Dr!freak

Hi club,

I have an issue with my driver side door opening for the outside. I know there is a thread out there that states to situate this problem but I have been searching and searching and I can't seem to find it.

I have an 89' GXL and I had this problem ever since I bought the car. I have been going through the passenger side to open the driver side door from the inside. Before I start tearing things apart, I want to know what is the possible cause of this and why does it fail to operate correctly. Is it a hinge or cable? Don't get me wrong, the door opens and closes perfectly fine but like I said I would have to open it from the inside.

Would I need to purchase a new door handle? Or maybe a cable is defected on the inside? I have tried searching for threads similar to my problem. Any help would be much appreciated thanks.

whodatRX7

You will likely need to purchase a new handle.
Does the handle lift easily? If so, the connection to the actuating rod is likely broken. I believe it is a plastic part.
Does the handle lift with difficulty or hang? If so, something may have slipped out of place and is jamming the mechanism.

I had the same thing happen - a broken plastic part. Bought a new handle from Mazdatrix.

If you can get to the handle and take it out, you may be able to jury-rig something for the short term.

It is easy enough to pull the door panel off to start to get access. Then you will need to carefully pull away the plastic sheeting. Unless you have the right tools or small hands, that handle is difficult to work on. I just took my new handle to the mechanic and had him replace. I actually did the "hard" work for him by removing the panel.

Later,
John
88 GTU
San Diego / La Mesa
http://www.meetup.com/SD-RX7-Club/

Schmitty

iTrader: (11)

The door handle is most likely broken. You'll have to source a new or used handle and swap it out. The door panel will need to come off and the window will have to be removed, once you get the window out it's really pretty straight forward.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

The window doesn't have to be removed just raised to get to one nut and lowered to get the other.

KompressorLOgic

iTrader: (6)

almost every case of this ive seen the door handle it self is broken

FC3S_nataku

iTrader: (3)

I have heard of people drilling holes in the broken handle and trying the pieces together with wire or putting a smal bracket on there but I haven't ever seen it done :-/

clokker

iTrader: (2)

You haven't seen it done successfully.
With the broken handle in hand, you'll see where it broke and why it was inevitable it would do so...it's a crap design made of unsuitable material.

A new, or at least an unbroken old, handle is your best bet.

KompressorLOgic

iTrader: (6)

ive done this repair with success before recently, after I exhausted my supply of good used handles.

Rob XX 7

iTrader: (8)

ive heard of people removing the glass and jumping through the window when they needed to go in and out of the car

KompressorLOgic

iTrader: (6)

dukes of hazard!

coxxoc

iTrader: (3)

I went through the hatch a couple times after both of my door handles had failed on my first fc. It was a dd. Needless to say I was pissed at myself for not fixing the first one.

I've been running a safety wired handle on my current fc for years now without problems. It was supposed to be temporary. I have another handle sitting on the shelf for when the patch job eventually fails.

For most folks, I would suggest just replacing the handle. Unless you already have wire and safety wire pliers on hand, it is probably more expensive to procure the tools to do the temp fix than just replacing the handle.

coxxoc

iTrader: (3)

FYI this is J-Rats old thread: https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...051&styleid=17

Wohnson89

iTrader: (3)

Most likely you will need a new handle. Another possibility I ran into when I was putting my car back together after paint is the plastic clip that holds the latch rod unlocker dealy onto the handle can snap or break fairly easily. Couldn't be more than a couple bucks from mazda. I might have pictures, but I have to do some digging.

Bbllgamerkid

I had the same problem with my rx7 where the drivers and pass side wouldn't open so I replaced the handles it's not that hard to do and u can keep the keylock so u can still use ur keys just replace that part there's a plastic part that brakes on the handles Bc there safety handles which are ment to b shut wail u hold the handle up and if u just shut the door regularly it will break over time

Rob XX 7

iTrader: (8)

you might need new handles

Dr!freak

Yes, when I lift the handle it does lift fairly easily. No resistance when I do. So replacing the whole door handle would have to be the solution than just trying to jury-rig it. Hmmm, I guess I would have to do some shopping then. Thank you. I will let you guys know how it will turn out. I just hope I don't have to change my key lock.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

The key is cake.
The only thing that holds it onto the handle is a small wire Clip.You expand that clip and the key tumbler pops out of the handle assembly.
I was actually getting Real good at doing this and removed and replaced the handles in like 20 minutes...then the valium kicked in and it took me all weekend!..(J/K!)

Dr!freak

OK sweet. I was looking at my door today and I was wondering if I have to take out my door panel from the inside to get to it? I lift the handle up to see if I can locate some simple screws that is holding it on but nope. Out of all things I am worried about my door handle haha. Bare with me guys.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

look up door panel removal,window removal(easier to get at clips when the window is out),and door handle removal.
If you search those titles you should get a fair amount of info.

thegemini

Its very easy after doing it ten times lol

Once you have the interior panel off its easy. There are two screws on the left and right side on the handles back. One you take out with the window up and the other with the window down. Then once that's done you have to unsnap the green swivel snap rod with a screw driver, it goes the the right and then the white one you can pinch with needle nose pliers I recall. I also unbolted the actual lock on the side of the door to let it move freely. After that the handle lifts out pretty easy.

I tried to JB weld mine a it snapped on the first open lol, then I drilled a hole and wired it with worked amazingly but apparently I torqued it too much and bent the handle some how causing the handle to come in contact with its surrounding structure chipping the paint on the handle and above it.

I gave up and bought a new one for 100 or from Mazdatrix and swapped the lock and light over to it and painted it.

I fiddled with the old one for days and should have just bought the new one.

Dak

I'm late to the party here, and as most have said window up for one nut down for the other, but I have got them out without lowering the window. Not fun, but possible. I think I used a wrench to get it. If you source handles from the junkyard lowering the window on a power window car may not be an option.

I'm on borrowed time as my passenger one is broken and my drivers side is one I fixxed and it doesn't feel right. I have some spares I just need to finish painting them.

deejayx757

iTrader: (2)

jus replace the handle with the same year/model handle .

clokker

iTrader: (2)

All FC doorhandles are the same physically, only color changes.

Dak

Any 87-91 handle will work. '86 should work in the other cars as well but I pulled one from the junkyard out of a car that didn't have a factory alarm and the holes for securing the clips for the alarm wiring harness weren't tapped. After tapping it should work fine also.

Of course one can buy a new color coded one from Mazdatrix and put it right in without having to bother with painting it.

Dr!freak

Thanks. I will get on it as soon as I get the new door handle in hand. So it is just two screws supporting the handle then it shouldn't be a problem. If I have to remove my window to make my life easier, then I will. I just hope this operation runs smoothly.