How to Fix Your Car Door.

The door handle on my car broke recently. I was unable to open the door unless I would push on a certain area. This would require two hands to open my door. I decided today to open up my door panel and find the problem so that maybe I could fix it.

Step 1: Analyze the Problem.

So 2-3 weeks ago with normal use my door handle broke. It wouldn't open unless I pushed it down in a certain spot, shown in picture 2.

Today I decided I wanted to fix it, or find the problem so I can order a new part. I think I already knew what the problem was, but didn't want to order a part I didn't need.

I started by taking the panel off the door along with all the other necessary things and checked out my handle. I suspected that some plastic piece was broken somewhere because my car is old.

Step 2: Solve the Problem.

My dads idea was to drill a hole in the handle and in the metal of the door and bolt it down. I didn't like the idea of drilling a hole in my door.

The way I figured it, I would just imitate the plastic pieces with some nuts and bolts. I was thinking at first of using two just like how there were two pieces, but that wouldn't work cause the handle wouldn't be able to slide into place.

There was a small hole in the handle already from where the plastic piece broke that I used. It was small enough that I just had to open it a little with a screw driver.

I managed to find the perfect nut in my dads miscellaneous nuts and bolts that fit inside the hole on the door. I put it on my handle and tried it out and it worked perfectly. I could also screw it down somehow so it would be snug.

Step 3: Congratulate Yourself!

I screwed my handle back on and tried it out. It worked! I put on my door panel, window roller thingy (old school), and speaker all back on and then I tried it out again just to make sure.

All in all I would say I was pretty successful today. And the screw is somewhat subtle and if you look real hard you would probably notice it. I could always go the extra step though and paint it maroon. I might still order a new door handle though, but at this point I'm just going to see how long it will last.

Thank you for viewing my instructable!

Comments

[yo man]

what make is your ride?

[trayo]

 It was a 92 Nissan pickup.

[yo man]

cool man! i got a 93 ford explorer with same prob

[dianaw]

 I know this is an older post but- "good job"
I have the opposite problem, my car lock broke and the door won't close.
now I either have to figure out how to change the lock myself- if I can afford that- close the door permanently- which so far I'm not having any luck with- duct tape on the outside isn't a good idea and probably wouldn't work anyway.

or be carless the first time since I have my liscence. which I would actually welcome if I loved in an area conducive to this.

sigh.

[trayo]

 Thanks. Sorry to hear about your problem. You could try this:

thereifixedit.com/2010/01/15/epic-kludge-photo-because-passwords/


=)

[GorillazMiko]

Cool! Not being mean, but wow that looks dirty in the first picture! :P

[trayo]

Haha, not mean at all. My car is only dirty on the inside being it's so old. The rest of my car I like to keep neat and organized. It would take me quite some time to disassemble my car and clean it so I don't really bother.

[gmjhowe]

Nice, more an instructable about carefully thinking things through - im sure it will help many peopls with broken doors also!

[trayo]

Thanks! I'm hoping it will help someone some how.