Exterior Door handle rod vibrated out

[VX KAT]

Earlier this week, Dave and I ran an all day trail to Crown King with Brandon from over on the FB VX group site.

Had a GREAT time, and he took a ton of videos, mostly of me as I was following him.
Check them out onthe "AZTREK" FB group site. They're awesome! https://www.facebook.com/groups/AZTREK/

Trail was so rough my exterior door handle stopped working. Took it apart today and found the rod had vibrated out of place. THERE'S A SURPRISE. It has that brown plastic clip on the end, then goes in the hole.

Popped it back in but sure not much resistence with that brown clip, really easy to pop out again.

I had a new clip so replaced it, seems to be seated much firmer.

Anything else I could do to make it stay connected??? -- as it seems to me there's going to be a lot more rough roads if we hang out with Brandon! :p

************************

Also found 2 loose parts at bottom of door, not sure where they go, couldn't ID them on the schematics.
Anybody ID these and where they go? The one on left is foam, I think it's padding for something, maybe one of the rods?

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_1121.JPG


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[Scott Harness]

Billy(triathlete) and I fixed mine at the "Stoop"...wait for it...a zip-tie...has worked for 4 or 5 years now. Sounds weird,but it works!
ps Sue,I can't remember,is yours still stock height,and what is your tire size?
I'm thinking of going back to stock height.I think I'm over the 4X4 thing,at least the extreme stuff. More expedition type stuff. Thanks Scott

[JoFotoz]

X2 on the Zip Tie Fix.

Its a pain to get big hands in there.

But its lasted me 6 years..
...and I've been known to 'vibrate' the ORW a bit :eek:

Jo

[SilverBullet75]

I ended up buying out my local dealer. They only had a couple in stock. I ended up using a couple on other VXer's trucks.

I heard that the part is also commonly available at any part store under the Help! (brand) section.

[VX KAT]

Great idea! Thx!

But SERIOUSLY how'd ya get yer big mits up there? I sure couldn't, nor could my finger reach it from the top by the lock stalk.

I can see some really LONG NEEDLE NOSE pliers in my future - or maybe a bent coat hanger wire!


Sounds like those 2 stray parts aren't mission critical to anything. Still like to know what they go to - without having to take the other door apart to compare.

SilverBullet- buying the small brown clip things?

Scott- Stock height, used to run 285/60-18s with the OEM 18" rims, no TB turns.
Now running 265/60-18 on the Borbet 18x8" rims, -2 offset! along with cutting out the wheel well basically, we had to turn the TBs a little bit, so effectively, I'm a little heigher than stock between the tires and TBs, I forget exactly, but around 1" or less.

[Scott Harness]

Thanks Sue! Take care. Scott

[SilverBullet75]

Sue, yes, I bought the plastic clips. One is brown, the other door's is white/clear.

[Triathlete]

Mine is ziptied also ;)

[Scott Larson]

I'd go with the zip-tie, they're as useful as duct tape and WD40. The other "can't live without" go-to is "Shoe Goo". If you've never experienced it's amazing sticky properties then you're in for a real treat. Imagine bubblegum x10!!

[Gizmo42]

I had to fix mine at the stoop too a couple year ago. Guess how I fixed it...

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c337/Gizmo420/Moab%20ZuZoo%20XIV%202011/IMG_0391.jpg

Never leave home without zip ties.

[iyafyl]

I was getting tired of mine slipping off so I took the bar that slips out and bent the end out about 10 degrees (to a more obtuse angle). Im talking about the same (maybe inch long) part of the bar that is already bent and just bending it up from it's normal position. That might sound strange and a more acute angle may seem to make more sense at 1st, but the handle pushes down on the bar so an acute angle would actually help it slip off easier. Anywho, I bent the end of the bar out further and bypassed the clip altogether (putting the bent end of the bar straight through the llittle hole in the door handle where the plastic clip slides into. I did this months ago and have had not one problem. Alaska is a good beta test sight for window/door fixes. The ice here makes it almost impossible to open your doors sometimes and it would have definitely slipped out of the handle by now due to the multiple times I've been pissed off and late for work and excessively yanking on the handle.

