Locked driver’s door

 Hi all, the driver’s door has decided not to open any more. From searches, I’ve found this is a not too uncommon problem plus a couple of ‘how-tos’, except the links to the photos aren’t working. So I’m stuck and appealing for advice. 
It’s a 2000 MGF. 
So far I’m removed the outer weather trim and can see the various rods on the lock. 
When I move the handle, the rod with the green fitting moves downwards slightly. 
I'm guessing the other rod is involved to lock the door and I’ve tried pushing it down more (to allow the other rod to move further) but it won’t move. 
I don’t see a way to remove the trim on the closed door as it’s held in with two screws on the backward facing edge, or at least the passenger one is and I assume they’re similar. 
Can anyone offer any ideas?
A bit more info:
I‘ve continued pushing and pulling on the various rods and it feels as it the rod attached to the button is stuck down, which would explain why it pops up on the fob but immediately goes down again. Is this the deadlock affect?

Thanks. 

Hi and welcome to the forum. 
Have you tried using the key to unlock the door?

Hi, thanks for the welcome.
Yes I’ve tried the key, with the battery connected and disconnected. It doesn’t feel like it’s connected correctly either way.

Your car will be on the Lucas system & arguably easier to resolve.
Can you gain access to the passenger side & remove the card from that, you will be able to see what’s operating by using that as a comparison. Obviously there is no key on that side but the key only recreates the remote signal.
When operating the key, does it feel as if it’s working over its full stroke & is there movement in any of the rods, then use the fob, any movement there?
Compare with the near side.
You really don’t have much room to work but is there any way of gripping the rods you can see & give them a stout thrutch?
In all probability it will be tied up with the “super lock” a hyperbolic name for a facility which is rarely used by anyone & by finding & cutting a wire from the controller, makes sure the problem does not reoccur.
You can buy & quite cheaply an endoscope adapter for your phone/laptop, if you have one you can look at what is happening.
The final solution, as you have already realised is to sacrifice your door card.
I’ll be back in the workshop later & as the drivers door card is off I’ll look at the mech’
 I’m Christmas shopping driver this morning, which is why I’m writing this in a Sainsburys car park.
M

Have you tried spraying inside the lock with lithium grease or similar. Open the key slot with a thin screwdriver and give it a good squirt.
I have found it is often the key not moving the little lever underneath all the way across causing the rod or cable to be stuck in no mans land..neither the fully locked or open position causing everything to jam.
Worth a try.

Hopefully this photo should help give you a better idea of what you need to do.  
this is in the unlocked position. 
 
This is in the locked position. 

Do yo want to run with this R40, there’s no point in two of us advising when there could be two approaches, you taking one & I the other?
My wife, not being satisfied with one shopping trip, requires further trips to distant continents.
If I accommodate now I can get a full couple of days in the workshop & possibly accrue enough points for her to avert her gimlet eye when a big & heavy parcel arrives.
M

No Mike, if its a problem with the super locking then this one is all yours. (Micro switches and all things electronic go way over my head)
I was just suggesting the easy options to try 1st.
 

Nick,whilst waiting for further replies its a good investment of your time to search the various similar threads to this, familiarise yourself with the locks and read up on the (unnecessary, troublesome and best  disconnected) deadlock system in particular. Then let us know what you have tried

I’m sorry for the delay, I’ve been trundling around Hy Brasil, Tir Na Nog, ending up at Brodbingnag.
Home now & I’ve managed to lock myself out of my car by trying to to see if I could get to any control rods through the gap you have available.
The green rod end clips to the inside handle, or at least it does on mine & it was through jiggling with this did I managed to free up my system (very big sigh of relief).
I’m pretty sure that you have super lock problems, I know of no one who uses it, I don’t know how to engage it & I disconnected it PDQ.
Ideally the S/L control lines should be disconnected from the control box which is behind the centre console & is not easy to access.
You can get to the control wire behind the door cards & it’s the brown/pink wire.
Obviously for you it’s a job to do once over your present hurdle.
I’m sorry I am unable to hand you a silver bullet, however I freed my self inflicted problem off by fudging about, hopefully you might do the same.
I’ll catch up later, if needs be, it’s time for my evening meal.
M

Not sure these images help but they might offer a clearer view of the assembled system

Brilliant pics.
I think it could just be those rods that are in halfway position so it is in deadlock.
I would be pushing and pulling on those with whatever I could get in there.
Good luck.