Before I start tearing things apart
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Cascade Maryland
Before I start tearing things apart
Thoughts on external door handles not opening doors but inside handles do open doors. Just wanted a few ideas from owners who had this problem before I take panels off and dig in. Forewarned is forarmed! Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 7,849
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
None of us can see inside your doors. You can open them from the inside so you know the latch mechanism is working fine.
That's all you know. Take off your door panels and look inside. Then you can see if a rod has come unhooked or if the outside handle is broken internally.
There is absolutely no way to know without looking.
That's all you know. Take off your door panels and look inside. Then you can see if a rod has come unhooked or if the outside handle is broken internally.
There is absolutely no way to know without looking.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,407
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
On my 73, the passenger outside door handle worked like new but on the drivers side you had to push it down all the way to get the door to unlatch.
When I took the doors apart for paint I found one of the rods inside the drivers door was slightly bent.
I bought a new set from Corvette Central which should fix the problem.
When I took the doors apart for paint I found one of the rods inside the drivers door was slightly bent.
I bought a new set from Corvette Central which should fix the problem.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 7,849
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Not to mention of course that there is quite a bit of adjustment on those rods. I've seen internal door rods secured with bread twist ties. Man I've seen all kinds of ****!
Still, remove the inner door panels and have a look. We can all quess until the cows come home. You can look and have the answer!
Still, remove the inner door panels and have a look. We can all quess until the cows come home. You can look and have the answer!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 725
From: Marietta GA
Good light to see everything, and it helps to read what others have done, Google Search. Cleaning the 50 year old grease is a must, also the clips that hold the rods on, are somerimes broken, missing, or replaced by some other BUBBA Part.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
A good Hot Air gun will soften the old hard grease that is in the door. I used a hair drier and it did a great job, you don't need a torch here or you might damage parts.
When you remove the door panel you will need to clean all them, old grease will be on many parts. I used the heat to soften the grease and then I wiped it off the surface and used a bit of mineral spirits to clean the parts and get rid of any traces of the old grease.
I re-greased the parts using Die-Electric Grease and the parts work fine when I need them to work. I don't drive the car in the colder weather so the die-electric won't make the window motors work any harder in the cooler weather. What is the proper type of grease others use on the window tracks?
When you remove the door panel you will need to clean all them, old grease will be on many parts. I used the heat to soften the grease and then I wiped it off the surface and used a bit of mineral spirits to clean the parts and get rid of any traces of the old grease.
I re-greased the parts using Die-Electric Grease and the parts work fine when I need them to work. I don't drive the car in the colder weather so the die-electric won't make the window motors work any harder in the cooler weather. What is the proper type of grease others use on the window tracks?
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 319
Likes: 125
From: Midwest
In the event an exterior door handle fails to open the door but the interior door handle works fine, first spray some oil down in the exterior handle and work it in real good. There is a spring that actuates the flap so make sure you oil it real good as well. That might just do the trick.
It just so happens that exact failure happened to me recently and this remedy worked like a charm. Then I oiled the other door handle even though it was working fine. Both handles have been opening the doors smoothly and crisply ever since.
It just so happens that exact failure happened to me recently and this remedy worked like a charm. Then I oiled the other door handle even though it was working fine. Both handles have been opening the doors smoothly and crisply ever since.