my passenger door handle is getting stiffer and stiffer each time i use it, its actually requiring a bit of force to lift it up to open the door. anyone have this problem and fixed it without having to replace the handle assembly?

 

Recently, my drivers side door was very stiff, very difficult to open. I usually bypassed the whole headache and opened the door from the inside.

I found out a couple days ago, the door handle was broken and some moron plastic welded it back together. As the plastic(or weld) breaks on the handle, it stops engaging with the release latch and starts flexing. This gives the illusion of stiffness, when actually it's just broken...

In short, no matter what the issue us, the door handle assembly is going to have to come off, so you might as well get it off the car and have a look so you know what needs fixing.

 

use w40.. that will help.

 

I'd get in on some of these aluminum handle group buys. You're going to end up "hulking" it and breaking it. It's not a matter of if...but when.

 

I agree with him. You should remove the door handle, and then consider lubricating it if it's not broken. WD40 might be a bit nasty though. They tend to make everything have a oily touch to it. Try some door latch lubricant from your local automotive store and apply it to the joints/hinges inside the handle and the latch.

 

WD40 attracts dirt like no other....use a graphite powder and you can probably get some more use out of it if nothing is already damaged.

The more you use it when its stiff, the more you slowly tweak things out of place over time.

 

Its very easy to take the handle assembly apart enough to clean and lube it up. Just snap off the plastic triangle piece behind it and there are two 10mm nuts. Remove those and you can get around enough to see whats going on. I used some PB Blaster a few years on mine that was starting to stick, has been working great ever since!

 

I use Gunk Silicon Spray Lubricant. I usually pull the cover from the inside and just spray it on the movable parts and springs that I see. I do it about once a year.

A stiff door handle is a precursor to a broken door handle caused from the mechanism drying out. Lube it up!

 

Periodic lubrication of the door opening mechanisms is a MUST with these cars. Use your lube of choice (WD-40, PB-Blaster, white-lithium grease, graphite, Astroglide...they all work well) and follow the instructions in the post(s) above and you will be on your way to smoothly opening doors and no broken handles.

 

Take it apart and grease the internals before it breaks. All you have to do is pop off the plastic interior trim cover and remove the 2 m6x1.0 nuts. Then unfasten the linkage rods from the retaining clips, pull the handle away from the door, and flip it over. It will still be attacked by the wire but thats ok. i like to use lithium grease on the moving parts. WB40 works as well but it will be running down the handle for days and doesn't last very long.

 

I know this seems like common sense but "don't reef on the thing one day trying to open it if it gets stuck. It will break!" Go through the passanger door because you will have to anyways when it breaks.

 

yeah yor handle is breaking around the inner rod/hinge

 

+1

WD40 will help but it won't "fix" the problem. I snapped my driver side and had to get a new handle.. then few weeks ago i snaped the internal wire to the lock ... had to rip open the door panel...

 

Astroglide!! HAHA.. yah, that's not for the door, maybe the girl in the car tho And of course my 200th post is sexually related =p

 

Use some spray Accupucky....seriousily, I'd have that handle assembly laying in on a warm workbench in less than 5 minutes tops. 10mm socket, 1/4 ratchet and 1.5" extension and a pair of needlenose is all you need. Then you can see what you got.

Later

 

ya clean it and lube it like mentioned above ^^^ and check out the internals to see if anything has slipped out of place or gotten caught

but if its only hard to pull the first 1-2cm i bet your problem might be that the rubber foot behind the pull handle is worn down or has fallen off. this lets the handle to travel past where its supposed to be(too flush to the handle cup) and so its at a awkward angle. see if helps if u stick a ball of tape back there to keep the pullhandle poking out more. if so, thats your problem and u can figure out what to permanantly stick back there. i used a small rubber foot for like a answering maching or something.

 

We have a WINNAH! I was wondering if anyone would catch that!

 

'awsome... thanks guys ill rip it apart tonight and let ya know.

 

just needed some good ol lubin... i used some astroglide.... no thats a joke, i haev to go buy some lubricant though.

 

I wouldnt use WD-40.


Use powdered graphite, wont leave you with a nasty oily mess. Do all your locks while your at it too.. makes them really smooth.



=Ben