WolfeMacleod

Would you believe that the bent hemostats I ordered from Amazon arrived nearly simultaneously as I finally managed to clip the white connector onto both ball sockets at the same time? I had just finished, when I heard the dogs barking at the front door...
My neighbor's hemostat's short jaws required opening the handle too wide to grip anything inside the door.
Now I'm working on the connecting rod ball, but I have the sun directly in my eyes when looking upward from the bottom of the door...yay, more retina burn.

WolfeMacleod

Ir's official. I hate this car.

Isaacsracing

There are some repairs that just seems to take the life out of you and then they keep getting worse before getting better. Murphy's law was in play when you retrieved the part just os the tool you ordered to do so arrived. Have faith. All will turn out wonderfully.

WolfeMacleod

I started at 7am again. From about 3:30 till 8:30pm I attempted to connect the lock linkage. Hemostats. Bent ones. Straight ones. Long ones. Short ones. Pliers, too. . Loop a wire around the ball end, pull it down, squeeze the handle so the linkage drops further...
I could occasionally place the linkage on the ball end with my fingertip, but my fingers are so short I couldn't get enough leverage to press it on. I hate having short, stubby fingers.
....nothing.
Even getting in there with a tool is difficult enough.

My neighbors son is a surgeon. He tried . Nothing.

I hate this car.

Whatever some people are doing to "reach up there with long pliers" must have something magical going on. Sorcery?

WolfeMacleod

Does anyone have the #138 June 2005i ssue of Excellence? There's an article in there on how to do this. Apparently it says the job should take about 30 minutes each side.
If anyone has it, can they scan it?

WolfeMacleod

More failure. Time spent so far today, 2 hours.

Filmed with a borescope

H.F.B.

Put a thick screwdriver or a piece of wood behind the bar to prevent it from bending (red arrow). Then you will succeed in 2 min.

thomasmryan

I bend the tip of a crappy flathead screwdriver and go down the window sash opening but made up some new words along the way.

WolfeMacleod

I'm supposed to get it in there how, exactly??

Time so far today: 4 hours.

H.F.B.

I went through this precedure as well and indeed it was a bit tricky.
If you have time, I can post tomorrow some DIY photos.
Did you remove the door grille? If yes, try to get it through this hole otherwise go down the window sash opening. Grease both parts plentyful. Stick a piece of wood (use a pair of tweezers) behind the bar or a (long, bended) screwdriver. Then try again...

WolfeMacleod

Sorry for being snarky. It's getting very hot already, and I'm having heat issues again. Sun is directly overhead. Heat in mine enemy.
I did find something to wedge in there. I used some of my 2.5inch long guitar pickup magnets. Now I'm having a hard time getting the ball and socket lined up. I figured it was the strong ceramic magnets pulling the lock bar from the ball, so I came in to grab some dischaged magnets.

Yes, I removed the door grille (the forced-air vent you mean?) And the inner door panel. And the anti-theft shield.

I do want to point out something. If the socket on the lock rod needs to be adjusted in or out, you can use a long, straightened stiff paper clip with a hook on the end. Hook the hole, and turn. Make a bend in the end you're gripping so you have something to turn with,

WolfeMacleod

Time so far: 6 hours.

WolfeMacleod

nine hours in the 80+ degree sun.
Still cant get it connected.

What kind of cruel joke is this?

WolfeMacleod

Please enjoy my new series "lock rod failures:

Not ethat when I actually have the rod on the ball and exert pressure, I'm putting a lot of pressure to get that thing to snap in....

Feel free to watch at 2x speed for that real Benny Hill feeling.

WolfeMacleod

Holy crap. I got it. Using the tool that was the worst. Provided the worst access, and the worst angle.
Guess which one....