I'm not sure if I'm in the right forum to ask this question, but I'll ask anyway. My driver's side door is really hard to open from inside. It seems fine when you open from the outside, but when you're trying to get out, you have to keep jerking up the door handle while pushing on the door with the other hand. Is my door not lined up right or is it something mechanical behind the panel? Also, my doors lock fine, but I can only get the passenger's side to unlock and that takes an eternity of just playing around with the key until it happens. Do you you know what my problems might be? And if I'm in the wrong forum, I'm sorry. Please tell me where to post this thread.
I'm not sure if this is the right forum either... Since it opens fine from the outside I would think the problem is in the door, not how its lined up. You'll have to take the panel off and look at the linkage from the inner handle to the latch mechanism. Something might be bent. I have a similar problem on a 90 Dodge - I have to pull the outside handle really hard, but it opens fine from the inside. I've not gotten around to fixing it yet. For the locks, you can try spraying a lubricant or penetrant into them (and sometimes on the latching mechanism also) - your local parts store should have something good. If that doesn't work, you'll have to replace the locks. You can get locks with keys from a parts store (if you are not going for original reproductions). If you want to use the original key, take the new locks to a locksmith and they'll rebuild them. You might also just remove the old locks and take them to a locksmith. What is the car you're fixing? Also, we are a friendly bunch - you can post your name. You can make the board automatically post a "signature" by clicking "User CP" (Control Panel) in the upper-left corner of the screen and setting one up.
Its been a long time since I messed around with one, but... From what I recall, the outside button is totally separate from the inside release. Take off the door panel, then you should be able to see the metal rod that runs over to the outside button area. That rod (after 30 years) is probably a bit loose, and needs to be snuged up a bit. :bglasses:
Thanks guys. I'll try that out. So do you know where I should post any other questions about this sort of thing?
I had this and fixed it. I think I used a well placed machine screw in a rather ingenious location. As mentioned, gotta pull to panel and watch the operation of the rod. If if moves too much in a "wrong" direction it can't actuate the wheelydealy that makes the whiznut rotate the drownparsnip. Tough to recall the exact details though without reopening it myself.
