Outside Door Handle Does Not Work

[Dale 914]

I have taken apart my 1975 drivers side door handle and the little plastic slide is broken, so it is not pushing on the door release leaving me unable to open my door from the outside. The plastic slide is broken in half. Anyone seen this? Any solution short of buying a new door handle?
thanks.

[Spievy]

You could check ebay, I just bought 2 used handles for 60 bucks.

[R_Davis]

Hi Dale,

Same thing happened to me ... twice

You need to order a new one from right here on Pelican Parts; but don't order just one, order three because it's gonna happen again to the passenger side and then again to the drivers side (Murphy's Law) and the 914 is H E Double Hockey sticks to break into.

Best Regards,

Rick

P.S. I don't care how smart you may think you are (As I did) you can't fix it even if you spend a hundred bucks on epoxies and wire and NASA engineering ... $12-$14 and it's done.
BTW ... I am so sensitive to that part breaking that I always push the door IN a little when I turn the key ... it takes a little pressure off of that part ...

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

"Door latch cam". Easy to replace, once the handle is out of the door.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/9144/POR_9144_BDYext_pg6.htm#item34

--DD

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I agree, buy a couple of the cams. It's not all that hard to change out.

Here's a break down.

1. Remove armrest/trim on inside door panel. These are allen heads if I remember correctly.

2. Roll window up and remove window crank. You'll have to pry the black platic off the metal frame. There's a Phillips head underneath that holds it on.

3. pry off door panel. Typically, just stick a thin flat screwdriver between the edge of the door panel and work your way around. There are snaps that hold the panel on. A few of them might be broken, but Im sure you can still get them.

4. look at the backside of the door handle. There will be a 10mm nut holding it on at the rear (towards engine) and an allen head holding it on inside the door. Just kinda fish your way inside the panel and remove the bolt. Typically, i remove the inside bolt first to hold it in, then take off the 10mm at the back. Dont lose the two gaskets under the handle.

5. Once out, you'll see how the latch works. It uses the door flap as a lever with two arms to drive the plastic cam against the lock mechanism in the door. If you close the door with the handle out, you can push "in" and the door will open. On the underside of the hadle will be a small phillips machine screw holding the lock cam onto the bottom. make a note of the position of the "finger" sticking off as well as the spring underneath. Remove and slide the new plastic cam on. Be very careful getting the cam into the "fingers" of the door handle flap. This isnt the greatest quality metal and these things break easily. Just a little outward force if you need to. Little bit of lube on the shaft helps too.

reassembly is the reverse of above.

Hope this helps

[Dale 914]

Thanks guys, this is such a great place to get invaluable help! I bought the car yesterday and have already made progress bringing it back to everyday driving condition.

[R_Davis]

Dale,
Congrats ... You're gonna Love/Hate it (Mostly Love it ... especially when you're driving it.)
Send us a picture of your car ...
Cheers,
Rick