On my passenger side door. The handle appears loose or worn. It can be moved around before I lift up on it to open the door. Is the assembly just worn or has a nut possibly came loose or fallen off. Do I strart taking off the interior door panel now before it leaves me without a way to open it?

 

You won't know unless you pull the door panel... try not to ruin the plastic sheet between the panel and door frame, if you're careful, you can stick it right back up to keep the rain out.

When you pry the door panel off, take a look at the fastener from one of the corners. The fasteners have three discs on them. First disc is cut like a half-moon, and twists into the door panel. Second disc just sits there. Third disc presses against the door. When you pry the panel up, pry right on the fastener, between the 3rd disc and 2nd disc of the fastener. Don't just pry against the cardboard of the panel. By prying between the 2nd and 3rd discs (first one is in the panel), you won't rip the panel.

If you pry between the cardboard panel and the door, you'll tear the panel away from the first half-moon disc. You'll see what I mean after you try your first fastener. Pep Boys sells a tool with a notch that grabs the panel clip where I described; it's not necesssary, a flat screwdriver works too, but the tool is a Bit easier. It has an angled blade to make prying faster.

 

So Tom , if it unattaches on the outside, will I be in a pickle. Or can i still open it from the inside? I ask because I just don't have the time to tackle it right now. Thanks:hail: :hail: Wow! my first reply from The TOMMYmeister

 

Doorhandles start rattling/getting loose because they are the same p.o.s handles GM has been recycling since 1970 on damm near all their cars. The problem is that there is this cheap-**** spring that keeps the handle from flopping around & the holder is cast into the backside of the handle itself. Eventually over time the holder 'clip' breaks, the spring goes AWOL, & the handle starts flopping around like they all do eventually.

There are 2 self threading nuts that hold the handle to the doorskin, if that's the real problem, the handle itself (trust me, you'd know..) would pull off the doorskin.

Most likely the 1st part I said above is the real problem (since GM sucks when it comes to making better parts) & the handles are sold in the "HELP" section of most major auto chains. To replace does require the inner panel removal as Tom described above.

 

Funny you mention this. I just noticed the spring has sprung on my 89 RS convt. Oh well, 210,000 miles ain't too bad I guess. I have a spare but gotta see if it's the correct side.

 

No problem, Rich! And yes you'll still be able to open the door from the inside. There are different linkage rods for the handles. Off the top of my head, there's at least four- a long one for the inside lock, a long one for the inside handle, a short one for the outside lock, and a short one for the outside handle. There might be a fifth if you have power locks.

My exterior door handle on the passenger door has loosened up because of the actual threaded nuts. (I call 'em "fake nuts"- they're stamped steel that "cuts" into a cast iron threadless stud. If only GM used real nuts & bolts on these things!) I can tell because the "back" of the handle is wobbling on the door. Funny how my girlfriend never mentioned it to me.

And dead, yeah, both my handle clips suffered that fate. That's another reason I want to weld on flush door handles from another car! Problem is, on my last junkyard trip, I couldn't find any decent looking door handles, on any car. I'll have to look harder, I guess, next time.