Driver door handle release issue


B

bigdan40

GT Owner
Apr 17, 2006
244
Hey guys, has anyone experienced a door handle problem? My driver side handle on occasion will not release/open the door. When I reach outside and hit the button opener it works fine. Just wondering if anyone else has has a similar issue. I hate tearing things apart unless it's absolutely necessary!
BD40
 
We've had no problems at all with the doors (once we learned to maneuver around tops of them). Handles have never given us any trouble.
 
I know when my car gets really hot IE sitting in the sun burn your back when you sit down since the windows are up type hot. When I go to exit the vehicle and squeeze the handle you need more effort and it does not open until the last bit. Now I have not ever had to reach outside to open it via the button but its been close.
 
Mine does it too.
 
bigdan40 said:
Hey guys, has anyone experienced a door handle problem? My driver side handle on occasion will not release/open the door. When I reach outside and hit the button opener it works fine.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem, one overnight stay at the dealer took care of it though...
 
tmcphail, you described it perfectly except I've had to reach outside a couple of times to open her up. Granted I also did not want to squeeze the inner release handle to tightly for fear of breaking it. I can't say the temp has had anything to do with it but I'll keep an eye on that as well, it's just starting to get warm here in the northeast.

Vince, good advice regarding the seal but I don't think that would help my situation! The striker might be a better place to look or it just might be something behind the door panel. I'm curious to see if many others are having this issue. Usually a charecteristic of a car is common among the greater percentage for the parts are all identical. If a vendor is off by a 1/16th of an inch it could cause us all headaches and sometimes these things slip through QC (quality control). My guess is that a lot of guys are having a similar issue.

Carrot, what is yours doing precisely? Same as mine?

Thanks...BD40
 
abolfaz said:
I had the same problem, one overnight stay at the dealer took care of it though...
Click to expand...

What was the remedy abolfaz?
 
Mine is directly related to temperature. But it doesnt bother me at the moment. Then again I haven't had to reach outside
 
Stuck

Mine stuck the other day and I thought I was locked in. I'd like to know what's wrong so I can fix it.
 
bigdan40 said:
What was the remedy abolfaz?
Click to expand...

cable adjustment...
 
Mine is a problem from time to time - need to squeeze hard to open, other times its fine. Only once did I have to reach outside and push the electronic button opener which indicates its probably not the way the door is fitting, more likely to be a cable issue. I was going to wait until first service to get Ford to take a look.
 
I had this exact problem. It was only on my passenger door, and over the first three months of ownership/2,000 miles I had squeeze harder and harder to get the door to release. Actually it was usually a friend or my wife trying to get out, and they kept thinking it was locked.

Anyway, when I went in for my first service I had them adjust the door, both the release handle and the frame/striker area. It was very quick (they also adjusted my driver's door slightly and changed the oil -- all in about three hours) and it's been fine ever since. All free of charge of course (even the oil change, because the first one is free at Santa Monica Ford if you bought your car there). :thumbsup
 
I'm going to have the guys at the plant fix my passenger door at the rally in Detroit :thumbsup
 
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I have the same problem with my GT. The door needs to be realigned at the dealership. I got stuck inside the car. Freightening experience.

leon
 
It's official, I can't get out of my @%&*$ing car using the inside handle. Funny thing is when I get in my car in the garage when it's out of the sun it works fine. I take it for a short ride and it works okay. I go for a long ride and it just won't open. Tmcphail is right, it has to do with heat. I'm sure it's only a cable adjustment but everyone should keep am eye out for this, none of us want to get caught in an emergency situation and have to use the outside popper to get out.
 
bigdan40 said:
tmcphail, you described it perfectly except I've had to reach outside a couple of times to open her up. Granted I also did not want to squeeze the inner release handle to tightly for fear of breaking it. I can't say the temp has had anything to do with it but I'll keep an eye on that as well, it's just starting to get warm here in the northeast.

Vince, good advice regarding the seal but I don't think that would help my situation! The striker might be a better place to look or it just might be something behind the door panel. I'm curious to see if many others are having this issue. Usually a charecteristic of a car is common among the greater percentage for the parts are all identical. If a vendor is off by a 1/16th of an inch it could cause us all headaches and sometimes these things slip through QC (quality control). My guess is that a lot of guys are having a similar issue.

Carrot, what is yours doing precisely? Same as mine?

Thanks...BD40
Click to expand...


I have the same problem, sometimes with both doors.

JT
 
My driver's door does it when it's hot. I haven't been trapped yet, so I'll just have them look at it next time I have it in for service.
 
bigdan40 said:
Hey guys, has anyone experienced a door handle problem? My driver side handle on occasion will not release/open the door. When I reach outside and hit the button opener it works fine. Just wondering if anyone else has has a similar issue. I hate tearing things apart unless it's absolutely necessary!
BD40
Click to expand...
I too had this issue on the drivers door.
While in Detroit last week, Saleen replace the drivers door mechanism, all is now well. The replacement took only about a half hour. This should be a warranty replacement item.
 
While at Saleen I asked about the difficult opening doors. It appears a new machanism was installed in late 05 and 06 cars. No recall but if they really get difficult I guess the dealer will upgrade them.
 
had the same problem today after the run to SB...after it cooled down it worked..what is the solution?
 
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