Symptoms of Bad or Faulty Interior Door Handles

If your car door won't open or close, feels loose, or takes more effort to open, you may need to replace the inside door handle.

To drive from point "A" to point "B", you must first open the driver's door. However, nothing is more frustrating than arriving at your destination only to find that the inside door handle won't let you get out of the car. The question of how to fix door handles is not among the most frequently asked questions here at AvtoTachki.com, but is one of the most important. A faulty interior door handle can pose a huge safety hazard; especially if you need to get out of the car in case of a fire or other accident.

Even if the vehicle is equipped with automatic doors, United States motor vehicle regulations require that a manually operated interior door handle be installed on any vehicle that legally drives on city, county, or state federal highways. Interior door handles have been subject to a lot of abuse over the years, eventually leading to wear and tear and potential breakage. If they need to be replaced, the skills of an ASE certified mechanic are often required to properly complete the repair.

Below are a few warning indicators that indicate there is a problem with the inside door handle. When there are signs of repair with these knobs, you will need to act quickly to reduce other mechanical or electrical damage to components inside the vehicle doors.

1. The door handle is loose

Door handles are made of plastic or, in some cases, metal-coated polymer. They are attached to the door panel and connected either to a cable that controls the door lock mechanism or to an electrical relay that opens the doors electronically. Most door handles are still connected to the hand cable. Since they are constantly exploited, they can weaken over time. When this happens, it becomes more than just an aesthetic issue. A loose door handle will also loosen the cable attached to the door lock. If this problem is not corrected, it can lead to a broken cable and failure of the door latch mechanism.

To avoid this serious problem, be sure to see a mechanic if your doorknob starts to come loose. In many cases, this is an easy fix for an experienced mechanic, which can save you a huge amount of money in the long run.

2. It takes more effort to open the door from the inside handle.

A solidly installed inside door handle will allow you to open the door with relative ease. However, with use, the door handle hinge may slip or loosen; which may cause the door to open, requiring more force. This extra force is often caused by a kink in the linkage and can cause the door handle to come off the inside door panel. As soon as you start noticing that there are problems with opening and closing the door, you should take care of replacing the inside door handle in advance.

3. Door won't open at all

If the inside door handle has broken on the inside, it is possible that the door latch on the inside is also broken. This will cause the door to not open. Most of the components on the inside of the door will require lubrication to keep them lubricated. Over time, the grease on these parts will begin to dry out, which can cause the parts to seize. To reduce the chance of this happening to you when you least expect it, contact your local ASE certified mechanic so they can inspect and replace your interior door handle before it causes more damage.

Most door handles will last a lifetime without causing you stress or frustration. However, until they create an eternal doorknob, there will be cases where the inside doorknob will break. If you notice any of the warning signs above, be proactive and contact one of our local mechanics here at AvtoTachki.com to determine if the interior door handle should be replaced.