driver door won't open
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
driver door won't open
Can someone post an illustration of the driver's door's internal components? My door won't open from the outside but locks, unlocks, and can be opened from the inside. I took the door panel out and I have no idea what I'm supposed to be looking for. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
yeah i had to deal with this many times on my car...actually just the other day, and now it's working again! does your handle go all the way down? does it work really easy or hard? does it return all the way up?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 39
From: Denver, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
i recently had this exact problem on my 79. there is a rod that comes down from the outer door handle and connects with the inner workings with an adjustable screw.. adjust that screw to the bottom of the rod and your outer handle should operate fine.. (sorry, no pics.. im writing this from work) looking inside you will probably have to remove the anti theft plastic thingy inside to see into the back (outer side) of the door. the door handle is bolted down with two bolts, and the only way i found to adjust where it connected was to completely remove the handle (and the back nut sucks to get at..) there is also a retaining click that must be slid to the outside of the door holding the adjusting screw in place in order to remove the whole thing. hope this helps.. have fun!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: STANTON CA
i recently had this exact problem on my 79. there is a rod that comes down from the outer door handle and connects with the inner workings with an adjustable screw.. adjust that screw to the bottom of the rod and your outer handle should operate fine.. (sorry, no pics.. im writing this from work) looking inside you will probably have to remove the anti theft plastic thingy inside to see into the back (outer side) of the door. the door handle is bolted down with two bolts, and the only way i found to adjust where it connected was to completely remove the handle (and the back nut sucks to get at..) there is also a retaining click that must be slid to the outside of the door holding the adjusting screw in place in order to remove the whole thing. hope this helps.. have fun!
inside the door, does the rod go into the hole on the inside or
outside
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
i recently had this exact problem on my 79. there is a rod that comes down from the outer door handle and connects with the inner workings with an adjustable screw.. adjust that screw to the bottom of the rod and your outer handle should operate fine.. (sorry, no pics.. im writing this from work) looking inside you will probably have to remove the anti theft plastic thingy inside to see into the back (outer side) of the door. the door handle is bolted down with two bolts, and the only way i found to adjust where it connected was to completely remove the handle (and the back nut sucks to get at..) there is also a retaining click that must be slid to the outside of the door holding the adjusting screw in place in order to remove the whole thing. hope this helps.. have fun!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 39
From: Denver, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
ok.. so i couldnt figure out how to add in a quick manner, so ill try and explain some more..
i believe it goes into the back hole. the inside hole should catch the retaining clip that hold the adjusting screw in place
as a side note : the adjusting screw thing should be close to your glass and the point at which it connects to the door latch crap should point away from the window, towards the back of the car if the door is completely closed.
if you really need a picture, pm me and ill go take one.
once again i hope this helps
i believe it goes into the back hole. the inside hole should catch the retaining clip that hold the adjusting screw in place
as a side note : the adjusting screw thing should be close to your glass and the point at which it connects to the door latch crap should point away from the window, towards the back of the car if the door is completely closed.
if you really need a picture, pm me and ill go take one.
once again i hope this helps
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Falls Church Virginia
. Suggest you purchase new one and install. In my opinion its the only way to go. If you need more information let me know. Thankssgm2004
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
this is familiar to me.. i thought mine wouldn't open because of door adjustments, but what happened was the return spring for the latch bracket (not for raising the handle itself) was bad and it wasn't pushing the bracket enough to open the latch. it may sound confusing, but do you know the difference in the 2 springs?!?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
Thanks Josh for the pic 
.
So, I go ahead and tackle the inevitable, what I found out was:
1. spring that attaches to latch of outside door handle is either broken or
not connected since it just sits there and wiggles around.
2. clip that goes on the rod is broken
Now that I found out what possibly could be wrong, I have no idea how and what to remove. First of all, I don't know where the spring is supposed to attach to and secondly, how do you slip the clip onto the rod???
I gave up, anyway the door opens from the inside. I'll have to wait until someone chimes in and ran across this misery .
.So, I go ahead and tackle the inevitable, what I found out was:
1. spring that attaches to latch of outside door handle is either broken or
not connected since it just sits there and wiggles around.
2. clip that goes on the rod is broken
Now that I found out what possibly could be wrong, I have no idea how and what to remove. First of all, I don't know where the spring is supposed to attach to and secondly, how do you slip the clip onto the rod???
I gave up, anyway the door opens from the inside. I'll have to wait until someone chimes in and ran across this misery
.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Had the same trouble on my 79. I just removed the actuators from both doors and I have standard non power locks. If you don't mind not having power locks, this is one way you can go. Can lock and unlock with the key. Nothing more frustrating than having power locks in your vette and you can't unlock the door from the outside.
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Ga.
Remove the rod coming from the outer handle. If it is adjusted to long or to short, it will cause problems. The factory manual for an 82 states, the center of the rod should be 1" from the bottom. This will get you in the ballpark. If the rod is to long, ( less than 1 " from the bottom ) it could cause the door to not open.
Look at the center of the locking mechanism. Lock & unlock the door to see if the lock is traveling until it hits the stops. If it is not, something is causing it to bind. Remove the door panel from the passenger side. Pay attention to all of the details. You should find your problem. Both sides should work the same.
Hope this might help!
Look at the center of the locking mechanism. Lock & unlock the door to see if the lock is traveling until it hits the stops. If it is not, something is causing it to bind. Remove the door panel from the passenger side. Pay attention to all of the details. You should find your problem. Both sides should work the same.
Hope this might help!