Door handles not broken- just not functioning.

[Gee-Es-Tee]

My passenger side door handle randomly stopped working today. You can pull it up as you normally would be able to, but it just doesn't "pop" the door open anymore. A little strange... is this a common problem as well as the door handles breaking off? Perhaps there is something out of adjustment? Anyone else ever have this problem?

I am sick of crawling through my passenger side already.

I just want to know what it may be before I go out in 20* weather to diagnose my problem...

 

[fwspin]

You have to take your door panel off. Then pull the plastic covering the wholes in the door back so you can get up in there and look. What probably happened is the piece of plastic that holds the metal rod in the handle broke. In order to fix this you can replace the door handle or I've seen where some people drill a whole a little farther up but with time that one also fails. Good luck hope this helps you.

 

[assault187]

You have to take your door panel off. Then pull the plastic covering the wholes in the door back so you can get up in there and look. What probably happened is the piece of plastic that holds the metal rod in the handle broke. In order to fix this you can replace the door handle or I've seen where some people drill a whole a little farther up but with time that one also fails. Good luck hope this helps you.

I agree, pull the door skin off like FWSPIN stated and check it out. The rod may have just popped out of the clip (maybe if it was replaced already, there tough to snap back in) If the plastic clip is broken the dealer carries replacements rather then buying a new door handle. I ordered one for a freind of mine, I think it was around $2.00 for the new clip.

 

[crimsondragon]

Did you unlock your door before you tried to open it?

 

[95Eclipse]

If it's completely loose when you pull it and has no tension what's so ever, it migth be broken.
Just lift the handle like you usually would and try to look behind it. If broken, it's pretty common that one of the two "elbow arms" (the one with the spring on it) snapped right off and you should be able to see one of them missing. That's one way to know in advance if you need one before you go through all the trouble of taking it off and not having one to replace it right away.

If you see both of the elbow arms and the handle has some tension from the spring. It's possible that the metal rod behind the handle came off if the lock that hold's it in place is broken...To check for that you do have to take the door panel off...

Hope that helps.... It's quite common that the handles on these cars break I"ve been through about 5 handles total(both sides), respecially during the cold weather....


*I Forgot to mention that you can look in the tech articles to find out how to do the handle replacement yourself.

 

[97 4G63]

Did you unlock your door before you tried to open it?

.. wow yeah make sure your door is unlocked
But yeah like everyone else sayd make sure to pull the panel off and take a look at the clips on the door handle also take a look at the white clips in the middle of the door near the inside lock/inner door handle.

 

[luv2rallye]

Handle replacement: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...-broken-exterior-door-handle-replacement.html
Repair kit and removal: 2G Eclipse, 2G Talon, Avenger, Sebring Door Handle Repair Kit