86 1986 Door won't open from outside.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 14,559
Likes: 24
From: Washington County, South UTAH
86 1986 Door won't open from outside.
Hi. I usually hang in OT, since I sold my C5.
'86 Coupe, passenger door outer handle inop. At rest, said handle is raised 1/8", above the lock cylinder area of the handle assembly. (not flush like the left door handle). As if something is bent.
With the door panel removed, I see that the rod from the outer handle to the door latch (lock) is in place.
When I depress the lock lever, that the outer handle rod actuates, I must push pretty hard, for it to operate.
I bought the car this condition. Any input before I remove the handle and lock? Thanks!
'86 Coupe, passenger door outer handle inop. At rest, said handle is raised 1/8", above the lock cylinder area of the handle assembly. (not flush like the left door handle). As if something is bent.
With the door panel removed, I see that the rod from the outer handle to the door latch (lock) is in place.
When I depress the lock lever, that the outer handle rod actuates, I must push pretty hard, for it to operate.
I bought the car this condition. Any input before I remove the handle and lock? Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Hi. I usually hang in OT, since I sold my C5.
'86 Coupe, passenger door outer handle inop. At rest, said handle is raised 1/8", above the lock cylinder area of the handle assembly. (not flush like the left door handle). As if something is bent.
With the door panel removed, I see that the rod from the outer handle to the door latch (lock) is in place.
When I depress the lock lever, that the outer handle rod actuates, I must push pretty hard, for it to operate.
I bought the car this condition. Any input before I remove the handle and lock? Thanks!
'86 Coupe, passenger door outer handle inop. At rest, said handle is raised 1/8", above the lock cylinder area of the handle assembly. (not flush like the left door handle). As if something is bent.
With the door panel removed, I see that the rod from the outer handle to the door latch (lock) is in place.
When I depress the lock lever, that the outer handle rod actuates, I must push pretty hard, for it to operate.
I bought the car this condition. Any input before I remove the handle and lock? Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
It's a simple enough System if you are already inside the door, go that last few clips a Nuts and give a Good look Something might have Snapped or Bent or Jamming it up (rubber Bumper, Happened to me) the outer handle isn't Exactly made out Tough Stuff.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 14,559
Likes: 24
From: Washington County, South UTAH
Anyone here ever replaced a C4 outer door handle and lock / latch?
I am working on it and trying to disconnect the rod from the handle is tough! Can't see up there, tough working w/ a mirror and light.
My other concern, how will I figure out whats possibly bent, when I don't know what normal looks like? FSM not any help.
Thanks.
I am working on it and trying to disconnect the rod from the handle is tough! Can't see up there, tough working w/ a mirror and light.
My other concern, how will I figure out whats possibly bent, when I don't know what normal looks like? FSM not any help.
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
I think your problem is the latch. If I remember correctly the handle has a rod connected to it that fits into a hole on part of the latch. Lifting the handle pushes down on a lever that is part of the latch. This lever is not returning all the way to its rested position and so it wont even hold the outside handle in the proper position. It is caught between the last time it properly opened the latch and almost resetting itself for the next time it needs to open. The cure is to hose the latch with penetrating oil and work it in. Can you open the door from the inside ?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Anyone here ever replaced a C4 outer door handle and lock / latch?
I am working on it and trying to disconnect the rod from the handle is tough! Can't see up there, tough working w/ a mirror and light.
My other concern, how will I figure out whats possibly bent, when I don't know what normal looks like? FSM not any help.
Thanks.
I am working on it and trying to disconnect the rod from the handle is tough! Can't see up there, tough working w/ a mirror and light.
My other concern, how will I figure out whats possibly bent, when I don't know what normal looks like? FSM not any help.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 14,559
Likes: 24
From: Washington County, South UTAH
Yes, the door opens from the inside.
I now have both rods removed from the outer handle.
I tried lubing it LIBERALLY, W/ WD40 , but that did not fix it.
I now have the rods un-clipped from the door handle and handle lock cylinder. Handle does not wan to come out. Must I remove the "C" clip, holding the electric wire to the cylinder? How on earth would I reassemble that, INSIDE THE DOOR?
i WAS HOPING TO FIND AN OBVIOUSLY bent handle. This job is a PITA, especially since after all the disassembly, I may be no closer to a diagnoses, and have to replace bot handle and lock, on a car I am selling.
THANK YOU.
I now have both rods removed from the outer handle.
I tried lubing it LIBERALLY, W/ WD40 , but that did not fix it.
I now have the rods un-clipped from the door handle and handle lock cylinder. Handle does not wan to come out. Must I remove the "C" clip, holding the electric wire to the cylinder? How on earth would I reassemble that, INSIDE THE DOOR?
i WAS HOPING TO FIND AN OBVIOUSLY bent handle. This job is a PITA, especially since after all the disassembly, I may be no closer to a diagnoses, and have to replace bot handle and lock, on a car I am selling.
THANK YOU.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Yes, the door opens from the inside.
I tried lubing it LIBERALLY, W/ WD40 , but that did not fix it.
I now have the rods un-clipped from the door handle and handle lock cylinder. Handle does not wan to come out. Must I remove the "C" clip, holding the electric wire to the cylinder? How on earth would I reassemble that, INSIDE THE DOOR?
I tried lubing it LIBERALLY, W/ WD40 , but that did not fix it.
I now have the rods un-clipped from the door handle and handle lock cylinder. Handle does not wan to come out. Must I remove the "C" clip, holding the electric wire to the cylinder? How on earth would I reassemble that, INSIDE THE DOOR?
If the latch is the problem then your going to have to remove it in order really get it freed up with penetrating oil.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 14,559
Likes: 24
From: Washington County, South UTAH
i REMOVED THE LATCH and cleaned it thoroughly w/ solvent and compressed air. Lubed it w/ WD40, followed by aresol white lithium grease. On the bench, it is working fine.
The handle now returns to the full at rest position, unlike before. I did clear some soft debris from the handle, but I don't think that was holding the handle up, the 1/8" I spoke of. Who knows?
Tomorrow I will reinstall the handle and latch (lock) and see what happens.
Thanks again, I will report back.
The handle now returns to the full at rest position, unlike before. I did clear some soft debris from the handle, but I don't think that was holding the handle up, the 1/8" I spoke of. Who knows?
Tomorrow I will reinstall the handle and latch (lock) and see what happens.
Thanks again, I will report back.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 14,559
Likes: 24
From: Washington County, South UTAH
Problem solved!
The latch had some grit debris in it, which I flushed out in the parts washer, followed by carb spray and compressed air. Lubed w/ WD40 then White lithium grease spray.
Blew some soft debris out of the handle, which allowed it to sit flush at rest. Odd as the debris was like wood/leaf droppings from trees. Not hard enough to expect it to jam the handle.
It's back together, except the door panel. The door courtesy light "Push" switch was in pieces on my removal. Since parts are lost, I'll figure out how to wire it to just come on and off w/ courtesy light operation. Forgoing the "map light" function.
Thanks for the help and "Moral Support"!
The latch had some grit debris in it, which I flushed out in the parts washer, followed by carb spray and compressed air. Lubed w/ WD40 then White lithium grease spray.
Blew some soft debris out of the handle, which allowed it to sit flush at rest. Odd as the debris was like wood/leaf droppings from trees. Not hard enough to expect it to jam the handle.
It's back together, except the door panel. The door courtesy light "Push" switch was in pieces on my removal. Since parts are lost, I'll figure out how to wire it to just come on and off w/ courtesy light operation. Forgoing the "map light" function.
Thanks for the help and "Moral Support"!