Well, when I bought my RX-7, the passenger-side door handle was broken. I wanted to fix it, so I got some used handles from someone for cheap. When I got them, I wire-brushed them, then painted them. They look so pretty now. But guess what? When I was trying to take the DRIVER side door handle off, I broke the damn driver-side handle off at the lever that connects it to the push rod. How cool is this? So, I'm only slightly frustrated at this time, as it isn't the end of the world. So, I go to work, leaving my driver side door open, knowing that if I close it, I'll never get it open again without screwing another part of the car up.

Yea, you know where this is going. Well, since bad things come in threes (driver-side door handle broken = #1), it figures that someone would close the door. Yes! There's the 2nd bad thing. I'm guessing that the 3rd bad thing will be that I have to destroy/damage some part of the door/body in order to get in. How cool is that?

Yes, I've tried the hatch, I've tried jiggling the key up and down while turning the key.

What is the best way to get into the car? I want to do as little damage as possible, but if I have to do some, that's fine, because I want to get this project car up and running.

 

get a slim jim and work with it. it may take a while but you should be able to get the latch to release. gl

 

Can you use a slim jim to open a door? I thought you could only use it to unlock. It seems to me like it would be hard to get it to unlatch, since the push rod goes straight up/down. Of course, I've never used a slim jim before. Would a coat hanger serve the same purpose?

 

There are plenty of ways to unlock it, but you still need the handle to open it. Why can't you get in through the hatch?

 

Because the key I have fits in it, but I can't turn the key. It feels like I'll break it in half or at least bend it. I did a search and found that someone suggested jiggling the key up and down while trying to turn it, but it didn't work for me. I tried turning it both left and right.

Are the ignition key and door key the same key? Or is there a door key and an ignition key that work seperately from each other?

[edit] Just to make it clear, the doors are unlocked, but BOTH handles are broken.

 

My car is an '85 and it only has one key to do everything. If the latch mechanisim works up and down you should be able to release it. It sounds like everything is still hooked up and all you need is a slim jim to pull the handle rod. I wish the best for you on this.

 

Have you tried to use a hanger to push the button to open ther rear glass? I think that's what I'd try first.

 

My hatch key turns to the right(clockwise) if this helps. My key is hard to turn also, but, I am not suggesting you force your key to turn it. it is either the wrong key or it is just not working.

 

The slim-jim won't be easy. Your best bet is to use the coat hanger idea. Hit the hatch release or try to grab the inside door lever.

 

Is it possible to get in through the Sunroof? Or did you not leave it open?

 

Whats wrong with the passenger side door? I thought you said the handle looks pretty after you fixed it? Cant you just open that door?

 

No, I meant the door handles that I got from someone else 'looks all pretty'. I was going to replace both door handles. The reason I got some OTHER door handles from someone is because the passenger side door handle was already broken off. So, I figured since I got 2 new-used handles, I would go ahead and replace both of them, since the paint on the handles already on the rx-7 paint was chipping off and stuff.

Alright, something just came to mind, and I am going to feel like a complete jackass if the answer is what I think it is: Is the rear hatch 'electrically operated'? As in, you have to have a battery in the car to open it? I don't have a battery for it/in it right now because the one that came with it had died and had been left sitting on the ground.

I guess I'll go pop the hood (hopefully I can do it from underneath with the engine undercover off) and give it a shot.

P.S. I painted the handles that I got from someone else, that's why they're 'all pretty'.

 

Electric hatch is a common option. Did you try both sides of the key in the hatch lock? It is a two-sided key but the tumblers only rest on one side. Turn it over and wiggle it around; maybe one side is better than the other.

 

By the way, for future reference, once you do get a door open...
Broken Door Handles (common):
If the passenger-side handle breaks at the connect-rod, the handle can be swapped with the driver's-side handle, and vice-versa; as they can both be interchangeable allowing the connector rod to mate with the remaining (unbroken) hole-guide.
That sounds confusing, but it works as an option!

 

That's what I was going to say. Can I ask why you didn't leave the window down if you were going to leave the door open anyway. I don't have any suggestions that haven't already been said, but good luck.

 

just smash the windsheild and call insurance and tell them someone tried to break in but you caught em and beat the **** out of them. Then have the insurance repalce it for free?

Or if you cn I don't if I can, push the windows down.

 

If you get a window partially cracked open, it is possible to reach across the car with a long coathanger or two and pull the inside door latch.

 

I know on my 80 all I need to do is use coat hanger.. I made a loop on the end and inserted it by the back part of the window seal and pointed it toward the locking mechnism. Just move it up and down like a mad man and it pops the door open.. I've done it on both doors.


Winter is coming I'm going to order a extra handle and install it on the drivers door in case..

 

Alright, I got it. All I had to do was pull the outer-window seal up a little so that I could see the push-rod, and then I used an allen wrench to push it down, opening the door easily.

As for the why I didn't leave the window rolled down: 1) I have no battery 2) both regulators are shot. That's why I already have 2 replacement ones for it

Also, I haven't gotten the car up and running yet, so I haven't even tried looking for insurance on it yet.

Thank you all for the advice.