Hi just wondering if anyone could help me out. My Drivers side door handle on my FD3 is very stiff to open. Am I right in saying this is probably just where the cable has stretched and so now requiring more effort to open? If this is the case then is it possible to simply re adjust it like is it a pinch bolt just needs undoing then sliding along a bit further up the cable to tightening or..?
Also It almost looks as if a hinge has dropped on one side of the handle as paint has worn off on one side from where it lifts at an angle.
Not a major but just one of those little niggly jobs I should really get sorted as its starting to bug me lol.
that happened to my two doors so i just took the handles off and put wd40 on them my passenger door handle wouldnt even lift it perfect now
Already tried that. Didn\'t make any difference
I don\'t think they are cable driven, I know on the FC\'s that the door lock mechanism is driven by quite a thick metal bar which could have stiffened up but then I havn\'t taken an FD apart before. If it is indeed a cable and it has stretched that wouldn\'t account for it being stiff, if anything it would be loose and flappy and you\'d have to pull the handle up further than usual (close to breaking it) to open the door.
Common problem with the FD the door handles get stiff on them. As the other chaps have said you wanna try removing the handle to grease it up inside as much as you can. It may already be too late and the hinge on the handle may have broken already. The hinge is plastic and basically breaks where it wraps around the bar inside, when you pull the handle the hinge jumps off the bar. If this is the case then new handle needed. I spent hours tryna fix my old one by re-inforcing it and glue it etc just doesnt work though.
You can get replacement Aluminium handles off a guy on the US but are pricey, this was my resolve after buying another fooked one off fleabay as had issues as mentioned above..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-RX-7-FD3S-Aluminum-Exterior-Door-Handles-FD-RX7-/230531389071?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35acbdd68f
Ive recently been told that there should be a rubber stop also in the mechanism that stops the handle going too far back which, once fallen off, means the handle passes its desired resting place and thus stresses the mechanism even further. The mech also uses metal rods so no wires atall.
I got jumped on a bit for cussing the design but the plastic is not upto the job after time\'s has had it way with it...
If you do get the metal ones however you will never have another problem (if they are broke) otherwise grease up as above and should solve. WD40 to me is a temp fix and grease should be used for a more permanent fix.
Its a metal rod system that the door handle and lock system uses but there is a recoil mechanism that does get stiff with time so just a little GT85 (Lasts longer) or WD40 will sort it out. Only a 5 Minute job.
Also whilst you have the handle off its worth while giving the hinge points a spray.
Hmm dont really fancy spending that kind of money for those alloy ones. Hopefully will get away with just a grease up. Do i need to remove the whole door card or just that cap over the back of the handle?
Quote from: carlbrainiac;773785Hmm dont really fancy spending that kind of money for those alloy ones. Hopefully will get away with just a grease up. Do i need to remove the whole door card or just that cap over the back of the handle?
you can get to the handle by removing the plastic triangle on the interior. there are two bolts to undo and it comes off (watch your paintwork).
mine are massively ....ed. i ended up boding them with safety wire because the plastic handle would just not stay on the metal hinge.
Ahh ok cheers. I\'ll have a look next time I\'m bored and got some time. Gotta sort the interior handle on the passenger door card too as its loose and popping out at the bottom. Hoping that\'s just a bolt needs tightening. And I assume the door card just unscrews? Or does it also have popped clips?
Quote from: carlbrainiac;773851Ahh ok cheers. I\'ll have a look next time I\'m bored and got some time. Gotta sort the interior handle on the passenger door card too as its loose and popping out at the bottom. Hoping that\'s just a bolt needs tightening. And I assume the door card just unscrews? Or does it also have popped clips?
Mazda thought it would be fun to hide the screws all over the door panel and behind the door handle. you\'ll need a copy of the shop book to make it easy!
Best of luck with the repair! :D