Hey guys, I dont know if someone attempted to break into my car or something but one morning the driver side door latch stopped working... its just gone rock hard. Is this a common FD problem? Any help is appreciated... thanks

 

From what I know I can tell you that the door handles in FD's are prompt to break. Mine's has the driver door's handle already broken and I'm waiting to get an aluminium one (one guy from rx7club makes this stuff...)

 

Get in the car from the other side. Open the door from the inside. Remove the trim piece behind the outer handle (it pries off). Remove the two bolts that hold the outer handle assembly to the door frame and tilt it out to expose the mechanicals. Lube with spray lithium grease.

When these handle mechanisms lose lube and dry out, they get very sticky and you'll end up breaking the door handle.

Dave

 

Once again, Dave has the right of it.
I have had to lube mine up several times over the years, it is a very common thing.

 

I got the latched moving again but now it doesnt open the door.. Seems like Im going to have to pull out all the door trims to get to the bottem of this...

 

I actually did the exact same thing as you one600, I came out of my house one morning in late winter (still a little hung over) and broke my passenger door handle. I think it was just sticking because it was really cold outside, it ended up that I bent the metal clip inside the handle.

Shoot Fritz Flynn a PM, he will probably have a spare door handle. He's a really cool guy and a pleasure to work with. He also has just about any spare part you could possibly want.

Hope this helps

 

There is a series of little rods that connect everything, you have just had one come off. Once again, very common. You might be able to see the rod that is off just by taking off the door handle again and not having to mess with removing the entire door trim.