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driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

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driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

Posted: 9/12/12 10:23pmMessage 1 of 7
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 869
Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
I've seen a couple of related posts lately, but not sure they apply exactly to my problem: the inside door handle is not quite allowing the door to release.  Not a big problem as a light shoulder bump will open the door, but it's irritating.  The outside handle works fine, but the release does not occur till the very end of it's travel.  What's the adjustment, if any, that I need to do here?  Tonight I just did some lubrication on the latch, and it seemed to help a little, but I suspect there's deeper magic to be done....

 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
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Re: driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

Posted: 9/13/12 5:00amMessage 2 of 7
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Rockland, MA - USA
Joined: 1/30/2003
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Vette(s): 76, L48, 4spd & 09, LS3, 6spd
It looks like both can be adjusted by turning the threaded ends on the connecting rods. The inside handle might be easier to adjust than the outside, but neither has much room for your fingers.
 
If this works, s/b a picture below:
 

 

 

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Re: driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

Posted: 9/13/12 8:51amMessage 3 of 7
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Tucson, AZ - USA
Joined: 10/7/2007
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Vette(s): 1970 White L-46 Air Roadster, 1971 White LT1 Coupe, 1971 Red Auto Air Coupe, 383 stroker, 430 HP, 2002 Millennium Yellow Auto Coupe

This picture does show most of the workings for the door lock and the door handle operating system. The part not shown is the actual "meat" of the latching system, the latch itself, and the pin that it hooks to to keep the door closed. If you have to bump the door open with your shoulder, than the door itself (or the latch pin) may need to be adjusted a little bit. Over time, the doors will tend to sag a little because of all the weight hanging out ther in space when they are open.

Before you get too intense about changing anything, all the moving parts should be cleaned, checked and lubricated. Then check the rod adjustments. the rods themselves are fairly thin, and will tend to flex a little if they have to work too hard. Cleaning and lubricating all the moving parts will make the whole system work smoother and easier, and may cure all of your problems.

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Re: driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

Posted: 9/13/12 9:40amMessage 4 of 7
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I'm thinking the same thing as Mike...if you need to "bump" the door from the inside, it's possible the latch pin/bolt needs to be adjusted, as well as a good lube on all of the linkages. It could be just the linkage adjustments, but strange that both of them(inside & outside) would go funky at the same time.

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Re: driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

Posted: 9/13/12 2:55pmMessage 5 of 7
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Rockland, MA - USA
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Vette(s): 76, L48, 4spd & 09, LS3, 6spd
Adams' Apple said: I'm thinking the same thing as Mike...if you need to "bump" the door from the inside, it's possible the latch pin/bolt needs to be adjusted, as well as a good lube on all of the linkages. It could be just the linkage adjustments, but strange that both of them(inside & outside) would go funky at the same time.

I agree the latch pin may need adjustment, but first make sure your hinge pin bushings are ok (door sags and you can lift it from the back). New bushings and pins often fixes this type of problem w/o additional adjustments - did on mine. I have a how to on the pin / bushing replacement if you need it.
 
good luck and keep us posted -

 

 

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Re: driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

Posted: 9/13/12 5:53pmMessage 6 of 7
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
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Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Thanks for the advice guys!  I suspect I may need that hinge pin/bushing how-to eventually.  Do you need to take the doors off?  For now, I'm just going to do some lubrication and maybe adjust the latch pin.  How is that adjusted?  I took it off and put it back on last night, but didn't see much of an adjusting mechanism.  Inside the B-pillar? 



 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
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Re: driver's side inside door handle not releasing door

Posted: 9/14/12 5:58amMessage 7 of 7
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Rockland, MA - USA
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Vette(s): 76, L48, 4spd & 09, LS3, 6spd

The door is detached from the hinges on the door side and then slid back to clear the hinges. Then you just drive out the pins and bushings, replace with new - slide the door back, attach the hinge and  bingo, bango you're done. Make sure you mark the hinge locations before removing any of the bolts. I used a shot of gray primer on mine, does not show when put back together, but very easy to see when lining it all up.

Tough part is holding the door - can be done with a floor jack and a helper, might consider using your engine hoist and a couple of straps as well. The shops use a cradle like adaper for a floor jack, which makes it a doable job for one person. Maybe you can rent or borrow one?
 
Good luck - sounds a lot worse than what it really is. Thumbs Up
 
 

 

 

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