door stuck, please help.....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
door stuck, please help.....
My driver's door will lock and unlock with the key but will not open from the outside unless you give it a good pull. I'm afraid that one day it just won't open. What seems to be the problem here and how can it be fixed. Thank you in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
Sounds like a misaligned striker bolt, easy to move...undo it with a torx socket and move it, tighten back up in the right position.
If that's not it you may have to adjust the door handle. If you remove the door board you'll see a rod coming from the bottom of the handle assembly and it goes down to the lock mechanism. The rod is partially threaded and there's a little nut with a pin on it that connects it to the lock mechanism. If you remove the lock clip from the lock side of the adjuster you can pull it out and turn it with your fingers (really cramped in there...this job is a serious pain in the keister) and then rotate it so that it moves down, that way the handle will open the door lock sooner.
If that's not it you may have to adjust the door handle. If you remove the door board you'll see a rod coming from the bottom of the handle assembly and it goes down to the lock mechanism. The rod is partially threaded and there's a little nut with a pin on it that connects it to the lock mechanism. If you remove the lock clip from the lock side of the adjuster you can pull it out and turn it with your fingers (really cramped in there...this job is a serious pain in the keister) and then rotate it so that it moves down, that way the handle will open the door lock sooner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
I would follow twin turbo's advise for adjusting the door latch rod FIRST, since if you move the striker bolt you will see where it was every time you open the door. The paint will be a different color or perhaps missing altogether under the striker and you don't see that until you move it, then you can tell where it used to be and that can be annoying everytime you open the door. (at least to a sicko like me). That's why I would adjust the door latch rod first to see if that cures the problem. It did on my car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
Thank you both for your advice. My comp or server was acting up today and was unable to follow up with my question sooner. Will try this in the morning.......thanks again. 
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Chris from Pierre,SD 57501
I couldn't open the driver door from the outside. The lever on the handle that the latch rod clips to was bent. I removed the outside handle and starightened the lever. Works great now, for how long, I don't know.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
Before I touch anything, it just occured to me that this just suddenly happened, maybe about a week ago. Does it still sound like an adjustment issue or something that's going bad in there and needs replacement???
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by 81cali
My driver's door will lock and unlock with the key but will not open from the outside unless you give it a good pull. I'm afraid that one day it just won't open. What seems to be the problem here and how can it be fixed. Thank you in advance.
If the roller bushing is worn, and has to much play,the door will be very difficult to open...got another from a donor vette...opens real easy now..
Rich
Last edited by rihwoods; Sep 26, 2006 at 01:14 PM.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
Hey Rich,
I just opened by from the inside by reaching from the passenger side and checked what you sent. The bushing is there and intact, no play at all. Is there supposed to be a play?
I just opened by from the inside by reaching from the passenger side and checked what you sent. The bushing is there and intact, no play at all. Is there supposed to be a play?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by 81cali
Hey Rich,
I just opened by from the inside by reaching from the passenger side and checked what you sent. The bushing is there and intact, no play at all. Is there supposed to be a play?
I just opened by from the inside by reaching from the passenger side and checked what you sent. The bushing is there and intact, no play at all. Is there supposed to be a play?
Rich
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,311
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
there are a couple other things you should check for. as stated above, check the rubber bushing in the striker bolt. the other is you really need to check the inside of the latch assembly. i had a similar problem a few months back but the door wouldn't open AT ALL. i had to remove the assembly and found somehow the inside had been damaged (maybe from the power window?). anyway, there is a plastic piece inside the latch that will bend up and interfere with the release. see the picture below and there are a couple others at the site (right click, properties) that show what and where.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
Exterior adjustments didn't work so today, I'll be taking the door panel out of the way and try everybody's advice. Currently, the door will not open from the outside.