The front passenger side door on my 2002 Esteem Wagon  (which does not have power locks) has become locked shut.

I can not unlock the door with the key, inside door latch, or by pulling up the door lock!

There is one visible phillips-head screw on the inside door panel  near the inside door latch, but it does not get you enough access to the inside of the door.

How can I gain access to the inside guts of the door with the door locked shut

Any thoughts on how to repair this crazy problem would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

You could try an tow service, and see if they can unlock
the door with a Slim Jim. Does your key work in the lock?
(turn) or is your key no good for that door?  If the key is
no good, a locksmith can file a key to open the door.

If the inner unlock rods have come off the lock mechanism,
you might be in for a fight, you may be able to roll down the
window to get a better look at what's wrong, but if the door
can't be opened, I fear you are going to have to destroy the
door pannel to gain access to the doors inner mechanisms.

Good Luck
Wild

Thanks!  Someone else suggested I try a Slim Jim.

The iginition key always did work in the door lock; it still goes in the key hole but will not turn.  This problem happend so quickly, it is crazy.  I just can't believe it would get that stuck. 

I do not think a Slim Jim could pop a lock if I physically can not pull the luck open using the knob.