Help with door handle
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
Help with door handle
My 77 has been difficult to open on drivers door and last week failed to open at all. Had to use the inside handle. I pulled the door panel today ( lubed the power window which had not seen lube in 31yrs - thought I might need a new motor ) anyway I have the shop manual and haynes? neither of which address door handle. Can't see how to get dust shield out and don't know how to save the clips holding the rods which seem to need to be disconnected. I can see a spring which seems to be disconnected but sure could use a diagram of the handle. Can anybody recommend a manual that shows these. Got any idea of what parts to order? Anyway thought I would throw this out to you master mechanics before I take to my Vette guy who usally will have it for at least a week.
Thanks
Art
Thanks
Art
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Had same problem on my 76
Had the same problem on my 76. Outside handle was not working but the inside handle was. Finally figured out that the outside handle pushes a vertical rod down that is attached to the door locking mechanism that engages with the striker bolt. If you run the window down, pull the door panel off and look through the opening you can see the vertical rod connecting the outside handle to the door locking mechanism moving when you press the outside handle.
Now the trick, much patience and you will learn new words, you need to unclip the clip, and turn the threaded tee piece down maybe 3 or 5 threads depending on how much it is worn and rehook. I did this with needle nose pliers and by wiggling my hand in the door. This worked for me. If there is a better way, I sure would like to know too!
Hope this helps, I am not sure I know what spring might be disconnected. I think the AIM shows this, but I do not have a scanner.
Now the trick, much patience and you will learn new words, you need to unclip the clip, and turn the threaded tee piece down maybe 3 or 5 threads depending on how much it is worn and rehook. I did this with needle nose pliers and by wiggling my hand in the door. This worked for me. If there is a better way, I sure would like to know too!
Hope this helps, I am not sure I know what spring might be disconnected. I think the AIM shows this, but I do not have a scanner.
Last edited by 20mercury; Mar 2, 2009 at 11:48 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
My 77 has been difficult to open on drivers door and last week failed to open at all. Had to use the inside handle. I pulled the door panel today ( lubed the power window which had not seen lube in 31yrs - thought I might need a new motor ) anyway I have the shop manual and haynes? neither of which address door handle.
door lock repair
I repaired my door locks last year and simply dropped the shield down into the panel and than worked it back up when closing the side panel up.
Last edited by hunt4cleanair; Mar 3, 2009 at 05:02 AM. Reason: edit
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
My 80 had the same problem for a while. Actually it was so bad I couldnt get the door open from the outside at all or the inside. If I locked the door it was almost impossible to pull the lock open from the inside of the car.*power locks disconnected*
I ended up just rolling down the window and spraying everything I could see that had a hinge down with WD-40. It took it a few minutes of doing that and working the handle and lock but it ended up working. It was pretty odd actually if I pulled the inside handle AND the outside handle I could unlock the door and open it with ease. It saved me the trouble of ripping everything apart and its worked for a few months still.
Too bad everything else is broken or dying.
I ended up just rolling down the window and spraying everything I could see that had a hinge down with WD-40. It took it a few minutes of doing that and working the handle and lock but it ended up working. It was pretty odd actually if I pulled the inside handle AND the outside handle I could unlock the door and open it with ease. It saved me the trouble of ripping everything apart and its worked for a few months still.
Too bad everything else is broken or dying.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 1
From: aurora
