Door opening mechanism, Lube question

[993tt]

So I've had an intermittent problem for a few years. When I go to open the driver's door the trigger pulls and the actuator pin stays in the depressed position, the trigger goes all floppy.
I thought as it has warmed up I would take a look at it.
Whipped off the door card, then spent what felt like a lifetime unscrewing the 2 bolts holding the door handle on (the rear one is the hard to get to one, you never knew your hands were that big!).
Luckily my wife was out, so her ultrasonic jewelry cleaner came out and hey presto, 25 years of muck was removed (I took the lock out first).
My question to you guys is what, if any, lubrication do you recommend for the actuator pin? it now springs back beautifully, but once I put it back together I don't want to have the same problem reoccur.
I have a day or two before the new handle gaskets arrive, any advice?

 

[Gwsinc]

I used brake cleaner to blast all the bits of dirt away, but yours should be nice and clean after its ultrasonic bath!

Normal lithium grease worked for me, anything too light will be washed away when water inevitably makes its way in there through the outer door/window seals.

I wished I'd had a ratcheting spanner when I took those bolts out, took an age to get them out!

 

[Paulb33]

So I've had an intermittent problem for a few years. When I go to open the driver's door the trigger pulls and the actuator pin stays in the depressed position, the trigger goes all floppy.
I thought as it has warmed up I would take a look at it.
Whipped off the door card, then spent what felt like a lifetime unscrewing the 2 bolts holding the door handle on (the rear one is the hard to get to one, you never knew your hands were that big!).
Luckily my wife was out, so her ultrasonic jewelry cleaner came out and hey presto, 25 years of muck was removed (I took the lock out first).
My question to you guys is what, if any, lubrication do you recommend for the actuator pin? it now springs back beautifully, but once I put it back together I don't want to have the same problem reoccur.
I have a day or two before the new handle gaskets arrive, any advice?

I have this issue but it happens on both the inside and outer handle. Pull the trigger and the door kinda hangs. Was this your experience too?

 

[Gwsinc]

So I've had an intermittent problem for a few years. When I go to open the driver's door the trigger pulls and the actuator pin stays in the depressed position, the trigger goes all floppy.
I thought as it has warmed up I would take a look at it.
Whipped off the door card, then spent what felt like a lifetime unscrewing the 2 bolts holding the door handle on (the rear one is the hard to get to one, you never knew your hands were that big!).
Luckily my wife was out, so her ultrasonic jewelry cleaner came out and hey presto, 25 years of muck was removed (I took the lock out first).
My question to you guys is what, if any, lubrication do you recommend for the actuator pin? it now springs back beautifully, but once I put it back together I don't want to have the same problem reoccur.
I have a day or two before the new handle gaskets arrive, any advice?

I have this issue but it happens on both the inside and outer handle. Pull the trigger and the door kinda hangs. Was this your experience too?

If both inside and outside are sticking the issue is with the mechanism inside the door. You could try to lubricate by taking the door card off then removing the plastic mechanism cover and getting your hand in there with some grease or 3-in-1 oil or similar. For best results you may have to remove the mech from the door and give it a good clean and grease, fiddly job as there atots of individual parts to remove so hopefully lubing in situ works for you.

 

[jonttt]

I had this problem with the outer drivers door but I simply sprayed WD40 Specialist Silicon spray into it, worked it a few times and that worked a treat. Its designed for just this sort of application as it dries to a film so as not to attract dirt. Maybe I just got lucky but worth a try before dismantling :dont know:

 

[993tt]

Thats interesting about the WD40 Specialist Silicon spray, in the past when the actuator is stuck I have sprayed WD40 through the triger mechanism to free it but obviosly it is a short lives solution as it is so thin.
I am worried about grease attracting dirt and overtime jamminng the actuator pin again.

 

[993tt]

Paulb33
No It is the external door trigger. When you pull the trigger it pushes a pin to actuate the opening mechenism, see the photo above, if you have a problem with the door lock from both inside and outside I would look at the door catch mechanism or the central locking.

 

[Gwsinc]

Thats interesting about the WD40 Specialist Silicon spray, in the past when the actuator is stuck I have sprayed WD40 through the triger mechanism to free it but obviosly it is a short lives solution as it is so thin.
I am worried about grease attracting dirt and overtime jamminng the actuator pin again.

There are plastic covers in the door over the mechanism that should deflect most dirt, this actually makes the mechanism quite hard to get to from the inside!

No issues since greasing mine a few years ago, and the mechanism and lock actuators move with a more positive click.

if you remove the uppermost large Philips screw from the just above the locking mechanism on the door, you might be able to spray some silicone through that hole and free it up a little? No risk of anything moving if the other screws are tight. Worth a go before dismantling anything.

 

[993tt]

Thanks for all of the replys.
Gwsinc, as I have the handle on my desk I don't foresee any problems lubricating it.

 

[Gwsinc]

Thanks for all of the replys.
Gwsinc, as I have the handle on my desk I don't foresee any problems lubricating it.

Sorry got lost between yours and Paul's handle issues c: