I have the outside door handle wont work issue for a few months, and the other day I reached for the handle and it worked. So I finnally got around to removing the panel and was expecting to find brokenpot metal or plastic clip. It looks like the lever is not making contact with the release rod mech. I tried to bend it back and wont budge. Any ideal how to realign the lever and mech?

 

I am having the same issue, with my driver side door handle. Mine hasn't worked for the entire time I've owned the car (Like a month) and looking at the inside of the door panel hasn't helped. I am having trouble figuring out how the handle and lock mechanism on the outside of the car even functions, let alone figuring out how to fix it.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated... thanks!


MY CAR:
1988 Rx-7 Convertible
1.3L NA
5 Spd
130xxx miles

 

i had a simmilar problem with my car and i got it fixed. seemed to be a common problem after a little research. what i did on my car after removing the door handle and on a visual inspection the plastic was cracked and was unable to function properly i just swapped the door handle that i got from a junk yard and it worked. for the lock cylinder i swapped it out so im still able to use one key for the door and the ignition its held in by a retainer clip or something i havent looked at it since a year or two ago. i didnt notice the plastic piece that reinforces or part of pushing the rod down all the way to open the door was cracked untill i pulled it out. either you can pull it out to look for it or with a good light souce look at the door handle carfully as you lift and drop the handle and look how things are working.

i hope that helps for you guys.

 

Yeah its tough to see how the outside handle works. But its just a lever on the handle that pushes down on a mech with a rod. I can see where the lever and mech meets and looks worn, wish I knew ho to weld so I can just fill in the worn area.

 

iv had this happen 3 times. heres how i fixed it. heres a little pic i drew up. its a side view of the door handle when its out of the car. shows u how it all works.

 

Awesome fix

 

Thats a great idea. Mine feels like its about to go out.

 

ya i fixed all 3 door handles this way. they all broke cuz they iced up and i went to open em and SNAP!

 

nice to know!! i was hoping it would be something easy to fix!

 

I just replaced mine on the driver side, and all i have to say is good luck, and its kinda a pain in the ***. not the most difficult but not the easiest.

 

By the looks of it im lucky cuz nothing is broke, just the lever is not making contact. So a new handle isnt gonna do anything for me. My luck is ill get it realigned and then the lever will break.

 

are u talking about the lever that connects to the door handle's plastic clip?

 

Great information. This seems to be a much more common issue than I thought.

 

Wow! This is a great fix. Works wonders from the looks of it, tho I'm realizing from following the conversation that my door handle issue differs from what is being discussed here. But I will definitely keep this in mind for any future handle problems. Thanks!

 

Im talking about the s shaped lever on the handle. I giess my issue is a little more uncommon cuz nothing is broke. It seems that if I where to weld a small bead on to the end of the lever it would solve my problem, but I dont know a welder. When its warm out or im pushing it hard it realignes its self and works for a bit.

 

Hey I did the same fix and went one step further and JB welded the L plate let it cure and then drilled the holes and riveted. I think it's stronger than the original. I used a good quality washer with a hole that fit over the anchor pin on the L piece that broke. Using the broken piece as a template I marked the washer and took it to the bench grinder for a perfect fit. I etched both washer and L lever and put the JB to it being careful not to put to much pressure as to squeeze it all out and have no bond. It works great.

 

you are like a god amongst men haha

 

Well i just got sick of buying new handles so i said **** it and figured out a way to fix it mcguyver style haha

 

I think this may also be wrong with my door handle, it opens from the inside but not the outside, how do you get the door handle off?

 

In my experience the most common reason for this breakage is because the assembly is made of poor quality 'pot metal' which by itself would be OK, but what happens is people commonly use pliers to get the rod into the plastic piece on the lever hole and close the safety clasp on the plastic piece with the pliers. Since it is located in an awkward place up in the door when they pinch with the pliers they over-stress the metal lever sideways/or twist it- guaranteeing a failure in the future and it will break.
That could be 'why' you had to keep replacing it, or it might be that you were getting replacements from the scrapyard that are already over-stressed.

 

I've had this problem. This fix works well.

 

I am having the same problem. I was able to get it open by taking off the door panel and messing with the 2 horizontal and 2 vertical sticks, but the door closed again and now I can't get it open.