How to deactivate the child lock on an older model GL8?
3 Answers
First, park the car securely and open the door from the outside to locate the child lock switch. The switch is located near the door lock mechanism and can be toggled open or closed by hand. Some vehicles have child locks on both rear doors, which the driver can deactivate directly.
Last time when picking up my kid from school, I found the rear door wouldn't open. After struggling for a while, I finally figured out it was the child lock. On the old GL8, the child lock is located on the side of the rear door, visible only when the door is open. There's a small toggle switch on the door frame edge, marked with a child icon and the on/off directions. Use a key tip or coin to engage the notch on the toggle and push it all the way in the unlock direction. Remember to check both rear doors, as many owners only do one side. After releasing it, test by operating the door handle several times - if it still sticks, the toggle might not be fully engaged. Actually, it's a sensible design to prevent kids from opening doors while driving, just too well hidden - you'll need to crouch down to find it.
I know the child lock on my 2006 GL8 very well. First, open the rear door and look at the area where the door frame connects to the body. Near the hinge side, there's a silver metal switch. This switch controls the child lock mechanism. By default, it's in the vertical position (unlocked). You need to flip it horizontally to engage the lock. If your fingers are too thick to operate it easily, use a steel ruler to insert into the switch slot and pry it firmly. You'll hear a click when it's disengaged - immediately test by pulling the inner door handle to confirm it opens normally. Important reminder: On some older vehicles, this area might be covered in grime, so clean it first before operating. Also, if the switch feels extremely stiff, don't force it - the mechanism might be rusted. Spray some WD-40 lubricant and try again.
