Broken door handle - again.

Kevin

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How do I get into the car with two doors that won't open? I'm not paying some locksmith to get into it.

Since the door handle is broken again (lasted a whole 6 months!!!), I'm gonna bust it out.

Eff this car, it's given me more grief in 2 years with stupid stuff than my other rides.
 
Ive had mine 6 years and havent had hardly any problems. General wear and tear, plus a door handle.
 
Once you get them fixed, do the 'gentle handle mod' in which you open your doors in a manner designed to put the least amount of stress on them.

That is, instead of just yanking on the handle and pulling the weight of the door with just the handle, pull open the handle until the door unlatches, then grab it by the frame of the door to open it the rest of the way.

My two 13 year old door handles are still intact this way :)

Possible you may be able to reach up in there with a pair of needle nose pliers and unlatch the door?
 
OK - got into the car.

Breaking the 1/4 glass just adds one more project to fix - I'd like to break alot more than just the glass on this old POS though.

I put a flat screwdriver into the lock mechanism, pried it out including the handle housing, giving me access to the rods inside the door that pop the door open.

Am well aware of proper technique to open doors on these things - but it's my wifey that drives this car. She doesn't care about cars much, even though she's the one who suffers when she can't get in. Goofy girl, I should buy her a Kia or something :D.
 
hell then theres a bunch of bodykits for them, i think it was posted here somewhere, wheres my search brit?.......
 
hell then theres a bunch of bodykits for them, i think it was posted here somewhere, wheres my search brit?.......

:lol:

I'm too lazy to search now - I'll ninja edit later if I find anything.

BTW, I took my driver's door handle out last night because one of the hinges had fallen out - what an absolute F*ing pita!!!

I lost my temper and broke the plastic thing on the back of the lock barrel. :mad:
 
Am well aware of proper technique to open doors on these things - but it's my wifey that drives this car. She doesn't care about cars much, even though she's the one who suffers when she can't get in. Goofy girl, I should buy her a Kia or something :D.

You know the technique, but apparently she doesn't. Remedy that :)

Kia - buddy of mine in college had a 99 Sephia. Closing the doors on that thing sounded like dropping an empty soup can. We used to ambush him to open & close his doors to hear it go "tink" whenever we shut it. Hilarious, and the most insanely stupid half-HEI, half-COP ignition system I have ever seen.
 
Heres an idea, buy her a honda she can fuk up and you drive the mark.

I do want her to be safe though, for when she crashes into things ;). Not many cars bigger than a Mark, and I won't own a Pick-up truck/SUV.

Remedy that? When was the last time you told a woman something (and she listened) :D?

Well, I found a 98 in a local yard this morning, bought BOTH door handles for $50. They were even green, albiet a slightly 'softer' shade, our 94 is 'emerald'. They'll look OK I guess.

About the plastic piece - it's held on by a little C shaped ring - pretty easy to pop off. One of my 'new' ones is also broke, but the 'old' one should work.

Thanks for letting me vent guys, but now my coming Saturday is shot screwing around with door handles (again).
 
If you're good with metalworking, you may be able to fab a couple more pieces to strengthen the door handle before you put it in.

I taught my gf the proper door technique, but arguably she learned on account of my policy that those who break door handles will pay for them to be replaced :) Otherwise, I suspect you're right and she would not have listened. Well said, Kevin.
 

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