nagging door handle

[GLIDER]

I've been focused on the mechanical work on my 82 spider and not on the whistles and bells. I have an annoying interior drivers side door handle issue. The door won't open from the inside, the handle feels like it binds after a quarter turn. Does any one have any idea of the problem and maybe a download of the interior workings of the door ?

thanks

[azygoustoyou]

I have extra doors lying around if you decide to replace the mechanisms. I also have outside door handles. Pm me if interested.

[jfrawley]

I faced that same issue back a while ago. I took the interior door card off and found the handle linkage was binding due to old grease and dirt. I cleaned it all up and sprayed some white lithium grease on the mechanism. No issues since.

Hope this helps.

[GLIDER]

thanks for the quick response, do you know of a download that shows the interior door components ?

[azygoustoyou]

Do you want me to take a pic?

[manoa matt]

Yep, take the mechanism out, spray PB blaster at the mechanisms at both ends, work it back and forth for a while, spray brake parts cleaner in there to flush out the PB blaster, then with a small flat screwdriver pack the mechanisms with grease.

Also the early cars to 78 used a steel flat stock bar as the actuating rod, while the 79 and later cars used a thinner but stamped steel actuating rod that is more robust. The early actuating rod can bend out of plane and not trip the mechanism, a zip tie at the midpoint to the sheet metal will keep it in plane so all the force is exerted from the handle to the latch. The zip tie at the mid point will also help the later cars too. Wrap the actuating rod with a section of tubing so it does not rattle against the door sheet metal.