Inside door handles won't open door

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bradreedthompson
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Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:24 pm
Location: Corvallis, OR

Inside door handles won't open door

Post by bradreedthompson »

Is there some way to adjust the inside door handles so that they pull more? The outside handles work fine but the inside door handles don't pull the little metal piece in the latch up high enough to let the door open. I'm stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I don't want to have a fire or something and I'm trying to roll the window down to get at the outside handle to get out!

Thanks a bunch,

Brad in Oregon
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Itskyle
Senior Member
Posts: 110
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:35 am
Location: Plainfield, IN

This was the case

Post by Itskyle »

With mine when I first got it, but only on the drivers side. Since The passenger's side was working, I took that door panel off to learn what was the matter.

Come to find out, in the top left corner of the drivers side, there is a bolt that holds the inner mechanism for the door opening and shutting in place at a pivot point. My screw had popped out and was lying in the bottom of the door panel. Suggest you look for this first.

Secondly, make sure and lube the mechanism up, and, heck, the window regulator while you have the door panel off, might as well.

Lastly, proper placement of the door handle is key, at least it was for me.

Good luck! Let us know, how it goes.

Kyle
--
66 Bug current (Wife likes better than the Prius)
74 SuperBeetle Auto Stick (Miss that car)
73 SquareBack, Straight Stick (Wife misses this one.)
bradreedthompson
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:24 pm
Location: Corvallis, OR

Post by bradreedthompson »

Thanks, Kyle. I had the same bolt-hiding-in-the-door issue that you had! But it didn't completely solve my problem. There seems to be a lot of extra play in the lock mechanism itself for some reason. But I was able to (temporarily, I'm sure) move the handle mount about a quarter of an inch forward and cinch it down tight. That took up enough of the play to get the door to open nice.

Thanks for your help! Next time I remove the window glass I'll pull that lock mechanism out and see exactly what's going on with it.
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