Since I just had to do this job, I'd figure I'd finally take pics of what actually happens when the outside door handle breaks.

I don't think I remember if anyone posted pics like this?

It's permanently on my website...
http://fc3spro.com/TECH/PROBLEMS/EXT/DOOR/ohandle.htm

Here's the pic...


The door handle breaks and this prevents you from opening the door from the outside only.


-Ted

 

well thanks for the informative picture ted....though I have a similar problem only I know what broke...my handles are great....just the lil plastic clip pos things that hold all the rods together. None of my doors open from teh outside yet they open from teh inside wonderfully, climbign through the hatch blows during the winter though.

 

exact same thing happened to my driver side handle

still havent bought a replacement, i am lazy

 

The other problem I have experienced: The spring on the door latch itself coming loose.

 

JB Weld works pretty good as long as you clean it good.

 

Same thing happened to my passenger side and I was also too lazy to get a new one.....that is untill it happened to my drivers side as well. haha, should have seen me climbing through the hatch to get in for like 4 days while I waited for my replacements to come in. One guy actually came up to me cause he thought I was stealing the car.

Good post Ted.

 

Yeah, I had that happen to my OTHER door handle a few months ago. :P
That's a little bit easier job to fix...well, maybe finding another clip if it broke.
Mines had just popped off!


-Ted

 

I dunno how you would JB Weld a break like that.
I wouldn't think it would hold due to the forces on the JB Weld...
It would be cool if we could weld on it, but the cast aluminum is just too porous!
Also, having it so close to the pivot point makes it a pain!


-Ted

 

You've got to be kidding.... It's an empidemic! I replaced a door handle on a car that exact color that broke in that exact place this morning about two hours before you posted this... weird......

 

Yeah...after 18+ years it HAD to break at 6 in the morning with a light frost on the car....been climbing in the hatch for about 2 weeks now lol. But both my handles are in great shape, though my passenger side hasnt been hooked up since the last owner

 

i had the same problem but actually fixed it pretty easily. its been 5 years so i will have to take a look and borrow my friends camera to take pictures.

 

Is Ted's car blue?

 

ive the handle break just like that on 2 fc so far....

 

If any one still looking for door handle I have about 4 passenger handle and maybe 2 or 3 drivers side in various colors

 

pot metal trash handles, my drivers side is broken as we speak sucks alot of ***

 

Never look at the FC3S Turbo reg?
Yes, it's 5A blue. :P


-Ted

 

Yeah the plastic clip which connects the lever to the rod broke on mine a few months ago.
Been leaving thw window cracked ever since so I can use the inside handle.

That clip is a serious PITA to get at too. Any tips?

 

Take the window out. It's a lot easier than it seems. Lower the window half way and (with the door panel off) undo the 2 screws that hold it to the rail. Then once the window is out go in through the top of the door where the window was and us a flat head screwdriver.

 

hmm...i should see if i can take a good door handle and have some metal ones CNCed or something...

 

A few winters ago I went skiing for the weekend, anyways I broke the driver door handle the day I left at the gas station. The day I was coming back I broke the passenger side handle when I started the car in the morning. I was pissed. It’s a good thing the new red door handles matched the car.

there really is no good way to fix the broken part that reted posted

 

I'll check it out. It has pictures? :O!

 

i have one of them, broke handels in my basement, there soo common haha