driver side door is tough to open
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Rotor Shaped Blood Cells
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 569
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From: San Diego
driver side door is tough to open
the door on the driver side as I mentioned is tough to open. it seems "stuck" and takes some force to lift it up, then it pops right open. The passenger one seems like butter compared to the driver side. is there some way to lube the mechanism behind the handle from the inside of the door to make it easier to pop up? I know that the black piece of plastic can come off, but what part should need lube?
Blow up or win
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,014
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From: Altezzaville
If it's the actual door that does not want to open you probably have worn or misaligned hinges or a worn out striker plate and/or latching mechanism. There is usually some adjustment available. It would not hurt to give the hinges a shot of spray grease.
If you are talking about the actual handle inside the armrest that unlatches the door locking mechanism - it is cable operated. Usually the cable needs a good lubing by taking it out, holding it vertically, and drizzle some oil down it so that it seeps in past the end housing. You may want to lube all other moving components with graphite spray lube as well, not grease.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and buy new components. $$ My guess is you'll need to buy new parts to make it work effortlessly.
If you are talking about the actual handle inside the armrest that unlatches the door locking mechanism - it is cable operated. Usually the cable needs a good lubing by taking it out, holding it vertically, and drizzle some oil down it so that it seeps in past the end housing. You may want to lube all other moving components with graphite spray lube as well, not grease.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and buy new components. $$ My guess is you'll need to buy new parts to make it work effortlessly.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 318
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From: new orleans la
my drivers side handle did that once. Then the next day i pulled it really hard, because i was pissed at it, and it snapped right off
I just replaced the whole thing, works great now. Just be careful when pulling it, atleast until you fix it.
-Jeff
I just replaced the whole thing, works great now. Just be careful when pulling it, atleast until you fix it. -Jeff
If your talking about the outside door handle it is a simple fix.
Remove the cover on the back side of the outside door handle. It just pulls off. Remove the two 10mm nuts, this will let the door handle flop loose, don't let it scratch the door. Hold the handle in one hand and hold the lever in the other, actuate the handle a few times. Notice where the pivot point is, apply some lube, I've used oil and white lithium grease, you might stick with the white lithium grease. Actuate the handle a few more times, you should notice a HUGE improvement.
Ron K suggested not using grease, this is good advice for cables, but I'm talking about the hinge pivot point, it needs better lube.
Later,
Jeff
93 R1
94 PEG, new motor ready to go in!
94 PEG for parts
Remove the cover on the back side of the outside door handle. It just pulls off. Remove the two 10mm nuts, this will let the door handle flop loose, don't let it scratch the door. Hold the handle in one hand and hold the lever in the other, actuate the handle a few times. Notice where the pivot point is, apply some lube, I've used oil and white lithium grease, you might stick with the white lithium grease. Actuate the handle a few more times, you should notice a HUGE improvement.
Ron K suggested not using grease, this is good advice for cables, but I'm talking about the hinge pivot point, it needs better lube.
Later,
Jeff
93 R1
94 PEG, new motor ready to go in!
94 PEG for parts
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 792
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From: Oahu, Hawaii
Damn...
Jeff...is there anything you haven't taken apart on the car?
How about stock interior pieces? Does Mazda still sell them? My driver's side compartment lid is broken..if I shut the door hard it flops off.
Can you order parts like that?
I think my window motor is dead too..cuz it's kinda slow, and if I roll it all the way down, it gets stuck on the way back up.
Jeff...is there anything you haven't taken apart on the car?
How about stock interior pieces? Does Mazda still sell them? My driver's side compartment lid is broken..if I shut the door hard it flops off.
Can you order parts like that?
I think my window motor is dead too..cuz it's kinda slow, and if I roll it all the way down, it gets stuck on the way back up.
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 234
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From: ASI Racing in Ft Lauderdale 954-566-2472
Originally posted by turbojeff
If your talking about the outside door handle it is a simple fix.
Remove the cover on the back side of the outside door handle. It just pulls off. Remove the two 10mm nuts, this will let the door handle flop loose, don't let it scratch the door. Hold the handle in one hand and hold the lever in the other, actuate the handle a few times. Notice where the pivot point is, apply some lube, I've used oil and white lithium grease, you might stick with the white lithium grease. Actuate the handle a few more times, you should notice a HUGE improvement.
Ron K suggested not using grease, this is good advice for cables, but I'm talking about the hinge pivot point, it needs better lube.
Later,
Jeff
93 R1
94 PEG, new motor ready to go in!
94 PEG for parts
If your talking about the outside door handle it is a simple fix.
Remove the cover on the back side of the outside door handle. It just pulls off. Remove the two 10mm nuts, this will let the door handle flop loose, don't let it scratch the door. Hold the handle in one hand and hold the lever in the other, actuate the handle a few times. Notice where the pivot point is, apply some lube, I've used oil and white lithium grease, you might stick with the white lithium grease. Actuate the handle a few more times, you should notice a HUGE improvement.
Ron K suggested not using grease, this is good advice for cables, but I'm talking about the hinge pivot point, it needs better lube.
Later,
Jeff
93 R1
94 PEG, new motor ready to go in!
94 PEG for parts
Thread Starter
Rotor Shaped Blood Cells
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
dont you want to have some slack in there though? Im confused, so I guess Ill have to see what u mean, but thx for the tip! as for the detailed write up, another thx jeff. Ill try that. and BTW, what oil did u use? and white lithium grease? I have a can of 3 in 1 oil, but otherwise, just wd-40, and silicone lube by pyroil, which apparently waterproofs and lubes the metals.
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