Introduction: 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!
9 Comments
12 years ago on Introduction
what make is your ride?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
It was a 92 Nissan pickup.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
cool man! i got a 93 ford explorer with same prob
12 years ago on Introduction
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.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Thanks. Sorry to hear about your problem. You could try this:
thereifixedit.com/2010/01/15/epic-kludge-photo-because-passwords/
=)
14 years ago on Introduction
Cool! Not being mean, but wow that looks dirty in the first picture! :P
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
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.
14 years ago on Introduction
Nice, more an instructable about carefully thinking things through - im sure it will help many peopls with broken doors also!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Thanks! I'm hoping it will help someone some how.