Oops... How to get into my SC w/ No Door Handle Trigger

[OsoMoore]

Winter has arrived in Wisconsin, and so the time has come to store the Porsche for the winter. I usually tuck her into the corner of the garage, leaving lots of room to stomp around the winter vehicle without risking any door dings.

Per this usual plan, I carefully backed the car into the garage, and proudly parked her with the passenger mirror less than an inch from the built-in garage workbench. My brother had just arrived from Iowa, so I jumped out, locked her up, and put off removing the battery until later.



I am truly a master at parking this baby right where I want her.



Now it is a few days later, and I have a problem. You see, there was something else that I put off too. A couple of weeks ago the driver's side door handle trigger snapped. I've fixed this before (on the other door) and its not a big job. But it is very cold outside, so I bought the part, put it in my toolbox, and opened the car from the passenger's side for my last couple of drives. I'll fix it in the Spring!

Except now, the car is parked so close to the garage wall that I can't open the passenger door. more than a few inches. And I have to squeeze my body to even get close enough to do that.
And I can't open the driver's door because the trigger is snapped off.

I think I left the hand brake on (I'll check in a bit), but even if I could roll her forward, she is tucked in and wouldn't clear the garage doorway. So rolling forward or back won't give me more door access.

She is a Targa, so I might be able to poke something down and pull the door handle strap. She has RS door cards with the red straps. Also I might be able to work something through the small gap I can open on the passenger side, but I'm not sure what. I'd get a few more inches if I could get the mirror off. How hard is that to do?

Any genius ideas? Help!

[blucille]

Floor jacks.

[FPB111]

If this were my 1972 I would jack the front at the "tow" hook, center of the front pan support, and pull it away from the bench. Then do the rear from the engine "lug". Continue until you have enough clearance.

[Scooter]

Don't try to get something between the window and rubber seal. My friend did that and buggered up the seal. The seal is not cheap to replace.

[DRACO A5OG]

ooops, you need an old school Jimmy, AAA can help.

[snbush67]

[DaveMcKenz]

As a one-time use, I wounder if you could get two layers of polyethylene sheet, with oil or wd40 in between, under the front wheels and pivot the car away from the wall. Guys use a 1 gallon zip lock bag sprayed on the inside as a slip plate for wheel alignments. This would save you the cost of real wheel dollies.
Just an idea.
Good luck,
Dave

[john walker's workshop]

jack it up and pull it over.

[Bill Douglas]

A box cutter or sharp kitchen knife. It's a Targa isn't it?

[RSBob]

Wheel dollies. And you know you can fold your mirrors in for a bit extra room.

[OsoMoore]

Originally Posted by RSBob

Wheel dollies. And you know you can fold your mirrors in for a bit extra room.

Do you just push hard on the mirrors? I was hesitant to apply a lot of force.

Thanks for the advice everyone (except Bill - you big meanie!)
I'll jack it up and try rolling it later this week when I have some helpers.

[allaircooled]

I have my car resting on those dollies pictured above. Bought them from harbor freight. My garage is small so while I am doing work on the car it's nice to be able to easily push it from one side of the garage to other with little effort.

[theiceman]

i hate it when this stuff happens and you cant find anyone else to blame


i would even be hesitant about admitting it here

but dollies and jacks at then end of the day will get you out of this , not a biggie ..

funny tho, i usually realize this stuff just as the door is closing , fate testing me to see if i will put my hand in the door jamb at the last second ...

[sugarwood]

Wow, that oiled up garbage bag idea is ....slick !
$0 1 time use dolly !

[RSBob]

The mirrors are designed to either pivot forward or backwards in case you hit something or in this case you are parking in a tight space. Modern SUVs do it automagically. They require just a bit of force and you won't hurt anything, or your money back.

[OsoMoore]

Thanks for the great bag idea! Here is the setup and the successful position. Three guys were able to slide it with some effort, and the battery is now successfully extracted.

[bhmkv]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

jack it up and pull it over.

This. Same thing happened to my friend. We jacked up the front and slowly pulled the cars front away from the wall. Had his kid jump into the pass side to open the drivers side.