Civic door lock problem

Hi All,

The passenger side (rear) door is giving me trouble locking on my 1994
(4-door) Civic. Everything works fine if operated from inside. If I open
from out side the door handle is not closing back. It stays in 'pulled'
position and I have to push it in before shutting the door. One local
mechanic suggested to replace the latch while another suggested just to
replace the handle (outside). Both are giving estimates $150 to fix it.

I have opened the door panel and poke thru the sound barrier but couldn't
figure it out. I have also checked the child lock operation just to make
sure anything relate to that is not screwing up.

Any help identifying ore resolving the problem is appreciated.

Matt A...

 

Sounds to me like the problem is in the outer door handle. I'd just go
to the junkyard and pick up a "new" one. Then you can see how it is
installed without damaging your own car. See
http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/civicmanual/pdf/20-14.pdf for instructions,
except this is for the UK model. The US model is slightly different.
Post a valid e-mail address if you want me to e-mail you a few scans
from the US service manual.

 

Sounds to me like the problem is in the outer door handle. I'd just go
to the junkyard and pick up a "new" one. Then you can see how it is
installed without damaging your own car. See
http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/civicmanual/pdf/20-14.pdf for instructions,
except this is for the UK model. The US model is slightly different.
Post a valid e-mail address if you want me to e-mail you a few scans
from the US service manual.

 

Have you tried lubricating the handle hinge and the door latch itself.
When you push the handle back do you feel the spring pulling it... i.e. as
though it's sticking in the open position and the spring is just not strong
enough to overcome the "stick"? Some penetrating spray grease like
SuperLube would get into the hinge part of the handle, latch mechanism and,
since you had the inner panel off, would be good for any rods which are
held in plastic guides etc. If you can't find SuperLube, even some
silicone spray might help.

"Poke thorugh"?? That plastic sheet is a water barrier - I hope you didn't
make holes in it.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Have you tried lubricating the handle hinge and the door latch itself.
When you push the handle back do you feel the spring pulling it... i.e. as
though it's sticking in the open position and the spring is just not strong
enough to overcome the "stick"? Some penetrating spray grease like
SuperLube would get into the hinge part of the handle, latch mechanism and,
since you had the inner panel off, would be good for any rods which are
held in plastic guides etc. If you can't find SuperLube, even some
silicone spray might help.

"Poke thorugh"?? That plastic sheet is a water barrier - I hope you didn't
make holes in it.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??