Urgent help needed with Mondial door locks

The story: My wife and I went out on this beautiful fall Sunday morning to eat breakfast at the local Cracker Barrel. I lock the car (1981 Mondial 8) before going in, and when we came out it would not unlock. I am now firmly convinced there if a Ferrarichat god, because Fchat member Rival just happened to be eating at the same Cracker Barrel at the same time, and saw me unsuccessfully trying to get into the car. He was kind enough to give us a lift home, which was much appreciated as it is a good 20-30 minute drive (and much longer walk) to my house. It was even more appreciated as we would have certainly been stranded, as my wife and I had both left our cell phones at home, and of course we don't actually know anyone's phone number from memory because nowadays you just save everyone's number in your cell phone under their name and never learn the number. It was also fun to hear his my wife and my wife swap stories about all the times they had been stranded by their husbands' stupid old cars, and why couldn't we just by a new Honda or something that worked all the time, anyway? So there's the story, now on to the car problem:

The car is fitted with a stupid talking 1990's era Viper alarm system fitted by a previous owner. I have been meaning to take this thing out but just haven't gotten around to it. It has a key fob that you use to remotely lock and unlock the car, so the power locks are now controlled only by the alarm. Turning the key in the door does absolutely nothing. When I press the unlock button, the door lock handle on the inside will move slightly, as if the motor is trying to pull it open but just not catching or not pulling hard enough. Pressing lock you can again see the door lock handle move a bit towards the locked position. So it is trying to unlock, but just not quite actually doing it. The car has a brand new battery with a fresh charge, FWIW, so that shouldnt be an issue.

My question for all you experts is this: What is the best way to break into a locked Mondial 8 coupe? Are there any special tricks? Is there any way to catch the locking mechanism by using a coat hanger or "slim jim" down in the door itself, or would the best bet be to try to wedge a wire or something in between the top of the door and the door jamb and trying to press down the unlock button itself? I really do not want to call Pop-A-Lock and have to pay some redneck to come out and f-up my car.

Thanks guys!

Nathan

 

So I went back out to the car with my tools, and had the door open in about 3 minutes. I won't go and post detailed info on exactly how to unlock a Mondial, just in case there is some would-be Ferrari thief lurking. I think the door lock mechanism just sort of "jammed" or maybe got caught halfway through its range of travel as once I got it open it would cycle from locked to unlocked like normal with no trouble. I am going to be pulling my door panels soon anyway to wire a relay in the window motor circuit so I can add a few more volts to the sizzling 6 or 7 that seem to be there now, and I will clean and lube the mechanism really well then. I will also figure out why the key does not activate the door locks and remedy that as well.

If anyone ever finds themselves in a similar locked-Mondial bit of trouble, PM me and I will give you details to hopefully help you get you car open.