First you need to tell us what model Sunpak flash you have. That said most battery compartment doors are as you tried %26quot;push in and slide down%26quot;(or to one side). I suspect you have batteries that have leaked. But you can ask %26quot;the horses mouth%26quot; by going to the Sunpak site: tocad.com/service.html
Please anybody reading this DO NOT store your flash units with the batteries in them. The result is not only a pain in the neck but in 100% of the cases there is no warranty when you do this and the batteries go bad %26amp; leak.