Porsche 944 - Door Handle Trigger Linkage Replacement Tutorial

[@anonymoussee8960]

I have to leave one more comment. I washed my 944 in the evening and temperatures dropped below freezing that night. The next morning, I went to open the drivers door and the handle pulled in without opening the latch. I feared the linkage had broken or water had gotten inside the handle and froze something plastic. After taking apart the handle and the door card, I found the roll pin sitting in the bottom of the door. The linkage is completely intact but somehow the pin popped out? What's even more strange is that I had to use a hammer to tap the pin back in the holes as it was a tight fit. No idea how this happened but my door handle is working again thanks to your well shot, well narrated video. Truly top quality content on this channel

[@NC944er]

Wow, that’s crazy! Another owner commented that one of his pins fell out as well, but that it was worn and wouldn’t really stay in place after being reinstalled. Glad you got yours figured out! 👍🏼

[@gwilli]

Great video! The cable for the inside handle broke on my driver-side door. There's a tiny cir-clip that holds the cable to the lock mechanism, but it's inside the door and not accessible until you remove the lock mechanism. I needed to remove the lock mechanism to replace the broken cable, but I was stumped for a while trying to figure out how to separate the lock mechanism from the outer door handle. Your video showed me how to do it. Thanks so much and keep up the great work!

[@NC944er]

That’s awesome! I’m glad it helped out. 👍

[@GTArmstrong]

Almost perfectly on cue - mine stopped working just a few days ago! I think I'm going to have to adjust my approach to videos - your videos are fantastic tutorials and I'd much rather be referring people to you than recreating a version of this. I'll have to do some thinking.

[@NC944er]

Ha! That seems to be a trend… weather is getting colder over here in North America, which contributes to the linkage failures. ‘Tis the season! 😂 There are a few jobs that I’ve pumped the brakes on recording, given similar content out there, saved me a lot of time. 😁 I’ll occasionally repeat one if I have new insight to add or if the other ones don’t offer HD shots. If you end up needing to take the door panel off, that may be a useful one. Cheers! 👍🏼

[@tapantera]

I wouldn't mind if you repeat a topic someone else has covered. Your narration and techniques kind of stand out. @@NC944er

[@MuerteSpider]

Literally the thing I needed most. But nothing I deserved. THANK YOU

[@NC944er]

LOL!

[@tims_4x4_garage]

Nice. Mine needed some adjustments it was a bit tight. I hope the new owner finds this video.

[@NC944er]

I’m pretty sure the upper linkage arm is composed of “pot metal” and intentionally designed to break in order to generate service visits. 😂

[@tims_4x4_garage]

@@NC944er haha maybe so! Mine had a noticeable bind but it always functioned. I know one day it’ll let go or bind enough to quit working. I only knew of the inside access, which is a huge pain. I didn’t know it could be serviced so easily from the outside. Your video will be very helpful for many.

[@GenFool]

I snapped mine trying to get it out for adjusment - taking the door card off made it much easier!

[@NC944er]

They seem to break far too easily. 😂

[@pkt1213]

I had to replace the 2 plastic ends. It was mostly broken on one-sided but in way it was partly functional. The other side finally broke too. It drove the central locking system crazy.

[@pkt1213]

I do need to replace the handle seals. I plan on doing a deep detail at some point and removing the mirrors, door handles, and some other trim pieces. Detailing. Then putting new seals on when putting the parts back together.

[@NC944er]

Ha! That’s crazy. Was it just rapid-fire trying to lock and unlock repeatedly?

[@anonymoussee8960]

Timely video. My passenger side handle stopped opening from the outside. Unfortunately, the PO had stripped the screws in the door latch mechanism...hopefully I can get by with adjusting the linkage

[@NC944er]

Oh man, that doesn’t sound fun. 😳 Best of luck getting it sorted out.

[@koheba1]

Amazing video as always! So, mine looks like similar issues, but can’t quite diagnose yet cause I can’t open door from inside. Leave me thinking at first to open up door, I need to somehow unlock it from mechanism on door panel…but it is not easy to pray a small pick and try and catch the lock hinge to open it…any other ideas welcome!! Thank you.

