Door handle sticking/jamming. Weird problem.

decampos

decampos

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There's a really irritating problem with the passenger door handle mechanism. The linkage jams and the door cannot be opened from the outside. To reset the mechanism I need to remove the inner door panel/door card and use a screwdriver to free the part of the mechanism which has slipped.

The weird part is, with the door open and door card off, the door handle works perfectly, when the door is closed, the handle jams.

I'm finding this impossible to describe so I've made a short youtube clip which will hopefully explain it better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcMV4djuQh4

It's proving really difficult to diagnose the problem as it's awkward to replicate when I have good access. Anyone experienced this and have an advice/suggestions?

Many thanks!
Ben
 
Have you tried adjusting the piece in on the door jam plate? Maybe it is wedging on that-this would explain working open but not when closed.
 
Try another door lock mechanism

I would try a different one, if you have one lying around.
I had an issue with the door coming undone when driving over bumps. Even with the door locked (by pressing down the black stud). It would slip onto the first stop but not open completely.
I finally changed the big locking mechanism, and the problem was solved.
Prior to this I had tried by repositioning the latch on the B-post 99 times, but it never solved the problem
 
Ben - I have also spent eons messing with the adjustments. I suspect the reason it behaves differently with the door card on is that the card may engage some of the door seals causing a tighter fit and hence some binding in the mechanism.

The problem I had when reinstalling the parts was around this bent tab at the top of the piece that slides up and down (where the pencil tip is pointed). If this does not slide all the way up then things tend to jamb up. This tab engages the door handle mechanism. Maybe you could use a towel to thicken the door seals to mimic the door card thickness/interference so that you can see what is going on with the door card off and the door tightly closed.

When the door card is in place, and the door is closed, can you raise and lower the lock pin?
 

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Thanks for the replies guys.

pmansson said:
I would try a different one, if you have one lying around … I finally changed the big locking mechanism, and the problem was solved.
Click to expand...
That is what i'm hoping to avoid. I don't know exactly what would be involved in swapping it out. I've only just got the window runners, linkage and motor back in place and working as they should. Would drive me to drink to have to mess with all the intricate adjustment I finally got right. But, if there's no other way I guess I'll have to prepare myself.

Sven said:
Ben - I have also spent eons messing with the adjustments. I suspect the reason it behaves differently with the door card on is that the card may engage some of the door seals causing a tighter fit and hence some binding in the mechanism.
Click to expand...
It's not the door card that makes the difference, it's when the door is closed. It's the weirdest.

Sven said:
The problem I had when reinstalling the parts was around this bent tab at the top of the piece that slides up and down (where the pencil tip is pointed). If this does not slide all the way up then things tend to jamb up. This tab engages the door handle mechanism. Maybe you could use a towel to thicken the door seals to mimic the door card thickness/interference so that you can see what is going on with the door card off and the door tightly closed. When the door card is in place, and the door is closed, can you raise and lower the lock pin?
Click to expand...

I don't think so, I'm not sure I could. I'm going to try and get to the bottom of this at the weekend. Thanks for the helpful pic btw.
 
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