Post by
docmel »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/docmel-u251619.html
Wed May 06, 2015 1:53 pm
Seeing how this seems to be common issue, I thought I would tackle it head on since my handle (drivers side front) came off about a week ago. After just one day of having to open the passenger side door, then crawl thru to open the drivers door, I had about enough.
First I have to disagree somewhat with the long post with pics on how to fix the problem. Don't get me wrong, the person that did the fix post spent allot of time on helping us all out, and was good enough to post pics. So I'm not here to say the post is somewhat wrong, but to post a similar and much easier way to fix the prob. I used the persons post to get halfway there to my final solution, so I am grateful for the post, and w/o it, I would've run into issues
First, be SURE YOUR DOORS ARE UNLOCKED. Unless you have spare set of keys: I DON'T. I would roll down all but the drivers window just in case. The drivers window must be all the way up
Second: Take your time. The below works, but don't force ANYTHING. period. If you find yourself forcing something you are doing it wrong.
1. Understand how the handle works: First, I am sure when it "broke" off, you prob looked at the handle closely and saw a small pin hole in the front portion of the handle which looks like some sort of pivot pin had once been in it as a fulcrum point. I took the whole door handle interior assembly out (you DON'T have to to fix the prob), but I did it just to see how the handle works.
Foremost, understand that there is NO PIN that has broke, no snaps that went into the holes, PERIOD. (No I don't know why the hole is there)
If you take your old handle and just slide the front part of the handle back in its hole and gently finesse back in, you will feel how the handle will go back into its front cradle inside the door. Yes, its a somewhat loose fit. But then you will see that the rear part of the handle wont go back into place. That's because 2 things are in the way:
a: The interior door latch, which looks like small silver gray "tit" pointing downwards, is spring loaded and in the down position. There is not enough room to pry it up so you can slide the rear part of the handle back into place. The spring loaded tit lays in a small "box" formed by two small plastic walls on the top, rear part of your door handle. Look at your door handle from the top and you will see what I mean.
This tit, when seated in the box of the door handle, is what opens your door from the outside. You pull the rear of the door handle, and it pulls outward and lifts this tit about 45 degrees
What has happened is that one of the plastic walls of the "box" that holds the "tit" is worn. When you pulled the door handle out, the tit came over the worn top of the wall and then the whole rear part of the handle came out and the front part of the handle that just lays in cradle pulled out with it. Once you see this, you will now see how the door handle actually works, as well as how this part gets worn. A good hard pull is enough to get the handle to pop off, even with very little wear present
So nothing broke, you just have a worn handle. And the "cotter pin" fix will not fix the issue. The front part of the handle, the "pivot" point, is not the cause. The rear of the handle is
b. The door lock may also be in the way of getting your new handle in. But maybe your door lock cover popped off. No prob, Ill get to that later
First, you need a new handle. Go to the net and order one. Be sure you get the front drivers side. I searched and ordered one for $15.00 US, but of course USPS shipping was like another $12.00. It came in black, with a new lock cover. I have blue versa, but at this point I could care less if the handle was pink
Installation:
First, before you take anything apart, Try this:
Just slide the front part of the new handle in the door at a slight outward angle. It will fell a little funny, very sloppy, like it wants to keep falling out of place. But that's ok. Remember, the front part just slides in and lays in a cradle: No pin, no snaps, and you want a loose feel so you can wiggle the rear part of the handle in place.
Now attempt the get the rear part on the handle in. Do this by SLIGHTLY pulling the handle to the rear (yes, it will feel like the front part of the handle might not be seated, but no worries)
Now gently push the rear of the handle inwards, while pushing it forward at the same time. (maybe wiggle just a little up and down as well). You will eventually feel the rear part of the handle pop in, and there you are.
What you are doing here is going AROUND and to the slight rear of the little spring loaded tit, not going directly under it
Keep in mind that the front part of the handle must slide into its cradle as well, so work slowly while keeping an eye on both (even though you cant really see whats going on). Go by feel
BUT, maybe, the front of the door lock cylinder is in the way of getting the rear part of the handle in. If that's the case, loosen it from the door jamb, like in the previous post, and that will def give you the room you need
NOTE: IF, and only if you must remove the inner door panel, follow the previous post, but know that you cant help but to break maybe two or three of the 6 or so white inner clips that secures the door panel to the inner steel part of the door. You can get new ones that will work from O'Reillys, part number 454640BP made for Ford. They don't look exactly like the OEM ones, but will work. Or you can go to the dealer and get them for almost $3 a piece
Last edited by
Rogue One on Wed May 06, 2015 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Deleted duplicate post.