Drivers door wont open from outside

[Jamesd]

I can no longer open the drivers door from the outside. It can be opened from inside in the normal way.

The push button on the door handle moves in and out but without any significant resistance.

The lock button appears to be operational.

I assume that a connecting rod or linkage has either broken or come apart.

I also assume that removal of the door trim pad will be required but has anyone encountered this problem before - what should I be looking for??

Thanks

JamesD

[Carledo]

This is fairly common and affects cars that are not used much especially.

You will probably find that what has happened (if all rods etc are still connected) is that the arm on the latch mechanism that is worked by the INTERNAL lock button has jammed or stuck in the middle of it's travel. Unfortunately, to sort this, you will have to remove the doorcard, but at last you can open the door to do so, which makes life easier. If it sticks the wrong way, ie with the door locked, it can be impossible to get the door open to work on it! Think yourself lucky!

Steve

[Jamesd]

Door card removed and the problem reveals itself.

The casting fitted to the back of the door handle has cracked and deflects when the handle button is pressed to the extent that it has reduced movement of the linkage to the point at which it won't allpw the door to unlock.

New door handle ordered. No doubt fitting it will be fund (not)

James D

[Carledo]

It's not TOO hard to swap handles! 2x 5/16" or 3/8" nuts! But best to diconnect the actuating rod from the latch and remove it with the handle, then take the rod off outside the door, fit it to the new handle and reassemble, much easier that way!

And be careful with the skinny crappy little gaskets if your new handle comes without them as most do!

Steve

[Jamesd]

Slightly to my surprise I managed to change the door handle yesterday evening in just over an hour....and it seems to work!

Removing the door handle with the actuating rod attached was good advice as was moving the window channel out of the way.

Door handle came from Rimmers but with no gaskets but I managed to salvage sufficient of the old ones for re-use.

Many thanks for the help.

Next job is the door glass outer weatherstrips. I understand this can be a frustrating job. Any helpful tips?

James D

[mahony]

Slightly to my surprise I managed to change the door handle yesterday evening in just over an hour....and it seems to work!

Removing the door handle with the actuating rod attached was good advice as was moving the window channel out of the way.

Door handle came from Rimmers but with no gaskets but I managed to salvage sufficient of the old ones for re-use.

Many thanks for the help.

Next job is the door glass outer weatherstrips. I understand this can be a frustrating job. Any helpful tips?

James D

Door weather strips are not too bad to fit if you have one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-TRIUMPH-B ... 2100033918 to hand to fit the clips over the rubber, the original weather strips had cut outs in the rubbers which made them easier to fit but aftermarket ones do not ( or make you own suitable tool ).

[Mad Mart]

If you get the weather strips from Chris Witor he also sells the wider clips.