78 outside door handle difficulty
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
78 outside door handle difficulty
Hi,
My 78 has been experiencing problems with the driver's side door handle. I went to a car show Yesterday and I was embarrassed that I couldn't open the driver's side door. After trying and trying it opened, ego was hurt though!
I am able to push in the handle, but it just won't release the door. I thought it needed some grease... so when I finally was able to open it I just kept the window rolled down and opened it from the inside. When I got home I greased the lock where the door closes and WD-40'd it. This morning the issue is still there. Is this a serious situation where I will need to remove the door handle?
Any experience in resolving this, much obliged for your thoughts!
My 78 has been experiencing problems with the driver's side door handle. I went to a car show Yesterday and I was embarrassed that I couldn't open the driver's side door. After trying and trying it opened, ego was hurt though!
I am able to push in the handle, but it just won't release the door. I thought it needed some grease... so when I finally was able to open it I just kept the window rolled down and opened it from the inside. When I got home I greased the lock where the door closes and WD-40'd it. This morning the issue is still there. Is this a serious situation where I will need to remove the door handle?
Any experience in resolving this, much obliged for your thoughts!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
You are in for some pain.
There's a few things that can cause this, most related to the door handle bieng worn:
1: The hinge that pushes down on the door release lever may be coming loose. Solution: New Door Handle
2: The door release rod may need to be adjusted. This is a horrific repair. You'll have to remove the door handle and adjust the rod up or down (probably up in your case)
3: The Door handle retaining nuts have worked loose. Still a pain but easier, tightening them will fix the issue IF they were loose.
There's a few things that can cause this, most related to the door handle bieng worn:
1: The hinge that pushes down on the door release lever may be coming loose. Solution: New Door Handle
2: The door release rod may need to be adjusted. This is a horrific repair. You'll have to remove the door handle and adjust the rod up or down (probably up in your case)
3: The Door handle retaining nuts have worked loose. Still a pain but easier, tightening them will fix the issue IF they were loose.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
You are in for some pain.
There's a few things that can cause this, most related to the door handle bieng worn:
1: The hinge that pushes down on the door release lever may be coming loose. Solution: New Door Handle
2: The door release rod may need to be adjusted. This is a horrific repair. You'll have to remove the door handle and adjust the rod up or down (probably up in your case)
3: The Door handle retaining nuts have worked loose. Still a pain but easier, tightening them will fix the issue IF they were loose.
There's a few things that can cause this, most related to the door handle bieng worn:
1: The hinge that pushes down on the door release lever may be coming loose. Solution: New Door Handle
2: The door release rod may need to be adjusted. This is a horrific repair. You'll have to remove the door handle and adjust the rod up or down (probably up in your case)
3: The Door handle retaining nuts have worked loose. Still a pain but easier, tightening them will fix the issue IF they were loose.
But Stan you can try shooting the WD40 in from the window opening and hitting the door lock assembly and also shoot back towards the outside door lock. Use the WD like a cleaning flush. Works sometimes but I do see the above #2 in your future.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 895
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Stan:
This article with photos may ease your pain if you have to get up in there from the door panel side. Its not a bad project...just requires patience. It may not be a bad idea to clean and re-lub all the linkage while you're in there...it probably has been some 30 years since the linkage was last fondled.
Door Lock Repair
This article with photos may ease your pain if you have to get up in there from the door panel side. Its not a bad project...just requires patience. It may not be a bad idea to clean and re-lub all the linkage while you're in there...it probably has been some 30 years since the linkage was last fondled.
Door Lock Repair
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Pulled off the door panel and noticed that when I pull the interior door handle the release goes all the way down. When I push on the outer door handle the release does not go as far as it did when the interior handle was pulled.
As I held the down the exterior door handle, I pulled the interior door handle and helped the release come fully down. It just needs about a 1/8 inch more to go. I am assuming I will need to adjust the door release rod! Thanks to all so far... this may be a messy job! I see clips holding the rod to the handle and to the lever that pushes the release...
As I held the down the exterior door handle, I pulled the interior door handle and helped the release come fully down. It just needs about a 1/8 inch more to go. I am assuming I will need to adjust the door release rod! Thanks to all so far... this may be a messy job! I see clips holding the rod to the handle and to the lever that pushes the release...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Thanks for this post, my car has the same problem. when I'm driving it the windows are usually down, so I just got used to using the inside one all the time and saving myself the embarrassment.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
How do you get to the nut that holds the outside handle that is farthest from near the back of the door... I see two nuts holding the outer door handle inside of the door. I can get the one closest to me through the hole that is available to me when the window is down, but there is a nut way in the back and I am having difficulty reaching it... Do I have to remove these other metal plates on the door panel to open it up to me?
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
It's a complete butthole of a job to be blunt.
When I was messing with mine I ended up having to remove the door handle and pull it out to be able to manipulate the rod on and off and adjust it.
As I recall you can get at the other nut with the window up and a ratchet
When I was messing with mine I ended up having to remove the door handle and pull it out to be able to manipulate the rod on and off and adjust it.
As I recall you can get at the other nut with the window up and a ratchet
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
A friend of mine cut off a portion of the access hole to make the opening larger. By doing so I was able to get my hand with an opened end wrench to get to the nut near the rear of the door. You can also remove the three bolts holding the latch to the door (leaving the rod link linkages intact) the latch will drop down giving you a little more room. The area he cut off had one of the holes for the plastic theft shield. I had given him an LH import handle and I put it in for him. It fit well on his 77. I purchased two import handles from Willcox and im going to wake up tomorrow morning and install them. In my case, I assume the handles on the car are the originals. I am going to buy the proper spring and rebuild them. I'm a cheapskate, I will put forth the effort of rebuilding the originals opposed to spending $70 for a peice "new originals". Will let you know how installation turned out and I will try to post pics.
Last edited by Oldguard 7; Jun 14, 2011 at 01:03 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
How do you get to the nut that holds the outside handle that is farthest from near the back of the door... I see two nuts holding the outer door handle inside of the door. I can get the one closest to me through the hole that is available to me when the window is down, but there is a nut way in the back and I am having difficulty reaching it... Do I have to remove these other metal plates on the door panel to open it up to me?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 665
From: Northeast
How do you get to the nut that holds the outside handle that is farthest from near the back of the door... I see two nuts holding the outer door handle inside of the door. I can get the one closest to me through the hole that is available to me when the window is down, but there is a nut way in the back and I am having difficulty reaching it... Do I have to remove these other metal plates on the door panel to open it up to me?
Good luck. And yes you will probably drop the nuts
Last edited by BKarol; Jun 14, 2011 at 02:54 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Simple install. I didn't have to cut away any metal to make the access hole larger like my friend did. I just removed the three screws holding the latch to I could get at the back nut. I then pushed the adjustment rod off the latch and lifted the handle out, attached the rod and put the door handle on and pushed the adjustment rod pin back through the opening on the latch, tightend the nuts on the door handle. Reattached the latch to the door.....job finished. No more sagging handles. The doors open smoothly. I found out that the handles on the car were imports as well. Maybe one day I will buy some "original" handles.
Last edited by Oldguard 7; Jun 14, 2011 at 02:21 PM.
