Hi all.
Sorry in advance for any errors, I am typing this with one wrist being used as a pillow by our cat, and my other arm resting on said cat.
My passenger door got closed by accident while I was finishing up installing my sport mirrors. Ordinarily not a big deal, but I have had problems with this door not opening before. Used to be that pushing in on the lock knob and pulling it back up would unstick the mechanism, but of course this time it hasn't helped. In fact it doesn't seem to be going down all the way when I do push it down.
What happens is the push button on the outer door handle stays pushed in.
Luckily the door panel is off the car. But I have tried tugging and pulling on the levers and so far nothing.
And of course this is the door that I don't have a key for.
So any ideas on how to get it open and also how to properly fix it?
Thanks,
Russ
Hi Russ!
I don't have a real definitive answer for you, but in my experience, stuck doors are much easier to open from the inside. My '72 does the same thing on the passenger side from time to time and no amount of tugging, pulling, or yanking from the outside has ever opened it... always have to work from the inside. Good luck!
Dwayne :smile:
Hey Russ:
I'm going to assume you already put the door panel back on. If you're careful, you can remove the inside panel without opening the door (you may remove the pass seat for more clearance)
Once you're inside, you can lubricate and inspect and manipulate the linkage. Start with wd-40 or silicone lubricant (spray can) on the latch mechanism inside the door. You may have to let it 'soak' and repeat a few times.
My driver side button sticks in once in a while. This is caused by wear in the groove in the handle where the guide tab on the button rides. If it's minor, you can remove the button and gently file the rough spot out of the groove. If it's major, you'll need another door handle.
Here's my amusing story for today.
My first Pinto was a beat-up brown 75 wagon. One day I returned to the car from shopping. I unlocked the door and pushed in the button. When I let go of the button it flew out of the door handle, past me into oblivion. When I found the button, the 'shank' for the screw had broken. I never found the spring. I had to get another handle.
Hope that helps.
Chuck
Thanks.
I am lucky that I did not have the door panel back on it yet. I was actually planning on trying to figure out what was up with the sticking door button. But then some idiot (me) got in a rush and pushed the door shut to get it out of the way before remembering it wasn't working.
I will have to try the spray stuff. I did lube the latch with spray lithium grease last year, but I didn't clean anything first, so I likely just made things worse. I had the door panel off at that time to install the armrest and take a look at the window mechanism(which is still hard to use)
Hopefully I can do this without taking the seat out. It is going to sound silly, but I have developed a phobia about looking under cars since moving to Ohio from Phoenix. The rust most of the cars have here just makes me want to junk them.
Russ
I know what you mean about being scared to look. I spent 15 years in New Mexico, flew to Pennsylvania, bought a 10 year old Chevy Silverado (nice truck, two-tone burgundy/silver, running boards, matching fiberglass shell, 350-5speed). I had the truck 2 months and caught the running board on a snowdrift, it took the board, rocker, and most of the cab corner with it :mad: :accident:
I drove it back to New Mexico 9 months later, sold it for exactly what I paid for it, and bought a green 75 Runabout ;D
I haven't been back east since. Albuquerque suits me fine.
Chuck :afro:
Huh. It seems the majority of door issues is on the passenger side. Mine (passenger door) won't unlock from the outside- the key doesn't move at all. The button on the inside is reluctant to be pulled up, so I open the pass. door from the inside latch. I'm afraid to pull the inside panel off to fool with the inner workings of the lock mechanism. Oh, if the pass. door ios already unlocked I can open it from outside.
On my car the passenger door lock doesn't work with the key either. As far as I can tell, I don't have the right key. Maybe I am mistaken?
Russ
CarolinaBoy recommends flipping the key over
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Chuck :afro:
Flipping the key over actually works sometimes. On my 79 the key i had walmart make will only work the ignition from one direction. if its in the other way, you have to pull the key back out just a little bit and if you get it just right it will work. Easier to just turn the key over and insert it the right way tho. But back on topic, the button on the outside of my 76 on the drivers side is loose, sometimes have to push the button several times to get it to open. It was missing on a 76 i had several years ago. And the lock cylinder is no longer attached on the passengers side of the 79. got to hold the lock in when removing the key.
Sounds like it's time for one of my 'how to's about door handles/lock cylinders/rods inside the doors. Let's see a show of hands. :)
Chuck :afro:
That would be great!
I was able to pull up on the rod for the lock and get it to work, but it got stuck again as soon as the door opened. However, this time I have stuffed a shop rag in the door latch to keep it from closing. ;D
I need to get in and really see what is going on. Anything you could do would be a big help.
Russ
Russ
Just to follow up, I got it working again. I sprayed the heck out of it with WD-40 a couple of times, working everything back and forth a lot in between sprayings, and once it seemed to not be sticking anymore I sprayed it again, and then sprayed it with white lithium grease and working everything again several times.
but I am not going to put the panel back on for awhile yet.
Thanks,
Russ