Door handle adjustment

[kellen302]

The front passenger exterior door handle on my wagon sits too far out, sort of halfway actuated. The door latches/locks fine, but I can't see past the glass with the door card off to adjust anything. Is there an adjustment for this? Or is it a matter of bending rods to fix the lengths?

Thanks!

[87gtVIC]

There are springs that hold the handle closed within the handle mechanism. I cannot see how the flimsy interior actuating rods are holding it open. I suspect a failure within your exterior door handle.

[kellen302]

Took a closer look at it today, the latches were all removed at some point when the car was painted so I'm sure there is some chicanery going on in there given the lack of care given when it was masked. At least one of the other door handles is a Dorman type replacement with a plastic body. I'll go ahead and order some replacements on Ebay

[87gtVIC]

Were they riveted in place or nut and bolted? The big rivets scare me on fresh paint...any paint really.

[kellen302]

They have phillips head fasteners, not sure if there is a nut on the inside or not. As long as they didn't oversize the hole I will go ahead and replace with rivets. It was a mediocre re-paint some years before it came to me. I've got an air riveter so it's controlled.

[87gtVIC]

Good luck.