Outside door handle not working
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Joined: May 2005
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From: CA
Outside door handle not working
Well, I wanted to quit looking like an a$$, having to reach into the car to open the door all the time on the new to me 71. Took the door panel off without any trouble but now I am stuck.
The outside door handle moves freely and the return spring for the acutal handle works fine. However, looks like there is another lever attached to the bottom of the handle which also has a return spring. This spring is broken and the lever hangs there limp. The door handle never touches it. Is this why my door doesn't open?
How do I replace this spring? Is it part of the door handle? I may have to break down and look into the pass. side to see how it is supposed to look and work like. Unfortunately the pass. side has the water / theft shield still in place, unlike the driver's side.
Let me know how to fix that spring! Thanks and have a great 4th of July!
George
The outside door handle moves freely and the return spring for the acutal handle works fine. However, looks like there is another lever attached to the bottom of the handle which also has a return spring. This spring is broken and the lever hangs there limp. The door handle never touches it. Is this why my door doesn't open?
How do I replace this spring? Is it part of the door handle? I may have to break down and look into the pass. side to see how it is supposed to look and work like. Unfortunately the pass. side has the water / theft shield still in place, unlike the driver's side.
Let me know how to fix that spring! Thanks and have a great 4th of July!
George
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The lever inside the door that is below the door handle must be connected and secured with a "carburator clip" to a rod which goes to the latch mechanism.
You should be able to feel that there is a point in the travel of the handle where you pick up additional force or load as the latch lever is moved that releases the latch and allows the door to open. If the door is locked you will not feel that additional load since the lock prevents the outside handle from releasing the latch.
Good luck.
You should be able to feel that there is a point in the travel of the handle where you pick up additional force or load as the latch lever is moved that releases the latch and allows the door to open. If the door is locked you will not feel that additional load since the lock prevents the outside handle from releasing the latch.
Good luck.
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From: CA
Aha. I can tell you that that rod goest through the lever underneath the outer door handle, however, it is not fixed to it. Looks like the clip you are talking about is missing and the thing just pushes through a hole in the lever.
So, I will need a clip and the little return spring on the lever. How the heck do I get in there to replace these and where do I get replacement parts???
I am going to put the door panel back today and keep looking like an a$$ for a while longer, since I'll have to source parts first.
Thanks for shedding light on this. If anyone can supply a drawing / explosion drawing of the assembly, that would be great too.
George
So, I will need a clip and the little return spring on the lever. How the heck do I get in there to replace these and where do I get replacement parts???
I am going to put the door panel back today and keep looking like an a$$ for a while longer, since I'll have to source parts first.
Thanks for shedding light on this. If anyone can supply a drawing / explosion drawing of the assembly, that would be great too.
George
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Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by StickShiftCorvette
The lever inside the door that is below the door handle must be connected and secured with a "carburator clip" to a rod which goes to the latch mechanism....
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
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From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
beware, my passenger side handle was not working when I bought the car. My handle actually had the part where the rod goes through break off. I had to buy a new handle to fix it. It was a tight fit - course I've got big hands 
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Joined: May 2005
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From: CA
The saga continues. I went ahead and bought a new door handle (reproduction). Comes in today. Looks good until I get the old one out and this one in. It is just slightly smaller than the original, so there is a nice edge around it, where the paint is rubbed off from the old handle! Why for Pete's sake can't they make them the same size than original? Anyway, I got upset real quick and just took the spring that I needed off the new handle, transferring it to the good old piece of American pot metal. Worked out well and I now have a functioning handle again. The spring is the large one on the bottom lever, not the one in the cup of the handle.
Anyway, I figure that the paint is rubbed from the old handle isn't right. There has to be a gasket. Sure enough, Mid America shows a gasket. I'll have to wait for that now, before I button everything back up. I'll look like a real a$$ now, driving around without a door lock and handle!
I'll keep you posted. Learn from this and buy the high quality US made stuff!
George
Anyway, I figure that the paint is rubbed from the old handle isn't right. There has to be a gasket. Sure enough, Mid America shows a gasket. I'll have to wait for that now, before I button everything back up. I'll look like a real a$$ now, driving around without a door lock and handle!
I'll keep you posted. Learn from this and buy the high quality US made stuff!
George
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
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From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Originally Posted by 71Sunflower
I'll keep you posted. Learn from this and buy the high quality US made stuff!
George
George
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
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From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Originally Posted by 71Sunflower
Mine was from 1Aauto through ebay. It was very cheap. You get what you pay for. Sigh ...
George
George
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From: CA
Originally Posted by ruby76
how much are you talking about via ebay, mine from riks was $23, like I said, it is nicer than my original - cause the chrom isn't pitted on the new one.
George
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From: CA
Fixed!
I finally got around to put the repaired handle back (with a new gasket) and hook it up. It wasn't too bad, but that back nut sure is a tight fit. It helped to take some of the linkages off that were in the way of my big hands. A few strong words and 5 minutes of fiddling with the nut and hamdle and I had the nut on!
I have it nicely adjusted now, so the door pops when the handle is about 1/2 to 2/3 pressed in! This will make the car much more enjoyable. Thanks for all your help.
George
I finally got around to put the repaired handle back (with a new gasket) and hook it up. It wasn't too bad, but that back nut sure is a tight fit. It helped to take some of the linkages off that were in the way of my big hands. A few strong words and 5 minutes of fiddling with the nut and hamdle and I had the nut on!
I have it nicely adjusted now, so the door pops when the handle is about 1/2 to 2/3 pressed in! This will make the car much more enjoyable. Thanks for all your help.
George
Last edited by 71Sunflower; Aug 3, 2005 at 03:10 AM.
