Help! Passenger door latch failure

[Flowjoe]

On our '82 the passenger door latch mostly looks like this:


One can feel spring tension when it is depressed and it returns about half way home consistently. Sometimes it will return to the full rest position (in line with the top of door) but not always. It does, however, always fail to open the door.

Took the panel off today to lube the window tracks and regulator as well as trouble shoot this problem. I expected to find the rod not connected to the door latch but this was not the case. Everything was where it was supposed to be, it even moves the latch mechanism just not enough to open. Here are the best photos I could manage this afternoon:





Any help on how to proceed will be appreciated.

 

[bill81vette]

I believe you can either....
A) replace the handle or
B) there was a spring available for the lazy handles
here is a link...http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb...3G027Y9M66679918550D~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000050G~~~

 

[Antz81]

Have you tried to adjust the rod that goes up to the handle?
It looks like yours is adjusted to make this rod as short as possible. but if you adjust it to be longer it may solve the problem.

 

[Flowjoe]

I believe you can either....
A) replace the handle or
B) there was a spring available for the lazy handles
here is a link...http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb...3G027Y9M66679918550D~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000050G~~~

Interesting - and thanks for the link

I understand that will make the door handle pop back up but will it aid in making it open the door again? I have disassembled 4 of these doors in the past (L & R on a '69 and a '70) but have never had to put one back together or adjust them.

 

[Hib Halverson]

It's likley the door latch/lock mechanism inside the door is lacks lubrication and is full of dirt, hardended grease and other debris.

Remvoe the lock/latch assy. First, soak it in hot soapy water and scrub off dirt. Dry with shop air then soak in solvent to get all the old grease off it. Dry with shop air again.

Now inspect the assembly to see if its working properly. If it is put a little bit of grease on parts which pivot than reinstall it. Adjust the lock latch rods as necessary. Then, reassmeble the door trim.

I did that on the driver door of my 71 with great success.

 

[Flowjoe]

Have you tried to adjust the rod that goes up to the handle?
It looks like yours is adjusted to make this rod as short as possible. but if you adjust it to be longer it may solve the problem.

I had considered that butbthe AIM shows 1" of thread past barrel adjuster...that approximately what I haveconfused. The real issue is that I can't figure out how to remove the barrel adjuster from the latch...any hints there? I know it has a retainer but I can't see it nor figure out how to access.

 

[Flowjoe]

It's likley the door latch/lock mechanism inside the door is lacks lubrication and is full of dirt, hardended grease and other debris.

Remvoe the lock/latch assy. First, soak it in hot soapy water and scrub off dirt. Dry with shop air then soak in solvent to get all the old grease off it. Dry with shop air again.

Now inspect the assembly to see if its working properly. If it is put a little bit of grease on parts which pivot than reinstall it. Adjust the lock latch rods as necessary. Then, reassmeble the door trim.

I did that on the driver door of my 71 with great success.

I had considered that. Not being sure exactly where my problem lay I decided to clean it in situ with brake clean and the re-lube with a dry lubricant (PTFB). Not ideal but I thought it might let me see some improvement. For the inside release there was a benefit but not so much the outside release. I may have to take it all apart yet.

Am I correct in assuming I have two distinct problems here? 1) the lazy exterior door handle 2) the failure of said handle to open the door. If true, I suspect that there will not be a single solution - that, for example, replacing the door handle will not fix both problems. Correct?

 

[Antz81]

I had considered that butbthe AIM shows 1" of thread past barrel adjuster...that approximately what I haveconfused. The real issue is that I can't figure out how to remove the barrel adjuster from the latch...any hints there? I know it has a retainer but I can't see it nor figure out how to access.

Mines set closer to 1/2" than 1" without any issues.
I think the rod can be released at the base of the outer door handle.

 

[Flowjoe]

Update

Thanks for everyone's help. I have solved the door issue. Elected to order a new exterior handle (Trim Parts - I know their quality from Camaro-World and the online reviews by Corvette folks makes them the go to for repop handles). Removed the latch and everything moved as it should but decided to give it a thorough cleaning and lube as Hib Halverson's post. Reassembled and actually had to shorten the rod (by a little bit) that Antz81 and I were discussing in order to get it to mesh with the hole in the latch lever. At any rate, it all works perfectly now. Can't say that it was the dirty latch (although cleaning and lubing surely didn't hurt) or the replacement handle.

Thanks again all!