[iyafyl]

I'd go with the zip-tie, they're as useful as duct tape and WD40. The other "can't live without" go-to is "Shoe Goo". If you've never experienced it's amazing sticky properties then you're in for a real treat. Imagine bubblegum x10!!

I totally agree....but don't EVER mix WD40 and duct tape. That doesn't work out too well. Well, don't mix Shoe Goo and bubble gum either for that matter. Don't know if any of you have done any halibut fishing, but WD40 is their favorite scent. We use these huge lures that have a squid skirt with a sponge in the middle. We soak with WD40 and the halibut come callin. My wife (who is a dainty thing) pulled in an 80 lb catch last weekend that almost yanked her off the boat. Strange how leaky oil or gas from an outboard repels fish, but the love the scent of WD40.

Pop quiz: What does WD40 stand for? (no Googling)

OK I'll stop hijacking now, but I did offer solution to this thread...just sayin.

[JoFotoz]

That would be...


Pop quiz: What does WD40 stand for? (no Googling)

"Water Displacement (formula#) 40"...

...or something like that.

What do I win...a stuffed toy??

Jo

[iyafyl]

That would be...



"Water Displacement (formula#) 40"...

...or something like that.

What do I win...a stuffed toy??

Jo

Close....water displacement perfected on the 40th attempt. In other words...you can screw something up 39 times, then get it right a make a bazillion dollars. How's that for optimism? I'm fresh out of stuffed toys, but you get the blue light special guy :_cop:

[JoFotoz]

YAY...I always wanted a "Blue Light" guy...

... :dance:

Jo

[Leon R]

Kat, the rubber "u-tube" is the vent for the window motor. With it removed, water will be free to enter the motor and ruin it!

I posted some photos in the window regulator thread of what my motor looked like on the inside with this tube missing! You definitely want to put it back on!!!

Edit: found my photos:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showpost.php?p=272622&postcount=23

And another post blow it.

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showpost.php?p=272895&postcount=26

[VX KAT]

OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

I just spent all day doing a window party kind of thing�..

After trying 39 times to get that $@#& zip tie on I finally succeeded on my 40th attempt! :laugho: YAH!!! It was much more successful after I realized I had to take the entire brown clip OFF in order to get enough room for a zip tie�but I figger'd it out! Fixed my door handle!!


I was real proactive and used JBWeld to reinforce the white nylon piece that the interior door pull attaches to the metal bar - trying to prevent it from breaking! Worked out great.


I used JBWeld to repair that last interior door handle/switch panel with the typical cracked handled, I've had laying around waiting for repair!


I discovered I was missing the little clip that supports the metal rod for the door pull, so I used a zip tie and got it to stay in the hole just fine!


Discovered a small piece of the bottom of door panel cracking off, so I glued that back on!


Then while attempting to reinstall the door panel, I realized my tweeter speaker was hanging lower and obstructing the door panel from going on correctly�.The RTV seems to have given way, so I've got redo that. - gotta talk to that installation dude about this!


Lubed the rubber tracks with silicone


Got the "new" switch panel for the interior door handle and window buttons to finally seat correctly !! Rick I've figured it out finally!!! I fixed it!!!


So I got it all buttoned up (except the tweeter panel), I come in here and :eek: read that rubber vent tube MUST be reinstalled!



CRAPOLA! Gotta take that %#@$ door panel off AGAIN!!
I won't have any fingertips left! If I'd just come in a few hours earlier before I reinstalled everything! Dang it!

But a big thank you to Leon for advising me of that. :thumbup:


I am now a self profressed door panel / handle /switch panel expert repair queen!!
I've got no fingertips left, but I've got a really great door!!!

[VX KAT]

YAH! Got the rubber drain piece installed, NOW my door is all done!

Thanks again Leon for telling me what that was and where it went. :thumbup:

[Leon R]

No problem, I had a feeling that my post got lost among some of the more common window issues :)

[CSieber]

I followed ya'lls thread and I was able to fix my drivers side door that wouldn't open from the outside. I just went to the auto parts store, bought a door opener kit with 6 plastic connector thingies. Sure enough one worked like a charm! The door opens perfectly! Total cost was about $5 and an hour of my time!

Thanks for posting!