'90 Legacy Sedan with a drivers side rear door that has a broken lock so I can not open the door. The lock rocker lever just flops back and forth. I peered inside and could see the cast aluminum piece that is connected to the lock rod is broken.

 

Does anyone have a good method for slim jim-ing the door latch so I can open it and repair the mechanisim? I have not been able to reach anything in the locking mechanisim to release the latch.

The rod is to far to center of door to get with a slim jim. You will need a slide lock tool. Hommer tools on the net sells a cheap set of car opening tools and I think this tool is in their set. It is around ten dollars for the set. However if you want to try and make one get a stiff rod about 1/8 in. thick, a bit bigger than clothes hanger and about thirty four inches long. about four inches from bottom bend at a ninety go two and 1/8 in. over and bend back up in another 90. then measure one inch of the part that you bent up, and bend remaining part of this back down making a shape that will look like a upside down U then bend the other end some so that it will not fall down in door if you drop it.

Opening Inst:

1 Insert wedge into middle of Passenger Door.

2 Insert the slide lock tool into door. Push the tool down into the door until the tip of the tool is below the window glass.

3 Turn the tool 90 degress, so that the tip is pointing in towards the interior of the car. Push the tool DOWN INTO THE DOOR 7"-8" and rest the base of the tool on the horizontal rod. turn the tool untill the top rod falls into the tip of the slide lock tool. then bind the rod by twisting the tool, while maintaining the binding pressure, push the rod forward to unlock the door. If this dont unlock it try pushing backard.

here's some various pics of the interior of my legacy as well inside of the door, which may help.

 

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/stereorewire/

If you want to see what the slide lock tool looks like go to pro lok .com then click on designs and look at tool A001. the measuments I gave you are from the one I have.

Thanks for the help. Add another project to list.....BUT it will be great to gain the use of the fourth door.