[968Syncro]

Ok, so the only noise is me screaming. I wrote a couple of weeks ago that the outside door handle stopped working -- had to reach through an open window or from the passenger's side. Today the inside door pull handle stopped working (yes, one of my offspring brought it home this way)! No way to open the door. The locking pin feels funny as well, so unlocking or relocking doesn't free it up. The outside feels a little jammed, the lever moves but is tight or binding. The inside pull is loose, like the door is locked. The lock pin is binding, it doesn't have a clean up and down movement.



Any ideas or guidance please? I have no real idea where to start. Obviously I can't pull the panel since the door is closed (I have no problem with pulling the panel, have done it on a number of cars). How can I open the door to take things apart and try to fix this?



Thanks!

Roland

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[pmason]

Odd to see both of them not working, would double check the lock first. I have seen them come off before. If you had it open and can take the handle off you can press down on the latch on the inside of the door through the outside hole in the door with a screw driver. The problem there is you have to get the door open first to take the one bolt out.

I do have the window out of the passenger door right now I should be able to look closer to see if you could do anything with the door panel off.



Just took this photo:

Both the white piece and the metal piece is part of the lock. Its hard to see but in about the middle is a small hole that you can see a pin sticking out, you can use a screw driver and push down on that and it should open the latch, should be able to see it move when using the inside handle if not the lock is locked.

hope it helps, you just have to get in there is the problem.

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[968Syncro]

Thanks for the suggestions and pictures. Just investigated some more, no joy. It seems like it is permanently locked, and won't unlock. The locking knob doesn't move the full distance, just kinda wiggles up and down. The inside pull behaves as if the door is locked. And no amount of pulling on the locking knob gets it to move up enough. One suspicion is that whatever broke on the outside handle has now gotten loose or out of alignment and is blocking the locking mechanism. We had one idea, but not very optimistic about it, to find a slim-jim and a skilled guy to try and get the door open. What do you think about that idea? I have AAA and could call them to give it a try.

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[DaveN]

You will probably fail with a Slim Jim as there is a metal shroud around the lock mechanism to prevent the use of one. I had this problem and the locksmith I used was a former 944 owner so he was well aware of how hard it is to break into a 968. He almost gave up until he gave it one more shot with his magic locksmith only tool that you get with indoctrination into the club.

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[pmason]

Maybe a stupid question but did you try the key?

As part of the handle the key turns a short plastic linkage to unlock the door. Who knows maybe that came off and is jamming it turning the key might free it.

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[968Syncro]

No, not a incorrect question, but yes I have repeatedly tried to turn the key both ways, and pulling or pushing on the lock knob at the same time, or just the knob alone, and trying the door pulls/handles at various combinations of the knob up or down, etc. But I think you have it right, apparently something is jamming the unlock mechanism. So the key turns fine both ways, very freely, but the locking knob does not move up and down freely, something is binding it.



Thanks!

Roland

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[968Syncro]

Yeah! The door is now open! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/clap.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> I finally got around to trying something. Using the key, repeatedly unlock, and then lock, and then trying the inside handle, and outside handle, wiggling, try the lever while halfway locked, all the way locked, unlocked, more wiggling. And finally the inside handle worked to open the door! Yeah! Somehow the combination of various motions and wiggling probably moved the inside mechanism enough to free it up, or removed whatever was blocking it (broken linkage for example). Now I can proceed to remove the interior panel, etc. and get this thing fixed all the way; there are some good references here on the forum which I know will help.



Want to know the funny part? I've been researching this thing for some time (of course with no urgency, been driving the other cars). Went to Autozone, a couple of body shops, a couple of Porsche shops -- there were no answers. Today I decided to call AAA and see if they could send someone with the right tools and experience. Then after the call I went out to the car and see if I could accomplish something before they got here -- and it worked.



I love this serendipidy, I know for a fact that my 968 did not want a AAA guy touching her. And this threat gave her second throughts and she decided to cooperate with me. She is pretty particular about those things, she likes ot have a say in who works on her. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rock.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Roland

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[tamathumper]

Congrats!

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[astroede]

Please let us know what you find amiss. If it happened to you, it can happen to any of us.

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[DaveN]

Try to lock the door and see if it opens again just to make sure it's really fixed. Ummm, wait, don't try that. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[968Syncro]

Ok, I gotta be the slowest mechanic on the forum. But I finally tackled this job in the last couple of days.



Got the door panel off, not too bad, excellent DIY here: http://www.968forums.com/topic/325-door-...placement/. I've R&Red a number of door panels on various cars. I took my time on this one, actually bagged and labelled the various screws -- a rarity for me. But from reading the various topics here in the forum I knew attacking the door locking mechanism was going to be a mental challenge. (found a blown speaker!)



Got the handle removed, not all the way, just hanging outwards a bit. One problem, perhaps the main problem or only problem, the pull lever is broken. But it has an odd effect though -- it seems to jam the locking mechanism as well (can't pull the "knob" up and down) until I reset the alignment of something deep in there. Inside handle works fine. And the electric door lock actuator is fine.



But I think I am taking a pass on continuing. I can barely see those 2 "ball joints" that connect to the outside door handle. I can't put light, my sight, and tool in there all at once. Sure maybe could pop them apart, but no confidence in getting them back together. Am following the advice on a couple of other topics here in the forum (search on "door handle"); a few have gotten it done, many have taken it to the shop. I have fat fingers, I'm calling around to find the Porsche shop with the guy who has done this a few times. Maybe I'll get a discount because the panel is off.



(Oh well, the car won't start anyway, it has been sitting for a month, so I'll probably start another topic on that one. Quick checks, it has a spark (from the coil at least), and replaced DME relay didn't fix it either. Suspect fuel pump, but just a guess. I got some reading and debug to do, will write on another topic.)

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[Rap]

Should we have a poll as to who is the slowest mechanic? Unfortunately it would be to unbelievable of a stretch to include myself in this poll. Mechanic I'm not!! Lol

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[mbardeen]

I've just R&Red my driver's door handle. The parts are all readily available from Paragon, Auto Atlanta or your favorite Porsche parts supplier.



You can take off the central locking mechanism to gain a little bit more room to work, but it's still a PITA. I wasted about a half day doing it. But what a feeling of accomplishment when the whole thing works as it should! Next, the passenger's door.



Related: I found that the central locking mechanism on the driver's side had at some point filled with water and the motor had rusted firm. A good soaking in WD40 freed the motor and the mechanism is working again.



Edit:I see the DIY covers removing the locking mechanism. Wish I had seen that before starting, but I managed.

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[lbpesq]

Of course there is always the "Topgear" type solution: convert the car to right-hand drive and don't use the broken door! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rock.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Bill

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[94SilverCab]

Did you hear about the blonde this happened to? She was stuck inside the car for a week until someone asked why she was sitting in that convertible for so long...BA DUM BUM.....



I crack myself up...



Jay

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[tamathumper]

Two blonde girls died up here this winter when the truck they were riding in broke through the ice. They both drowned before they could get the tailgate down...

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[968Syncro]

I just spoke with Flash, he is putting in place a new forum rule: the next person to write a blonde joke has to come to my house and fix the broken door! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> as I watch and <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/beer.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



ha ha, anyway... I did call around and one shop I've used for years can fix it pretty fast -- they do them periodically (same as 944) and have the lever and misc. parts in stock. Will get a discount because the panel is off -- maybe they can do it in an hour of labor (hoping).



BTW, here is one of my favorite blond videos.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CAbFDt3Evs

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[blau]

Forget the door handle.

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