1978 Door Handle Help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 336
Likes: 42
From: Grand Ledge, MI
1978 Door Handle Help
So yesterday after school I went to open the door on my '78 and the handle wouldnt come back up unless I forced it. So I decided to spray some WD-40 on the spring and stuff and now it comes up about 80% of the way but I can't get it to come up all the way. What can I do?
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Take the door apart and see what's going on?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
So yesterday after school I went to open the door on my '78 and the handle wouldnt come back up unless I forced it. So I decided to spray some WD-40 on the spring and stuff and now it comes up about 80% of the way but I can't get it to come up all the way. What can I do?
There's much better lubricants than WD40..which is more for water displacement than lubrication..Try a true lock lube with nozzle going down from upper door with window down.
Then look and see if the chrome top of the exterior latch is up properly..
Then unlock the door by turning key to the right to 3:00.Then see if things work better..
.I believe the latch can be refurbished spring etc..without removing the door panel..
Good luck..Removing the door panel is a chore best avoided when possible..Jim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
You might try to push the lock button in to lock the door(roll window down first)Then shut the door well.
There's much better lubricants than WD40..which is more for water displacement than lubrication..Try a true lock lube with nozzle going down from upper door with window down.
Then look and see if the chrome top of the exterior latch is up properly..
Then unlock the door by turning key to the right to 3:00.Then see if things work better..
.I believe the latch can be refurbished spring etc..without removing the door panel..
Good luck..Removing the door panel is a chore best avoided when possible..Jim
There's much better lubricants than WD40..which is more for water displacement than lubrication..Try a true lock lube with nozzle going down from upper door with window down.
Then look and see if the chrome top of the exterior latch is up properly..
Then unlock the door by turning key to the right to 3:00.Then see if things work better..
.I believe the latch can be refurbished spring etc..without removing the door panel..
Good luck..Removing the door panel is a chore best avoided when possible..Jim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
& Corvette Central does also..part#283012..a $6.95 part..
Corvette central shows how simple the install is and how to do it..see link.Jim
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecentral/pdf/283012.pdf
Last edited by jim in oregon; Oct 4, 2016 at 03:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 336
Likes: 42
From: Grand Ledge, MI
Originally Posted by jim in oregon
possibly a very simple fix..a door handle spring helper..Wilcox shows them
& Corvette Central does also..part#283012..a $6.95 part..
Corvette central shows how simple the install is and how to do it..see link.Jim
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecentral/pdf/283012.pdf
& Corvette Central does also..part#283012..a $6.95 part..
Corvette central shows how simple the install is and how to do it..see link.Jim
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecentral/pdf/283012.pdf
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
Well..much of the enjoyment of these older cars is learning..and at times..being able to help others..NO ONE was born knowing these things.
But hopefully ALL the challenges folks encounter in life have already been tackled successfully by those before them..old cars are quite inconsequential in the grand scheme of challenges..
Just have to ask, read, listen..look..think....and pray often..No need to reinvent the wheel on most stuff..
Jim
