How to fix the somewhat common door issue....?

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Alright, so my doors have always had somewhat of a problem, but after coming back from the body shop it seems that the problem has become exponentially worse. What happens is that the door becomes almost impossible to open from the inside or outside door handles, and you pull so hard that you feel like you're going to break the handle off. If you push against the door from the outside (ie: knee pushing against the molding, or other hand pushing above the door handle) the door becomes easier to unlatch. I talked to a few people at the meet who said they had the same problem but no one knew the solution to fix it.



I unscrewed the door latch that is held on by two torx screwed to the door jamb and tried adjusting, however it didn't help. I've tried greasing that part and the inner part in the door, no help. I even tried greasing under the door handle it self to no avail. Another thing to note is that if you lift the outer door handle while the door is open, it feels like it is catching on something before it goes back down.



I know the body shop took the door handles off to paint the, and I have every intention on bringing it back to them today or tomorrow to have them fix it, but I'm sure their guess is as good as mine as to how to fix it (or else it would have been fixed by now). Any ideas?

[m3f_Braymond141]

They didn't remove your handles, they removed the trim... at least, per your pics it was that way. I can't see that body shop removing your glass, door card, etc to get your handles out... let alone anyone there knowing remotely how to.


In most cases, the handle is broken, but it could be poor alignment. If both doors are like that, poor alignment. If one is like that, it's a broken handle frame.

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

That's what I meant, but obviously they had to have changed something considering that it wasn't like this before.


Since they're both doing this, I'm going to go with you and say poor alignment. My second question is how would you re-align the door? By the hinges that I was already playing with?


Thanks for your reply...

[m3f_Braymond141]

My guess is you might of adjusted the door catch out, adjust it in.


Easiest way to adjust the catch is to loosen it so it's very tight, but able to move and hold an alignment. Hold the door handle open and push the door in so the body lines are perfect (may take some force). While still holding the handle open, open the door and the catch should have been moved into a proper position.


Same technique works for aligning the hood pins too.

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Interesting. I'm was aligning the catch with Critter and Roland and we were sure that we got it moved as far in as possible, but I could definitely be wrong. I'll try that technique a little later with Cal....thanks dude.

[m3f_Braymond141]

Interesting. I'm was aligning the catch with Critter and Roland and we were sure that we got it moved as far in as possible, but I could definitely be wrong. I'll try that technique a little later with Cal....thanks dude.

Too far in either direction can be negative, and remember it moves up and down too.



You want the door to be tight and "pop" smoothly when opened. Good handle assemblies will release smoothly at 1/4-1/2 handle pull. Broken ones will at 3/4-1/1 pull.

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Yeah, definitely. I felt a few guys door handles at the meet and they were perfect, I need to get mine back to that way. Right now I have no choice but to open the door for the ladies riding shot gun


"I think it's locked..."

[m3f_OahuMPower]

good stuff Brett... thanks for the info.. we will have to get on that shizzy today

[m3f_Mtrace]

The handle is broken. There is a plastic tab that gets stretched and ultimately breaks. I used the knee method to opening my door for a good month, then the handle snapped. Replaced passenger and drivers side and they are good as new.

[m3f_Braymond141]

The handle is broken. There is a plastic tab that gets stretched and ultimately breaks. I used the knee method to opening my door for a good month, then the handle snapped. Replaced passenger and drivers side and they are good as new.

When handles break it's due to the metal frame.

[m3f_dieselboy740]

I had the same problem with mine. the po broke the passenger handles so i adjusted the strikers and its all better now.

[m3f_Mtrace]

When handles break it's due to the metal frame.

Once I unclipped mine it fell into the door in about 4 pieces, so yes, the metal frame is what caused the whole problem, really $hitty metal if you ask me. I noticed the plastic piece on the latch part was white where it had been stressed, I assumed that's where the handle not unlatching came from.

[m3f_breakaway]

I just fixed my door, it just wouldn't open sometimes. I had to go in through the passenger side sometimes

[m3f_fitchesbass]

I vote a broken / close to being broken door handle. I broke mine back in the day.... what a pain to replace. Take a few cases of beer if you attempt a replacement.


The lever on the door pull is really amazingly soft metal imo.

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Seems like my drivers side door has been fine for the past day, so I'm going to play with the pass side latch and see if I can't fix that one too. I'll let you guys know what I find....