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| Drivers side outside door handle won't open door; Inside handle only works. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 29 2012, 11:39 AM (3,695 Views) | |
| mkell91 | Aug 29 2012, 11:39 AM Post #1 |
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I went to go open my 91 geo metro drivers side door this morning but it would not open. The door opens fine from the inside but when I try the outside there is no give just a scraping sound as I try to lift the handle up. Tried to see if there were other such threads on the forum about this but I couldn't find one. Any ideas? Does something need to be replaced? Will I have to take the door panel off? |
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| feetchermancj | Aug 29 2012, 11:46 AM Post #2 |
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The outside handle is broken. I had this same problem a couple days ago. The scraping sound you're hearing is the plastic arm on the handle scraping against its self. Here's a link to the handle I got. Its nice and shipping is fast. http://www.ebay.com/itm/89-94-Metro-Swift-Sprint-Front-Exterior-Outside-Door-Handle-Driver-Side-Left-LH-/110936752841?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1991%7CMake%3AGeo%7CModel%3AMetro&hash=item19d45882c9&vxp=mtr The arm on the right with the white clip is what pushes down on the rod that opens the door. That is whats probably broken and the scraping sound you're hearing.
Edited by feetchermancj, Aug 29 2012, 11:47 AM.
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| Old Man | Aug 29 2012, 11:46 AM Post #3 |
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I googled geometroforum outside door handle remove and several threads came up. Among those threads was this one: http://geometroforum.com/topic/4025905/1/#new |
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| mkell91 | Aug 29 2012, 12:37 PM Post #4 |
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It appears I now have a similar problem with the passenger side door... I can use the key to lock it but I cannot turn the key to unlock the door. I had to go through the hatch to get in. What a pain. Edited by mkell91, Aug 29 2012, 08:11 PM.
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| Jittney | Aug 29 2012, 08:09 PM Post #5 |
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Anchorage 92 XFi
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If you can lock it, but not unlock it, I wonder if the little plastic tab that holds the metal rod in place is broken.If you take the interior panel off....you should be able to see it. |
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| mkell91 | Aug 29 2012, 08:11 PM Post #6 |
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What can i do to fix that? Remove both door panels and then new handles for both then? Once the passenger side door is in the unlock position it opens and closes as it should. I also started reading that the metros had automatic locking mechanisms on the door when the door shuts... My geo doesn't seem to function in that manner.. It doesn't lock the door, however there is a locking type sound that occurs a few seconds after the doors have been shut. Edited by mkell91, Aug 29 2012, 08:15 PM.
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| Jittney | Aug 29 2012, 08:59 PM Post #7 |
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Anchorage 92 XFi
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it's hard to say what the previous owner did to the door. Sounds like it's time to take a look see for yourself. On the passenger side, take off the door crank, the door latch and then the whole panel will snap off. The trick to the door crank.... is popping off the c clip that holds it onto the splined shaft. The open end of the c clip faces the handle. A piece of cloth (or two pieces of cloth) can be used to put back pressure on the 2 ends of the c...and voila, it pops off. Then the handle crank slides off the spline. The black rectangular door latch has 4 plastic clips that hold it in place. A couple of slim flat head screwdrivers help wedge it out a bit to see where the clips are. Undo them and the rectangular retainer will come out. Then snap out the door interior panel Then crank down the window to remove the 2 screws that hold the window under the tray on the bottom. Finally you'll have access to the mechanics of the door latch/lock mechanisms. I"m thinking that when you get that far and start looking around with a flashlight and try opening/closing and locking/unlocking the door....you'll see the problem. Keep us posted ![]() |
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| Woodie | Aug 30 2012, 04:51 AM Post #8 |
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Some do, but not your 91. I'm pretty sure it was just 93 and 94 with the automatic locks, they went at 7 mph or something like that. What you're hearing is the seatbelt tensioner. Theoretically you're supposed to leave the seatbelt connected at the e-brake handle and let the opening door swing it wide enough for you to slip in and out between the seatbelt and the seat, making the seatbelts "automatic" and avoiding the need to install airbags. The tensioner which locks up the belt in case of a crash would stop the door from opening, so there's a release solenoid which lets the belt fly free as soon as it sees the dome light switch close. After the door closes and the dome light switch opens, the solenoid releases, allowing the tensioner to restrict belt movement again. I forgot to mention, you can try using the seatbelt in the automatic mode but be very careful. There's a good chance you'll end up hurting yourself. Edited by Woodie, Aug 31 2012, 04:46 AM.
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| Nappers | Sep 5 2012, 07:28 AM Post #9 |
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Very easy to replace, the only bugger is the bolts holding the outside door handle on get rusty and a bear to remove! Be careful, they are attached to the door skin and the metal is thin and can be twisted easily. I am not sure how I figured that out.....:D |
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| mkell91 | Sep 22 2012, 10:15 PM Post #10 |
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Hey Guys, So I finally got around to switching out my drivers side exterior door handle. Once I got the door panel off and looked at the faulty handle I found that It looked like it had previously been tampered with. From the looks of the picture I think somebody super glued part of it together, and that was causing problems with me opening it. ![]() However during the process of taking the panel off the locking mechanism for the inside door handle popped off and I'm not quite sure where its supposed to go back into. Does anyone have any words of wisdom...? ![]() Edited by mkell91, Sep 22 2012, 10:15 PM.
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| idmetro | Sep 23 2012, 07:16 PM Post #11 |
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It does look like someones fix wasn't so successful. Congrats on your fix! |
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If you can lock it, but not unlock it, I wonder if the little plastic tab that holds the metal rod in place is broken.



9:22 AM Jul 11