New owner can't open front doors from outside.

[atikovi]

I bought a '96 Discovery and the first of many issues to tackle is that the front doors won't open from the outside. I can pull on the outside handle while the inside lock knob is all the way up and nothing happens. If the window is down and I pull up on the inside knob (about a quarter inch more) I can then open the door from the outside. But of course if the window is closed I have to enter from the back door. What should I check?

[pavel]

Sounds like some part of the mechanism has come apart or slipped out of adjustment. You'll probably have to take the inside door panel off and check it out. Is this problem on both sides or just the driver's side? If it's both sides then I may be wrong.... One more thing, is your battery fully charged? You might just hook up some jumper cables to your battery and using the extra grunt of a second vehicle, see if the problem goes away.

[atikovi]

Got the panel off tonight but it's dark now. What part is adjustable? The rods or the handles?

[Rovin4life]

nothing is really adjustable its just you can put some of the linkage a little closer,

or perhaps a groove has been worn ina plastic or metal part.

needs to be taken apart.

look up in there with a flash light and follow what it does.

[gazdavan]

I had this! there is a plastic stop at the end of the arm which pushes the locking mechanism. it looks like a plastic dome- nut white in colour probably.

When you pull the outside handle, the rod pushes inside and this plastic stop is adjustable. sounds like its worn. I was lucky and just hand to twist it until it took up the play. maybe getting a couple of stainless dome nuts would permenantly sort it out. thats my next move . . . . hope it helps

[UsedBlue]

Originally Posted by gazdavan

I had this! there is a plastic stop at the end of the arm which pushes the locking mechanism. it looks like a plastic dome- nut white in colour probably.

When you pull the outside handle, the rod pushes inside and this plastic stop is adjustable. sounds like its worn. I was lucky and just hand to twist it until it took up the play. maybe getting a couple of stainless dome nuts would permenantly sort it out. thats my next move . . . . hope it helps

I have almost the same problem where I have to pull on the door handle of my '94 and then pull an extra bit at the end to get it to actually open, does this sound like what you're talking about? if so then i'll try what you said about the white nut.
thanks

[atikovi]

I found that if I have the key in the lock and turn it all the way to the unlock position, the handle will open the door all the time. At least now I don't have to enter the truck through the rear doors all the time.

[werldcup]

Excessive use of your key that way will probably break it off in there.. Be careful.

[Capt. Ron]

Originally Posted by gazdavan

I had this! there is a plastic stop at the end of the arm which pushes the locking mechanism. it looks like a plastic dome- nut white in colour probably.

When you pull the outside handle, the rod pushes inside and this plastic stop is adjustable. sounds like its worn. I was lucky and just hand to twist it until it took up the play. maybe getting a couple of stainless dome nuts would permenantly sort it out. thats my next move . . . . hope it helps

All I did was adjust the linkage, as stated, works great now.