PDA

View Full Version : '94 Cavalier..... sigh... drivers door...


derekbroerse
01-09-2008, 08:42 AM
Same stupid car... yes I still hate it. Yes I still need it. Yes, it went thru etest with 250000kms like a new car...

Anyways, drivers door suddenly decided it won't open from the inside anymore, opens from the outside just fine.

Linkage is still attached, you can hear it all working in there, in fact I figured with that many miles maybe it was just worn too sloppy and didn't have enough travel so I 'tweeked' it slightly to shorten it a bit, didn't help.

What confuses me about this car is that when you use the handle after you release it you always hear a slight click inside the doors, like the power lock solenoid giving a quick tiny motion (it has the auto locks when you pull it into gear, need to step on the brakes to shift too) but with the door panel off (mostly, its a nightmare in itself--four pieces and rivets??) the lock solenoid is way up at the front of the door yet the sound is at the rear with the mechanism---what is in there?

This is one of these cars that I (am forced to) drive daily so I don't wanna take it all apart and not be able to get something back together again, hence why I am asking first. I don't have any sort of manual for it. One of my big handicaps (on the trucks too) has been that my arms don't fit inside the doors... I'm not Arnold but I'm certainly no annorexic either! Door and window mechanisms always cause me grief for this reason so I don't wanna spend any more time in there than necessary.

Any insight guys?

festerw
01-09-2008, 02:05 PM
We had a similar issue on my brothers wrangler the 12 year old grease, oil, etc. was just to gummed up to work right.

We just hosed it down with brake cleaner and recoated it with spray graphite and works great now.

DAVESTREEHOUSE
02-20-2008, 10:17 AM
Had Trouble W/mine Too. There Was A Clip In There That Broke And Couldn't Get Anywhere Near It Plus Couldn't Buy It. Since Door Was Also Rusted Bad And Started Having Trouble Keeping It Shut Went And Bought A Door From A Junk Yard And Everything Works Fine. Shop Around-cost Me A Hundred But Hey!cheap On Gas No Payments-need It 1 More Yr To Drive 80 Miles A Day
Automedia.com Has Some Pics Of Repairs.

mikelawtown
02-20-2008, 04:52 PM
Check the small plastic clip that is attached to the inner side of the handle and rod..and yes it's on the inside of the door panel....remove the screws and just start at the bottom of the door panel and just pry up about every 7-8 inches

Pickering Snow
02-21-2008, 02:46 AM
Derek

You can adjust the linkage with the panel off just bend it so it pushes the latch down all the way it only need to be off by a small amount to not fully engage latch.