turbosix

Anyone else have this happen? shut the door the other day after i got out of the car to put some gas in and ended up haivng to have my girlfriend open the door from the inside.

I'm guessing the rod that pulls the door clasp came loose considering i can hear it moving around when i stop / go / turn / close the door

this ever happen to anyone else? i dont really feel like pulling the door panel but i guess i have no choice.

JdmLs400

hmmm i think my handle is jsut broken cuz i dont hear diddly. my front passenger btw.

Kansas

There was apparently a known problem with the door handles on the early LS. When the driver side handle started to fail in around 1993 on my 90 LS, the dealer replaced all four under warranty. I suspect that the new door handles were an improved version since I drove the car another 10 years without a reoccurance of the problem. The same problem happened on an early LS owned by a friend in the U.K. so the problem must not have been limited to U.S. models.

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

Good info.

Try taking off the door panel, and inspecting to pinpoint the situation.

richonenz

The bit on the back of the door handle that takes the rod has strengthening ribs in the plastic , one bit of this cracks allowing it to flex just enough that it doesn't quite travel enough to actually open the door , new handle is the go .

turbosix

ah great i dont feel like getting a new handle painted.... ill take it off tomorrow and see if i can JBweld it back together..

free is the best.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

buy a used handle from a 93/94 thats the same color ...

sbguyy

Turbosix,
I had this happen to me! Take off the door panel and look at where the rod conects to the door handle. I bet you find that the white plastic holder has broken that holds the rod to the door hand. You can buy this part at the dealership( or as I call them,the sealership ) for about 8 dollars.

KU Lex

I have had this same problem happen to me. I have taken the door apart before to change the speakers and I can see that the plastic part at the end of the wire that connects to the outer door handle is broken. However I cant get to it very easily (easily enough to change it) without taking the door apart further. Can someone explain where the bolts and whatnot are, or how to replace this tiny part? I will post pics when I do it if this is a common prob. Thanks guys.

omarg

i don't think 93-94 door handles are any better. The opal white car had its handle replaced. My pearl had a broken handle when i bought it. And the black jade had the passenger door handle replaced by the dealer a couple years ago. So 3 outta 3 cars had broken door handles.

and handles cost $200 what a ripoff considering aftermarket camry handles cost 20.

vredniykot

this sounds like a common problem on SC's as well, i personally have not been inside of LS' door but i bet it's same as SC, if it is - you guys dont need new handles, it's just a small plastic clip that holds that rod, i've replaced mine in the SC, yeah it's PITA
but do search SC forums for broken door handle fix, it has tutorials with pics

Klierslc

Do the first gens have the capability to roll the D/S window down with the key?

If so, that might help in the short term..

KU Lex

Yeah I can see that it is as simple as a plastic clip. I have already replaced the outer door handle (performed by my normal mechanic). I just need to know how to get to the linkage. Has anyone done this themself? I think it should be easy enough. I just dont want to go pulling on parts I don't know about. Thanks.