Door handle broke Help!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Area Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08
Door handle broke Help!
My drivers side door handle has always had the flapper part loose and the metal clip from the Vette parts didn't help any but the handle still worked.
Now my handle won't open the door at all. Is there simple a fix or do I need to replace the whole handle? Also is there someplace with step by step replacement details?
Now my handle won't open the door at all. Is there simple a fix or do I need to replace the whole handle? Also is there someplace with step by step replacement details?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: Door handle broke Help! (guppie)
Sounds like there is a stop broken that holds the spring. Without seeing it, I would say you need to replace the handle assembly. Not a bad job, just need small hands and patience. Take off the door panel and insulation pad and you can see up there what it takes. Or take a look in the Haynes or Clymer manual in the body section, they have some diagrams on the assembly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 3
From: Kingston, TN
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Door handle broke Help! (guppie)
Does the inside handle still open the door? If yes, then you will need to replace the outside handle. If no, most likely a linkage problem. Remove the door panel. Look in acess hole. There are two 7/16" nuts holding the handle. The rear one is a pita to get off. The linkage should be obvious when you see it. Depending on year there may be a thief shield you will need to remove to get acess to the handle.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Ok
Re: Door handle broke Help! (guppie)
Sounds like your spring is broken. If so replacements are available from GM. Even so, the handle should still work if adjusted properly. The handle is held on by two bolts. the rear one is an asbsolute nightmare to get to but it is possible if you hold your tongue right. If you take your door panel off the handle adjustment is pretty obvious. It's possible to trip the door latch with a long screwdriver when the windows down. The latch on the door post has a tab that sticks out that needs to be depressed. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Re: Door handle broke Help! (guppie)
The good news is that your door handle linkage is very simple and easy to work on. The bad news is that removing the aft most 7/16"nut that holds the handle to the door is a minor PITA. Start by taking the inner door panel off and then looking at the linkages. I am working from memory here, but you should see a rod from the inner door release and a rod from the lock. Next you should see a short rod hanging down from the outer door handle and one from the lock cylinder. Note the position of these and then start by trying to see which one is loose or broken. Outer door handles are avaible in reproduction and the rods shouldn't be that difficult to obtain.
Do you have an assembly instruction manual? I think I remember that these rods and installation are shown fairly well in the AIM.
Gary
Do you have an assembly instruction manual? I think I remember that these rods and installation are shown fairly well in the AIM.
Gary
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Area Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Door handle broke Help! (vettes1st)
Yes, my door still functions from the inside. I guess one of my big concerns was the removal of the door panel without screwing it up. I just don't know where to start on the door panel. I think I can figure out what I need as far as the door handle once I get inside just getting them I'm worried about. Thanks for everyones input. By the way it's a 78.....Ron
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Door handle broke Help! (guppie)
Ron, the panel is easy to remove. First remove the pull handle (2 screws) and the latch handle (one screw and it slides off in a forward direction) There may be 3 or 4 screws at the edge of the panel, it will then pop off. It has a few (maybe 4) velcro like fasteners that will seperate when you gently pry off the panel. Your problem may be a short link rod that connects the outside handle to the latch mechanism. There is a spring clip on the rod that could be broken or it just came off.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Doswell VA
Re: Door handle broke Help! (guppie)
I've had trouble with both of my handles, one of which i had a mechanic replace while getting some other repairs. The new handle costs about 50 bucks and it doesn't cost much in labor, much easier than replacing it yourself. The other was always difficult, but would open. Then the stupid guy who rides with me completely broke it because he is from a Mexican state which simply has no cars and he doesn't know how to open a frickin door. It wouldn't even open from the inside, so he couldn't even get in (ha ha ha) I sandwiched myself laying down in the car and pressed w/my feet very hard, it popped open and opened easily for months until last week when i had to give the guy a ride again. I can barely open it now.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
