Driver's door won't open

[pete.mills]

Hoping someone can help me. I couldn't get into my S2 this morning through the driver's door. The key turned the lock but the handle didn't engage. The internal handle was fine. I took the externally accessible part of the lock mechanism off and can see that the internal handle is engaging a lever that the external handle isn't. Any advice gratefully received. If I go in through the passenger door the alarm goes off and I don't know how to disengage it. I can see the neighbours getting upset! Thanks.

 

[geoffbateman]

When this happenned to me it was a little connecting link between the lever mechanism on the door handle and the lock mechanism. It's attaches to a small and fragile looking die cast bit which broke. I got a complete replacement door handle and mechanism from Porscapart but then found out that you can get a VW repair kit (same door handle as Golf) and I think that was about £17 or so, from memory. Hope that helps.

 

[944 man]

The handle is unique to Porsche, it looks like a VW handle, but it isnt the same.

This is a common / well known problem. You did use to have to buy a replacement handle, but more recently a repair part has been available.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

The part maybe different from the VW bits but mine are off a Passat I believe

 

[pete.mills]

Thanks for your replies and very useful information - hopefully a less expensive fix than I had feared. I've booked it into my local Porsche specialist on Friday. He confirmed it is a common problem and is likely to be a broken or detached piece of plastic. I asked him whether the handle was common with the VW Golf and he said it was? I'll let you know the outcome.

 

[Northern924]

Handle itself is the same which is why VW modders buy them but the mech. is different and as its been said is specific to the Porsche door.

This is the part you need...

30min job to replace

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Played with mine yesterday as it has been getting "intermittent" but has never been very good (wasn't working at all when I got it and I just did a quick fix 3 years ago) - a couple of turns of the plastic end piece and it works great.

 

[pete.mills]

Paul / Mike,

That's great - thanks. Would you recommend taking the door lining off to replace it or can this be done externally?

Regards,

Pete.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

I dont think you can do it without taking door card off - but thats easy enough.

I'm off work this week so if you've any probs , give me a call - no below.

Cheers

 

[pete.mills]

Thanks Mike - I'll give it a go and see how I get on.

 

[VanhireBoys]

I dont want to alarm you Pete but I ended up taking the glass out of mine. There was a big cover attached to the bottom half of the runner that covered up the full workings of the handle and door mechanism... There was another cover I had to take off for access. With hindsight I should have left the glass in and just taken off the bottom section of runner...! []

I am presuming that all this extra stuff is in an 85/2 on .... I know the 924 is really easy to work on......! I should have taken pictures....[]

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Must say I didn't notice yours is an S2 - I know they are different, don't know how much.

 

[pete.mills]

Aha - might not be as simple as I thought. If anyone has any pictures on how to remove all the door trim/covers on a post 1985 car to access the handle mechanism then that would be much appreciated. Paul - you have a post 1985 car and said this should take 30 mins - what is your secret please?

 

[geoffbateman]

It took me longer than 30 minutes on my 87 car, bit basically it just involved rmoving the door card, which is pretty straight forward, just screws and clips. You then have to cut through the plastic membrane, or peel it back in the adjacent area. With a torch and mirror you can sort of see up in there. The outside handle is held on with one screw at the front which once undone allows you to slide the handle (forward I think) which releases it from the door and allows you to extract the handle (from memory) You might have to remove the central locking motor but that is fairly simple and self explanatory when you see it.
The job is fidly, yes, it always is working inside the door, but I did it without removing the window glass.
I've got a full workshop manual on CD rom which gives all the information. I might be able to extract the relevant pages and e-mail them to you. I've not done it before, but I'm sure it is possible.

 

[pete.mills]

Thanks Geoff for your advice & Donal for your words of caution. I am ashamed to admit that, after cancelling, I have now re-booked it back in to my local Porsche specialist for him to do on Friday - I've already ordered the parts suggested and will take them with me. I'm not very adept at these things and read some horror stories on US forums about repairing the door handle - one guy still had his car in bits after 32 hours! I'll pay close attention to what he does as I am now v intrigued. Thanks everyone for their advice - great as always.

Regards,

Pete.

 

[235tonyw]

Hi Pete,

Booking in with indendant sound move if you're not practiced in the mechanics art? I replaced my door handle on my 1991 S2 cab last year as when I bought it the key didn't fit ( 2nd hand replacement or VW) got new handle c/w locking barrel and spare blade from Colchester PC circa £100 (key blade fitted everything). when I came to replace it (2 attempts) 1st time could not access all the door card screws 2nd time sussed the bottom screw holders which are plasic recessed on speaker housing where broken out on speaker housing so that had been secured with black mastic! Surgical removal with sharp modelling knife got over that, found last fixing screw up through arm rest near centre and hey presto door card lifted off! Only the start? Geoff was correct there is only 1 screw holding door handle located on door end near locking mechanisim, once removed handle pulls back & front tab unhooks at front from body! Now the fun part you have to unclip the plastic ball link off a metal ball except there is no direct access! ( in your case this was probable broken?) You can see it from down low looking up into the door & from the plastic air vent (removed) on door end. It took me 5 hours in total 3 of which were undoing the ball link & clipping up new unit! used 2 screw drivers (like pliers) at angles to pop link off & new one on trouble is you can't easily see the link and get tools in at same time! New link kept twisting on threads each time I closed them together! I dare say there may be an easier way but that would involve removing the window mechanism or the central locking motor I suspect? I still have that job ( CL motor to do on nearside door) so plucking up enthusiasm for this year as I suspect it will be another mastic cutting job to get door card off! The parts drawings show the links but not the door structure which obscures the fitting process!

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Would love to see the inside of an S2 door, just to find out how its different.

Mine has central locking - not sure if its Porsche or aftermarket - but I can get at all the bits quite easily.

Hope it gets sorted ok.

As an aside, I have made a righthand handle fit the left door, the basic castings are the same, but its the lever piece that determines the "hand" of the handle.

 

[pete.mills]

Gents,

Door handle was fixed on Friday at my local Porsche specialist - the part suggested by Paul was the right one - good job I took it with me (only cost £10). I did pop in to have a look at the door when he was working on it - he did need to take off the door lining and it didn't look that complicated behind, but apart from that I can't really help as I've never seen any of the earlier models. It's obviously a fiddly job as he was a bit grumpy when I went in to the workshop! It was 1.5 hours and £100 but if I'd tried I probably still be trying to get the handle back on. Bonus was he fixed my central locking (or at least on 1 side). Thanks everyone for your help and offers of support.

Regards,

Pete.