Everyone here I am sure has experienced this time and again walking up to your TGP and going to open the door and "SNAP".
Well I just wanted to start a thread on this to see if you guys had any other solutions to this problem aside from just replacing the whole unit(which I can do with my eyes closed lol).
I had a few Ideas JB puddy for the repair aspect of it.
Electronic door poppers as the ultimate expensive solution.
So any and all guesses thoughts and procedures are welcome.
Use OEM handles as replacements(if you visit a junkyard and happen upon a lower mileage 1st Gen car with tight door handles, grab them as spares!). The cheap aftermarket ones are made even shittier than our OEM ones, so they'll break pretty quickly compared to a factory one. Also, just use the handle to unlatch the door, then grasp the top edge of the door to pull it open. Do not pull the entire weight of the door open using the handle alone or you're going to break them much more frequently. If anyone rides with you, give them a short lesson on opening your doors. :laugh: For you guys up north that have to deal with freezing temps, you need to dress the weatherstripping with a little dielectric grease occasionally(once per year sometime before winter should be sufficient). That should keep the door from freezing shut in the winter if it's parked outside.
For what it's worth, I've never broken a door handle on any of my three GP's. My parent's broke the drivers door handle on my 1993 about 4-5 years after they purchased the car new. They would pull the entire weight of the door open by the flimsy handle. I think they figured out the issue after that and started opening the door differently. The replacement door handle from 1997-1998ish is still on my car and works perfectly.
I hit a gold mine at a junkyard one time and I found 4 door handles that were in great shape. I couldn't pay for them all so I tucked them away in the back seat of one of the GPs. I came back 2 weeks later and the car had been crushed. D'oh!
That is kinda my problem my little stash of handles I have picked up over the past few years are diminishing quickly. I think I have one driver's side left but am tired of seeing the pile of broken ones. If I don't work over time tonight I'll try my JB puddy idea and throw up some pics. Maybe it will give some of those broken ones some use.
I like the Electronic door popping Idea. :icon_lol:
I found a set on ebay but want to do some more reading to make sure it will fit our application to the best advantage before I post a link. I put JB puddy on today but forgot not to grab the door handle the rest of the day and broke apart the still drying puddy. So I will try again tomarrow.
I can't wait until mine breaks! One of the few things that has yet to break. I will start counting the days......... :laugh:
When I was going to redo my TGP I was going to put 1997-2005 style door handels on the outer doors......so many plans so little time.
Quote from: mfewtrail on September 08, 2010, 07:14:00 AM
Also, just use the handle to unlatch the door, then grasp the top edge of the door to pull it open. Do not pull the entire weight of the door open using the handle alone or you're going to break them much more frequently.
Quoted for truth. I've done the same and I've never broken a doorhandle on any of the first gen GPs I've owned... even in the dead middle of winter at -40*.
I open the door the "correct" way also and havent broken a handle yet
I tried a second time with the JB puddy and had a little piece of metal to act as a splint but it just snapped when I had it installed and tried it the first time. So my thought on that note is to try a full collar around the break and then puddy but I need to be careful of how thick I make it.
As far as the correct way to open the door (not trying to be rude) but last time I checked when you want to open a door you grab handle and pull it opens not pull slightly look both ways caress ever so careful and give it a kiss. It is just supposed to work. I mean its not like I run up to my door grab it and yank it with all my might or anything.
its crappy pot metal, junk it and buy a new one. It will last longer than any "putty" lol
Good point... But that would dissappoint the junkyard warrior n me. Lol
I broke down and borrowed a door handle off of my parts tgp. but I will keep pondering a good use for the broken ones besides a paper weight.
Stop being hamfisted with the doorhandles. They are not sturdy. Treat them as such and you won't have to complain about them breaking.
Unbelieveable. I go to open my TGP this morning and the handle pulls out fine, but the damn door REFUSES to open! :icon_evil: I can open it just fine from the inside, but not from the outside. What the hell should I be looking for to fix it? Is this the same thing you are talking about? Sounds like yours actually snaps and breaks. I don't think mine snapped at all, just refuses to open. It goes back just fine when being pulled. These cars ar fuggin amazing with the ability to break or just not work in every aspect of them. Really really really sick of this car..............
I have had that happen before as well it is a very technical procedure I would like you to try (lol) tap the unlock button repetitively like you playing a video game then try the outside handle if this dosn't do the trick you will have to remove the cover an adjust the latch rod screw.
The handles can be adjusted. Just pop off the access panel on the door and adjust the rod. That should do the trick.
Alright, first, I am going to put the blame for this squarely on NTRCOOL! :laugh: ;)
I had not driven my TGP for about a week, because I just bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee and was driving it until the novelty wore off (didn't take to long at 11 mpg! :icon_eek:)
This post was fresh in my mind and when I went to pull the TGP's door handle I very softly pulled on it and........... nothing. I did not want to break it. However, out of anger I gave it a quick, but crisp pull and the door opened right up. I lubed everything up, closed the door and softly pulled. NOTHING. If I softly pull the handle out, and then yank it the door will not open. But if I just give it a quick but firm YANK it opens every time. Did it about 50 times to make sure! :icon_lol:
I was just being to cautious after reading this post. Everything seems to be the same as before, I just was pulling like a pussy. If I yank the door handle like I am angry at it, it opens nicely everytime. That should be easy to remember. I am constantly pissed off at this car! :icon_razz:
I didn't do it. Lol i swear if you try the gamer trick you can go back to the future... I mean normal pulling. I usually have to do the gamer when i have unlocked the door with the key.
I love TGPs but seriously sad that GM makes a design that some on here states you might as well stroke it till it gets off then it opens. I like my handles like on my many Cadillacs grab it, pound it, do whatever it always opens any day every time. I read about grasping the door? Seriously TGP edict? Did we forget they are called door handles?!?! Lol NTRCOOL come up with a neat revised design or someone since no one should have to be instructed on how to open a car. Sheesh next thing I hear will be about sweet talking the thing when we change oil lol!
Its a really simple design, like Nick said, just remove the cover (14mm + phillips screwdriver). Remove the clip on the adjuster and slide rod off, spin adjuster to the left a few turns to back it out so there is more throw when you pull the handle. Pop the rod back in with the clip and give it a try. This way the door opens before the handle is fully extended, therefore you wont have to yank on the handle.
My TGP is a bitch. It likes it rough...........
That's the spirit! Lol! Also not sure if anyone reads all of the responses but the procedure to adjust has been told already. Well... that and a comical fun way to just get it to open if you need to get to work now not later.
I was at work the other day scrounging around the brass scrap box full of misc. fittings and what nots and found a furler for crimping the end of a hose and my junkyard warrior whispered in my head "You can use that as a full wrap around brace fro a broken door handle." So I brought it home and will see how it works out after I stop procrastinating.
Score!!! :laugh: