Cass944

what is with my door. i have to leave my window open all the time to open it from the inside. its like the handle is really hard to move. if i push on the door while pulling the handle i can pull the handle all the way but the door still doesnt open untill i pull on it really hard and yank and stuff. but then if i reach inside and use the handle inside then it opens easy as the day i bought it. i tried opening up my door but i didnt see any way of getting to whatever is behind the outside handle. without making an all day project into it. i knwo this must have happened to others so gimmie some help here.

Dsalillas

The way I fixed mine was to take off the door panel, inside the door look for a small plastic oval ring connecting two rods. This oval ring is used to adjust the linkage of the two rods like on a turnbuckle. Turn it to make the connection tighter and this should fix your problem. Good Luck.

icat

OK guys, pet peve time...

Dsalillas' answer is basically correct, HOWEVER...
Taking the door panel off will not do you any good on the later model cars. You can not get to the part that requires adjustment due to panels that block your access. I've been led to believe the panels are anti-theft devices.

PLEASE put your car model year and type in your signature. Answers can and do vary depending on the type of car you have - and this is a perfect example.
<img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

OK, I feel better now.

At any rate, there is an plastic adjustment piece on the bottom of the actuator arm. This piece can be unsnapped from a "ball" that holds it and then turned to adjust the "pull" required to open the door. If you have an early year car, then you can get to the "arm" by pulling the door panel off.

If you have a later car, then it's a bit more complicated. On late model cars the door handle will need to be pulled and the actuator arm removed from the handle first, then you can "pop" the arm off the ball using a long screw driver. Unfortunately, you need to guess at the amount of adjustment needed to correct the problem. If you guess wrong, you'll need to redo the procedure.

EDIT: Thanks Brett - by the time I finished typing Brett had already added to his SIG.

rihaa

Well any way you look at it you will need to remove the door panel and the film that cover up the doors insides. Once you have done this you may be able to find something right away that needs fixed. Otherwise I suggest studying how everything goes together and then dissasemble and reassemble the entire thing (including removing and reseating the microswitch on the inside of the door handle). On my '91 S2 this required removing the window which was the most difficult part, but now that I know how it comes out I don't think it would be that big of deal a second time.

icat

There may be differences that I'm unaware of on an S2, but on a '86 951 you do not need to remove the door panel or the window. The handle and the actuator can be removed from outside the car. I would suggest removing the door panel to see if the car has the panel that blocks the door mechanism, but if it does you can remove the assembly without removing the window. Takes about 20 minutes (once you've done it) to remove the entire handle and the actuator arm.

triscadek

My pass. door is hard to open I assumed it would be a PITA to fix. So I just open it for the ladies and tell everybody else they must be a wuss. <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

94415atocrosswanabe

If the door handle is loose tightening it from the screw that is on the back side of the door will make it somewhat easier to open, otherwise fallow the others advise, i fd with my door for hours just to figure it out.

bpp944

I had the same problem as Bret, until today that is.

I removed the door panel and the door handle, popped off the linkage and adjusted the little plastic end piece. I tested the latch then reattached the door panel and handle. It took about 45 minutes from start to finish. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />