lock, but to the best of my knowledge you can not remove the lock from the door. The door is held on by a row of screws along the bottom of the door. What color is your interior?

I was hoping I wouldn't have to go that far, but I might have no choice. It's a blue interior.

If you remove the tumbler, the door can be replaced, and you can install the tumbler in a donor door. I do not have a blue one right now, but If I do get one, I will put it in the parts for sale section.

Buickman1 wrote:

When you say more than 90 degrees, how much more are you talking about?

I've actually checked this again, not in the dark this time, and it turns almost 180 degrees.

It should turn about 1/3 turn (~120-140 deg.) to open the compartment.

Alright, gonna necro this thread a bit but I have an update. I finally decided to monkey with it again last weekend, and I got it open. I basically popped the interior panel out with the key in the compartment door and for some reason when I moved the panel a certain way, the door popped open. Turns out the issue was that whoever had closed it before me just forced it closed with the key in the locked position, instead of closing it and then locking it the way it seems to want to work. Found a free pair of heavy duty jumper cables in there.

You are right. To close the door you must have the key in the unlock position then close it and turn the key to the locked position.