So, I finally get my car running (yay!), but now I can't open the door from the outside... The button goes in halfway with usual effort but has to be shoved in with two fingers to get it in further, and it still doesn't unlatch the thing. Anybody have some suggestions? I look pretty silly getting in from the passangers side.
I assume by "the button" you are referring to the button on the outside door handle that releases the door latch mecanisim. Your problem could be that the little rod on the back of that button has somehow gotten bent out of alignment with the rest of the mechanisim it engages with. By forcing it you might be causing it more harm ou: Now instead of pushing against the rest of the mechanisim, you've got it hung up beside it causing the interference that is requiring the extra pushing effort. You probably arent gonna hear what I think you'll need to do to fix it. First you would need to pull the door panel off and try to see the mechanisim from the other side while you or an assistant work the button through it's range of travel and try and see where the binding is occuring. uzzled: You may not be able to see it to clearly but you will definately know it if it's hung up. If it is you could probably remove the door handle and GENTLY bend that pin back where it belongs being careful not to bend it to the point of breaking off. If that should happen you will have to replace the "button" or be opening your door by inseting some sort of tool thru the hole where that button would have been.
ou: I kinda knew I'd have to pull the panel off, not hard but a pain with remote mirror and power windows. A helper... Now that's a good question... Thanks for the fast reply! It's #1 on my list-o-stuff for today.
Mirror Image How about using a mirror to see what's going on while you operate the button?o No: That would sure beat getting your head caugt inside your car door!:laugh: :laugh:
Well, I pulled the panel off and looked inside with the window up and I pushed the buttom a few times to see what was happening. The button is connected to a small rod that pushing a plate of sorts. All works perfect until you start pushing that plate in to move the lock mechanism (I think?). So, what say ye be wrong? Would a shot of WD-40 help or am I lost to pulling the whole thing apart? Thanks guys!
Scott, High "Button Effort" is typically caused by two things.. Either the latch itself is binding, or the door is out of adjustment, causing a higher effort to unlatch the mechanisms. The way to tell the difference, is to try it with the door open. Manipulate the latch to the closed postion.. push the latch lever in the door mechanism up, with the door open, and then use the outside button to unlatch it. If you find it works easily then, an adjustment to the stricker in the door jamb will be in order. That takes a torx socket of the correct size to loosen it, and then you can tap it gently, to move it around. The striker loosens up just like a regular bolt.. I often look from the inside of the car, to determine an approximate position, then just snug it a very little bit. Then, with the inside panel off, I close the door, and then loosen up the striker again, via the small hole on the inside of the latch, that is there to access the striker. Just stick your torx socket in it, and give it a little snug, and then you can open the door, and tighten it without moving it, horizontally or vertically. JW JW
Thanks Jim! The thing is binding then as it happens with the door open and the lock unlocked. Any thought on fixing without removing everything?
Good advice as usual, Jim. I'd like to mention that this is an issue in my car, and it was the latch mechanism being worn by 33 years of opening and closing. The pivot hole on the latch hinge has been worn to an oval, from it's original circular shape. I solved this problem (in true Hack fashion) by taking a small piece of mild steel that was a scrap from some body work, trimming it to size, bending it to a right angle, inserting it into the part of the hole that was "oval-ized", and welding the dern thing to the body of the latch. Now the latch can't slide into the housing anymore, and I just open the door. This will suffer some sort of catastrohic failure sometime soon, I'm sure, but I'll have a new (to me) latch by then. Also, the steel around my striker actually got fatigued by the door needeing to be slammed before I bought it, and so I used an oversized washer to spread the force out a little, and straighten the latch striker bolt out.
Twas great advise (per usual) Jim!! :beer I had a smelly door for about a week, but it works perfectly after a bath in PB Blaster.. Now for the pita of the otherside.. ou: Welding huh? :Brow: Whatever works is what I say... :TU:
