so yeah...i can't open my driver's side door anymore from the outside...from the inside i can....so i went to see if i could fix it..took the inside panel out and now i can't seem to get the door handle out. i took the nut off the right side but it still wont come out so i assume there is another nut on the left side...but how in the hell do i get it out if there is absolutely no room. anyone have their door handle broken like this also? how did you fix it?

thanks for the help. Gotta fix this before school starts =(

 

Yes, there's a nut on the left side. It's not easy to get, but you can. I just use a small ratchet.

 

Mine is broken, and I have been too lazy to fix it... It is a pain, I've done it before... Use the 1/4 drive ratchet with a 10 or 12mm on it I can't remember... But it has to be really thin about 1.5 inches laying flat....

 

thanks for the replys...my next question is: do i have to buy a new door handle or can i just fix mine?

 

Buy a used one... THe plastic on these (or cast) always breaks.. a little jb weld will buy you time but it'll happen again.

 

thanks again

 

From the inside:
To access the 10mm nut on the left, there is a rubber cap you need to pull off. Also, you need to roll down the window to get a clear shot at it with a small extension to your wrachet. To access the right nut, you need to roll the window up. Also, you need to pop off the swinging connector to the door lock bar and pull it free. Also you'll need to unhook the one or two wiring connectors as well as the plastic wire rounting mount and leave it hanging free.

From the outside:
Also, you need to get some play by removing the 3 or 4 screws that hold the door latching mechanism at the door jamb. Once the nuts and screws are out, pull out the bottom of handle from the outside, then push toward the front of the car to tilt the main latch bar forward until it will just creep out. Then, with a small screw driver, pop the door/cover off the main latch bar. Snake the wiring out from behind/around the window channel and the handle then pulls right off.

Follow this process backward to put it back in.

Best if you can find a door handle that came off the same color car as yours. Otherwise, you and your wallet have a date with an auto painter.

 

The door handles are notorious for failing. Mine broke on me twice. Just go to a local junkyard, and pull one out of a junk FC for like 5 bucks or something.

 

that ******* handle took me like 2 months to find found it at a junk yard it was crazy

 

buy a door poper kit thats what i did after someone tryed to break into my car

 

what is a door poper kit? you mean the keyless entry where you press a button and your doors open by themselves?

 

Yes.

 

For some strange reason I keep finding that all the drivers side handles are missiong but the passenger side is there. Wonder why.

I found mine broke two days ago......again. I think RICHARD HEAD tried to break into my rolling piece of RX and broke it.

 

It's my theory that they used the CHEAPEST POSSIBLE MATERIAL (pot metal?) to make the "latch" thing inside the handle. Anyone else had anything besides that break on a handle?

 

Yeah, mine broke at the drag strip 2 weeks ago.. ****** cheap *** plastic!

 

wow,that sucks, atleast your door handle is not broken from the outside, I have to enter from the passenger side. Well you can go to the junk yard and find a good use interior door handle

 

It IS broken from the outside.

 

Mine's broken too. People must think I'm criminally insane since I open my door from the passenger's side.

 

My drivers side handle is broken from the outside and my key doesnt work in the lock on the passenger side, so i have to get in from the hatch, use a long wire and open the drivers door, it sucks. I have a spare handle but i havent had time to get it out of my parts car yet, haha.

 

"key doesn't work on the lock on the passenger side"

I'll bet the bar that runs from the door lock to the locking mechanism became disengaged either due to it simply slipping out or the little press in plastic pivot broke. If the former, just a matter of opening up the door, press the bar nub into the plastic pivot and press the lock tab back into place, or just replace the plastic pivot. If the latter, you can get it at most any auto glass shop for maybe $1.

 

Awesome, ill look into it. I just figured that the lock was switched out at some point in time by a previous owner. My key doesnt work on the drivers side either but it turns the lock to a certain point, but it wont lock or unlock it, ill check that out too later, thanks.

 

If your key does not work in a door, try this thread and the words by Asherwood: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=53074

 

I agree with Hailers. Also, be sure and use a dry lubricant such as graphit. Although feels great the first time after using WD40, wet lubricants tend to attract gunk that can clog up the lock tumbler pins.

 

Anyone else use JB weld with any success for temp repair?

 

Failed right away for me. Even used a good Epoxy and it failed right away. Cleaned the area good for each and cured good for each.

I'm thinking about buying a actuator as they use in keyless entry aftermarket kits. I could mount it to pull the lever down. Just thinking about it. I havn't found what I want yet. Sort of walk up to the car, get hold of the handle....press the remote button outfit while pullng the door open. Done. Door open.