inside door handle not working

[slsc98]

'Morning, all! (geez, less than a month 'til Carlisle, everybody being naughty or nice?   ;-)

Anyhoo, I have spent about an hour searching here and even going page by page before posting this but, after I got to p. 20 and the sun is getting higher, I figure I better pull the trigger on a post, now.

How difficult is and what "do's" and "don't's" are there in getting the inside passenger-side door handle to start opening the door again?

My wife has always complained about the inside door handle on the passenger side of our '73 Chally and its ocassionally been the source of some light domestic friction (her ride is sooo perfect and all  ) but, last night, the inside door handle really did fail to open the door from the inside at all.

Outside handle and buttons work fine (albeit turning the keys in both locks is a tad "stiff" on both sides) and the inside handle isn't "flopping around" or not still engaged . . . it just fails to open the door.

I did notice that when I put the inside locking lever all the way to its uppermost 'up' position and then attempt to pull the inside handle to open the door, that inside locking lever actually drops down a 1/4" or so . . .

Just figured I'd ask before I get a buddy to help me pull the door panel off, etc.

Thanks in advance and hope everyone has a killer weekend and that every project underway goes smoothly!

[Bullitt-]

Two thoughts, clean & lubricate the door latch, this has solved this problem most every time I've encuntered it.
The striker post may be a little high, loosen & lower it a smidge if you sense that the latch is riding up on it when the door closes.

[slsc98]

 Yo, thanks man -- I will try both solutions ASAP. Gawd, the last couple of nights have been beeeeautiful for cruising here (So. Maryland, mid-Atlantic). Not sure how much longer this low humidity can last but, gotta grab every evening of it we can".  Thanks again!

[dodj]

Electrical contact cleaner can be good for cleaning away built up/dry grease in the mechanism.

[slsc98]

Hmm. good point and, being alcohol-based, contact cleaner is a lot safer to use around any painted surfaces, finishes I care about (seen several folks ruin some nice finishes on gun stocks, adamantly using acetone-based brake and parts cleaner to spray out firearms actions, etc.)   

I hope this is it.  None of the car is too 'filthy' but, I have to admit; taking the Hurst shifter mechanism apart and just cleaning and relubricating it completely avoided my having to replace any part of it (twas like new after a good pull apart, spray off and re-assembly with lube)!

[dodj]

I say "can be good" because with some greases it seems to do nothing. Others, takes it right off.

[Chryco Psycho]

Little known secret , there is a small round hole near/ below the latch at the end of the door , insert an allen wrench & loosen the bolt there is a slide adjustment , move the bolt one way or the other & it will take less movemnet to operate the latch , this may be all you need to make it work better .

[slsc98]

Little known secret ,. . ., this may be all you need to make it work better .

Whoa . . .     

And, of course THANK YOUUUUU!!!!!!!!!

I am unable to get to her until next week but, now I am chompin' at the bit to get back and give this a try"!!!!!

[slsc98]

Well, trying Lots of lube and cleaner didn't improve things; however; thanks to a buddy and a day off work, we got the inside door panel pulled and it appears that "maybe" because the door lock on the inside was at the 1/2 way point (but, essentially in the "locked" position) when the door handle was being pulled on, a rod got bent.

I say this as, we noticed that, when you put the inside lock in the unlocked position and pulled on the inside handle, the lock would actually move down a smidge!

A long, long nose needle nose plier and we got that errant rod bent back and lots more lubricant and Vila! , the door handle is working again.

Chrycho, I am so #^*+! embarrassed as I still need to go back and find that Allen nut you described to me.  I only hope I can pass that I'll known secret along to some person in their time of need, someday (I will make sure you get all credit!)

Thanks again guys (but, most of all, thanks to my buddy, Bob!)

[Chryco Psycho]

No Prob , I was hoping that was the simple cure , at least you got it solved anyway