HELP Outside Door Handle is loose -

[1988SS]

Went to open the door on my 1988 MCSS and the the outside door handle seems loose. Not as much tension on the handle when you pull up on it. The door still opens when you pull up. The handle just doesn't have the same tension on it.

So what might be going on? Is it the door handle itself or do I have a problem with the door latch mechanism.

I know I just need to dig in but wanted to have some input before tearing stuff apart. Thanks for the help.

 

[pagrunt]

Possible the tension spring might be weak or most likely broken.

 

[1988SS]

Where is that located? On the door handle itself or on the latch?

 

[69hurstolds]

Is it trying to be lopsided? Does it flop around at all? I'm thinking it's just chromed pot metal, and sometimes the pot metal cracks and breaks and allows one end to be loose thus not being "tight" like it should while operating. Or the spring might be broke. Hard to say because I'm not operating it.

It's also, hopefully not, a possibility your door latch mechanism itself is messing up somehow.

 

[1988SS]

Not really lopsided or flopping.......but the left side of the handle is just slightly higher than the right side when at rest.

 

[1988SS]

Are any of the reproduction handles better than others? I'm guessing an NOS handle is unobtanium. My car has the semi-gloss black finish.

 

[pagrunt]

Where is that located? On the door handle itself or on the latch?

On the piviot point where the handle attaches to the mounting bracket.

 

[69hurstolds]

Black handles are GM p/n 20454212/20454213

None that I can find. Not sure what aftermarket handles are better than the others.