driver side door handle loose 2g

[eli96talon]

My problem is that my door handle cannot open the door from the outside.I took the door panel off and I can see how the rod has a huge gap on it and can't push down on the claw that keeps the door closed.I stuck a piece of wood in the gap.it worked for a few days then came out.I want to know what I need to replace or do to get mmy door handl to open from the outside

 

[turbojoeg]

Not sure exactly where you are putting the wood at. But if you take off the other door panel you can see what part you are missing. Also if there is a part that is just "not there" it will most likely be laying in the bottom of the door.

 

[eli96talon]

I did take the other door panel off to see what it looks like.the rod that connects to the door handle has a slot at the end of it and when you pull on the door handle the rod goes down and pushes on the latch that opens the door.on the passenger side the rod is already half way down so when I pull the handle it hardly travels down before it pushes on the latch and the door opens.on the driver side when the handle is pull the rod goes down but it never reaches the end of the slot so there is nothing to push on the latch.

 

[turbojoeg]

The rod should be threaded and is adjustable in the handle clip. It might just need pulled out of the clip, slid down more, then re-installed.
Might be the bottom side thats threaded. One side should have an adjustment.

 

[ktgurl87]

I've had the door handle and actuators all the way out of the door, and I've never seen a threaded portion to any of the rods. I'm currently having the same issue OP, but my problem is the rod coming from the exterior handle to the actuator is actually bent, so its not moving down like its supposed to. Has the door been like this since you've had the car? Or have you done something recently that maybe you can go back and retrace your steps?

 

[turbojoeg]

I've had the door handle and actuators all the way out of the door, and I've never seen a threaded portion to any of the rods. I'm currently having the same issue OP, but my problem is the rod coming from the exterior handle to the actuator is actually bent, so its not moving down like its supposed to. Has the door been like this since you've had the car? Or have you done something recently that maybe you can go back and retrace your steps?

usually the rods will have threads so they can be adjusted inside the clip, I guess just not so much on dsm's. Are the rods in the correct spot facing the right way? You might have a bend facing one way that needs to face the other, or top and bottom switched around?

 

[nicks tsi]

i have that same problem everything looks like its suppose to.

 

[ktgurl87]

Could be just one of them is bent too far. They bend if you look at them wrong. :/ kind of a PITA when you're trying to fix a broken door handle, and you get the door handle in, and it doesn't work, and the only thing you're left with is a horrific sunburn for your troubles.

 

[007jimmy]

I have had these issues too when I installed my ebay door handles. I bent the rod a bit to get room (it's tight to get your fingers in there) and it wouldn't open from the outside. A simple nut and bolt through the hole will cure this. Hell I bet some people will be surprised how the door "pops" right open after barely lifting the handle on the outside.

 

[ktgurl87]

I have had these issues too when I installed my ebay door handles. I bent the rod a bit to get room (it's tight to get your fingers in there) and it wouldn't open from the outside. A simple nut and bolt through the hole will cure this. Hell I bet some people will be surprised how the door "pops" right open after barely lifting the handle on the outside.

Which hole are you speaking of?

 

[007jimmy]

Sorry I didn't elaborate on this.. Take your door panel off (with the window up of course) and peel away the plastic with that black gunk down. Lift the handle from the outside and see what rod moves. At the bottom of the rod is a elongated hole and THAT is where the small nut and bolt goes

 

[ktgurl87]

Ah. I know what you're talking about. You put the bolt on the upper portion of that elongated hole?

 

[007jimmy]

That's it. It does make a difference trust me. I don't feel like I am ripping my door handle off to open my door.

 

[ktgurl87]

Before my door handle was broken (thank you big brother ), my passenger side door would open with very little effort. But since I've put on my new door handle, its not hitting like it needs to, and I got tired of messing with it, so I just left it until I feel like messing with it again.