Multipoint front door wont open - think a latch is stuck

[Basildon_Bond]

So - for some reason the front door which has a multipoint lock and which has been fine for years will no longer open. The key locks/unlocks as normal. When lifting the handle, the latches seem to engage ok. However, when I turn the handle down, it looks as tho the central latch stays put - marked with an arrow in the pic. Looking at the ones at the top and bottom they seem to disengage ok. I've tried WD40, and also tried to slide the central latch to the left with a screwdriver - but no luck - either b/c it's stuck, or b/c I cant get enough purchase on it. There seems to be a hole at the same level as the handle so to speak, that sits behind the handle plate, but I'm not sure what it's for.

Any suggestions as to how to sort it would be much appreciated.

TIA

 

[CountryFan]

Could be the mechanism has failed and requires renewing.

 

[aveatry]

I had something similar and all it needed was some brute force on the handle, it was broken on the long flat bar near the top where it was cut down to match the height of the door that only left a very thin piece of metal which eventually snapped and jammed so it wasn’t a problem with the bolt in your picture but some where else I opened it with brute force and I needed a new multi point locking strip.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

When lifting the handle, the latches seem to engage ok. However, when I turn the handle down, it looks as tho the central latch stays put - marked with an arrow in the pic.

Your lock gearbox has failed, and will need replacing. If the latch, in your photo, is moving at all, it might be worth yanking the handle down hard, whilst leaning on the door, to make the latch easier for the mechanism to move it. If you do manage to release it, don't attempt to relock it, until you have fitted a new gearbox.

If all else fails, the latch looks accessible to an angle grinder, with a cutting blade - just cut through it.

 

[Basildon_Bond]

Many thanks for all of your replies - much appreciated.

 

[Basildon_Bond]

Your lock gearbox has failed, and will need replacing. If the latch, in your photo, is moving at all, it might be worth yanking the handle down hard, whilst leaning on the door, to make the latch easier for the mechanism to move it. If you do manage to release it, don't attempt to relock it, until you have fitted a new gearbox.

If all else fails, the latch looks accessible to an angle grinder, with a cutting blade - just cut through it.

Thanks Harry - will give that a go

 

[crank39]

You can use one of these to release the latch...

Souber ULT1 UPVC Latch Tool Standard - Lockstation https://share.google/JeN3sSTGurTRI5IcN

OR as I've done in past is feed a cable tie in the gap, put a kink or bend in it first, feed it in above the latch and back out below it, pulling the cable tie should release the the latch at the same time as pulling the door in so it won't relatch itself, or cut a strip out a a plastic pop bottle and push it in from outside like the good old credit card trick in the movies

 

[Basildon_Bond]

You can use one of these to release the latch...

Souber ULT1 UPVC Latch Tool Standard - Lockstation https://share.google/JeN3sSTGurTRI5IcN

OR as I've done in past is feed a cable tie in the gap, put a kink or bend in it first, feed it in above the latch and back out below it, pulling the cable tie should release the the latch at the same time as pulling the door in so it won't relatch itself, or cut a strip out a a plastic pop bottle and push it in from outside like the good old credit card trick in the movies

Thanks C39 for the suggestion - much appreciated!

 

[crank39]

Do you have a secondary latch on the handle that locks the main latch in place so the handle won't retract it because I see another hole for a secondary spindle above the main one, if I'm right try turning the square drive in the hole with a screwdriver one way or the other, I suspect it'll only turn half a turn each way