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I have a 77 for 6 months or so. I noticed my door handles are kind of difficult to open. You have to pull fairly hard to open the door. Also, once I depress the door handle it doesn't return back or the flush position. I haven't opened a C3 door besides my car. Is it normal or do you have any suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Tim
Depending on the condition of the handle, rod and clips....it can be several things that are causing this....including the latch mechanism needing so attention with a lubricant CAREFULLY.
I have a 77 for 6 months or so. I noticed my door handles are kind of difficult to open. You have to pull fairly hard to open the door. Also, once I depress the door handle it doesn't return back or the flush position. I haven't opened a C3 door besides my car. Is it normal or do you have any suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Tim
Tim,
I have recently had the same exact problem of the 'fairly hard to open' door on my '79. I just settled on the fact that I needed to take the door apart and investigate, clean, lube, etc.
I solved this problem by removing the door latching mechanism from inside the door, soaking it in cleaner, blowing it out, lubricating and then reinstalling. However, the real problem of the 'door hard to open' is that the outer door handle rod did not extend down enough when the door handle was depressed. This I attribute to the rod bending slightly over time.
Notice in this photo the rod extending down from the handle with a 'nut and pin' protruding from it. To "lengthen" the rod's reach once again, remove the clip on it, then 'unscrew it' by twisting it CLOCKWISE (looking from the top). Mine only took two complete turns - do not overdo it. Then reinstall the clip and pin into its hole in the door mechanism.
The door now pops open nicely when the outer handle is depressed. (It always worked well from the inside.)
I could do a complete write-up on taking the door apart, if it helps.
Another issue with the outside door handle is the following.
The lid is made from what we call "pot metal" and is a soft metal. The pin running through the lid and through the handle housing that the lid pivots on is made from steel. Over time, the pin will eat away at the hole in the handle and the handle lid will begin to drag when it is depressed which will cause the lid to stay down and not return to the upward position. We make a "Helper" spring... but it is a band aide only that will eventually fail too.
If the lid is dragging and staying down when you push it... it's time for a new handle.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jan 21, 2016 at 10:30 AM.
Thanks, that is exactly what I am looking for. I can probably figure out the rest, my car is in the shop getting the rear end worked on so when I get it back I will give it a shop. So once you cleaned all the mechanisms your door handle would come back to the flush position?
Thanks, again.
Tim
Originally Posted by G-Sting
Tim,
I have recently had the same exact problem of the 'fairly hard to open' door on my '79. I just settled on the fact that I needed to take the door apart and investigate, clean, lube, etc.
I solved this problem by removing the door latching mechanism from inside the door, soaking it in cleaner, blowing it out, lubricating and then reinstalling. However, the real problem of the 'door hard to open' is that the outer door handle rod did not extend down enough when the door handle was depressed. This I attribute to the rod bending slightly over time.
Notice in this photo the rod extending down from the handle with a 'nut and pin' protruding from it. To "lengthen" the rod's reach once again, remove the clip on it, then 'unscrew it' by twisting it CLOCKWISE (looking from the top). Mine only took two complete turns - do not overdo it. Then reinstall the clip and pin into its hole in the door mechanism.
The door now pops open nicely when the outer handle is depressed. (It always worked well from the inside.)
I could do a complete write-up on taking the door apart, if it helps.
Thanks, that is exactly what I am looking for. I can probably figure out the rest, my car is in the shop getting the rear end worked on so when I get it back I will give it a shop. So once you cleaned all the mechanisms your door handle would come back to the flush position?
Thanks, again.
Tim
Unfortunately, my post may just solve the door 'fairly hard to open' problem. What I am interpreting this to mean is when the outer door handle is pushed down all the way, you still have to PULL somewhat hard to get the door to come open. A proper opening door should 'pop' open when you push the handle all the way in. Just like it 'pops' open when you use the interior door handle.
The problem of the handle not springing back to flush is a different problem, I believe. It's addressed by the other fine folks here who posted.
A couple of things when you take the door apart:
-- Roll the window all the way UP (stays more out of the way on the interior of the door.)
--
worked like a champ removing the interior door handle clip.
-- Having a pair of long handled needle nose pliers and a pair of long handled vise grips for reaching inside the access hole helps tremendously. I bought some at Harbor Freight that worked very well.
-- I Removed the lower access panel and fished the door mechanism in and out of that big hole… as well as dropped clips!
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Door handle question
