Door Handal Repair

[Steve]

My door is stuck in the closed position and I believe something in the interior door mechanism is broken. I wanted to remove the interior door pannel to see if It is something that is easily fixed, such as a nut or something came off. I unscrewed the accessable screws and it is still hooked on. I need to know if anyone knows how to get the pannel off?

Thank you,

Steve

[rlux4]

Did you remove the bolts from the armrest? There's one under the little cap at the top end of the trim strip. Then you have to remove the door handle and window crank. If you haven't ever removed a window crank handle, the technique would need some explanation, let us know if you need this info.
Ron

[mbouse]

when you write back, we will be dang curious to know which exterior door handle you have as well. please have that info ready when you return.

[Zamise]

Theres also a snap ring you have to remove to get the window crank off, this is on my 72' & 76, one screw in center of handle, don't think my car had armrests, or they came off with the door panel when I took it off don't remember for sure, but anyway the panels do have a few sanp in pins too I remember around the back edges you have to give it a little tug to get them to snap out of their holes, then door panel comes up and out. The lock mech is adjustable with a screw and bolt inside from the door handle that it pushes against a plate. You loosen the nut then loosen the bolt to make it push harder or tighten the bolt to have it put less pressure on the plate, then tighten the nut again to keep it in place. It might be a bit tough to get to it, may help to get the door handle off the door too, but be warned the bolts brake off easily while trying to unscrew the rusted nut off the end, put some wd40 on the bolts and maybe let it set awhile might help if you've got take the handle off. I had to redrill my bolt holes out and retap them on mine. Theres also leaver that snaps on the inside for the lock, that could have came off in the locked position, might just snap it back on if the plastic around the end didn't break or anything, if it did break then I'm not sure what to do for that, find a replacement maybe, or always leave it unlocked?

Good luck!

Zam

[Danno]

oh no, have we heard in the news about a man who perished because he was stuck inside his fiat? sad thing was the top was down. it rained and he actually drowned. If only he got this handle fixed.

Steve, any luck, was that you in the news? I hope not.

[So Cal Mark]

that's a good reason to keep a 3 ft section of pvc pipe in the back seat. Then you have a snorkel for those underwater excursions

[Zamise]

I was wondering why there are holes in the floorboard of mine before I fixed the lock. Awe man, some of you guys are crack ups on here. Too bad there is no drum roll and crash sound effect smilie.

Zam