Problems Opening Drivers side door from Inside

[alternativeguy17]

Just a bit ago, i was out in my car, and i couldn't get the drivers side door to open, so i tried locking the door, then unlocking it, it still wouldn't open, so i had to climb over the console and get out the passenger side door, i then walked around tried opening my drivers side door from the outside and it opens from the outside, but not from the inside still, i don't wanna have to have the window rolled down to get out then reach outside it just to open the drivers door, kinda ghetto embrassing lol, anyone know what i can do to fix this?

 

[Quik LS]

I bet your inside door handle is broken. take a flasklight and look in at the inside of the handle when pulled out. Seems to be a new 'common' issue.

the part is $65 to replace the handle and takes about 30mins.

 

[alternativeguy17]

Yep your 100% correct Quik, it's broke alright, don't know how something like that happened out of nowhere....Is it hard to place, and do Ford Dealerships carry these on hand, or is it something i'd be waiting on them to order in and fix for me?

 

[Quik LS]

my local lincoln dealer did have one in stock - they changed the design in 03.

it was very easy to change yourself - takes 30mins. you'll need to buy three small bolts, nuts and lock washers - as the sotck unit is held on with large rivets - larger than you can buy at Home Depot - so I justed used small bolts.

 

[black_lincoln]

its either that or the cable on the inside is broken. i`ve been through both (NOT FUN). the door handle fixed it the first time. the second time it was the cable. i just had to ghetto rig my door so that i can open it from the inside because the dealership wanted 1200 to fix it. they said they they dont make just a replacement cable for the ls you have to buy the whole assembly. but its pretty much just one cable that connects the door lock switch which is in turn connected to the door handle.if it isn`t the door handle, just take the door pannel off and see what the problem is. for me it was just the clamp that connects the cable to the door lock switch that was broken. good luck with it . hope this helps some.


jace

 

[alternativeguy17]

Just picked up the new door handle from the dealership.... my question now is, so this new handle won't work with the factory setup, do i need to buy "three small bolts, nuts and lock washers" like Quik said, or can i just use whatever was holding the original door handle on, also what do i need to do to get the original handle off besides taking off the door panel

 

[Quik LS]

the stock handle is held on with three HUGE rivets - they are 'industrial' size - bigger than you can purchase at Home Depot. So you drill them out - to get the stock handle off - then have to use either new rivets (which I could never find) or bolts to put the new handle on.

 

[alternativeguy17]

Just got the door panel apart, and i see what you mean now... man i feel dumb, lol thanks for the head's up Quik

 

[2001LS8Sport]

the stock handle is held on with three HUGE rivets - they are 'industrial' size - bigger than you can purchase at Home Depot. So you drill them out - to get the stock handle off - then have to use either new rivets (which I could never find) or bolts to put the new handle on.

Quik...you can buy the rivets from an industrial supply house or from Ford if you can find a parts guy that is willing to do the work to find where they're listed. Then, you need a special rivet gun because they use a larger mandrel. I actually have one that's air operated. It came from Helicoil of all places. But I had a serial number plate that had to be transferred because of collision repair and it was riveted on. I wanted it to look right so the vehicle didn't come into question when I sold it at a later time.

 

[Quik LS]

right - the partsman actually gave me a handful of rivets - it wasn't till I got home that I realized how large there were, and that my standard DIYer rivet tool would not handle it.

When a trip to Home Depot came up blank - I went the screw route.