[@NC944er]

Oh wow, that doesn’t sound fun. The general consensus is that the interior door card/panel can be partially removed from the inside with the door closed. This provides access to the mechanism where you should be able to pull the lever to actuate and release the latch. This thread is a good read for some additional insight - rennlist.com/forums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/1201047-driver-s-door-stuck-locked-3.html

[@koheba1]

Thank you! Next weekend work!😂

[@user-fh7qs4qr7m]

Yeah, I think I just had this happen. Tried to open the passenger side door, heard a click or clunk, and the door doesn't open anymore. Still have to test if it opens from the inside though.

[@kalvinkallahan2957]

Great video, thanks! …Do you happen to also be a commercial airline pilot? bc you sound exactly like one! 😆

[@NC944er]

Good afternoon from the flight deck, it’s nice to know I have backup career options. 😂

[@bruhmoment2.0]

So what parts should be ordered for this repair? (Had the same problem something broke on a winter day) please help 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 (car opens from inside, but not the outside)

[@NC944er]

The parts you’ll need depends on whether it was the door handle trigger or the linkage that failed. It’s best to pull the handle to confirm for your situation and then place orders from there.

[@johnrugal9599]

Hello. What is that electrical wire attached to the door handle? And how this wire can be removed? I am thinking of removing the door handle completely for painting but this electrical wire attached to door handle is in the way. Thanks.

[@NC944er]

Hey John, the wire is for the power/central locking system, so when either door is locked/unlocked with the key, the same action is automatically applied to the other side. You would need to remove the inner door panel, the window, and rear window track to access the door handle linkage and wire connector for full removal. It may be easier to get creative by partially removing the door handle as shown here and then wedging a short dowel into the recess, allowing you to tape/support the door handle away from the outer panel for painting, then you can just paint around it with the wire protruding from the door.

[@johndeltoro7990]

Same procedure for the black trim around the door handles? Mine are completely shot!!

[@NC944er]

Yep, pretty much the same deal. I have a video on that job as well - kzbin.info/www/bejne/foiqoZeppMmcnM0

[@liamflynn6929]

Perfect timing my handle decided to stop working about a month ago. Tried to fix and it's missing the pin to connect the handle to the linkage. I'm hoping I just need to replace the pin and adjust the linkage, but we'll see

[@NC944er]

That would be a nice win if it’s just the pin! Part number N0233232 is only about $3. 👍🏼

[@liamflynn6929]

@@NC944er thanks, couldn't find the part no anywhere. And unfortunately it isn't just the pin. I relocated it, placed it in, and it still didn't actuate the linkage enough. The pin was worn out so it fell out again during testing. I'm hoping by lengthening the linkage a bit I can fix it. Planning to sell the car soon unfortunately so it's just gotta hold til then lol

[@NC944er]

@@liamflynn6929 Duuude… my roll pin fell out today. 😂 I was able to retrieve down inside the door as you described, wedged the pin open a bit on each side with a punch, and reinstalled. Did you end up selling your car?

[@liamflynn6929]

@@NC944er haven't sold yet. Still need to fix the door handle since it seems to be the linkage as well. Also in the middle of fixing my oil cooler seals since I have an external leak. 944online shipped me the wrong tool for the OPRV so my filter shot off and I lost a good bit of oil. Hoping to sell this summer

[@NC944er]

@@liamflynn6929 Oh wow, that’s crazy! Good luck getting it all sorted out and with the sale. I like 944Online for their easy kits and such, but I’ve also been sent “wrong items” on more than one occasion. 😳

[@chrisdiehl5571]

Can you get at the plastic door lock linkage without removing the window track?

[@NC944er]

Hey Chris, I believe that it’s possible from the looks of things, but have never tried it. If you give it a go, let me know what you find out.

[@maxkanters6579]

My door does open but it feels very weak, ive replaced the door joint and measured it with the old one but still opens very weak

[@NC944er]

@@maxkanters6579 Not sure what you mean by “opens weak.” How far depressed is the trigger when the latch releases? Is it almost bottomed out in the handle or somewhere in between?

[@finster7582]

I use my broken handle as a theft deterent..mine locks n the latch stays depressed n door wont open. I just push the trigger forward and it catches and i can then open the door..i kinda like that it is broken this way..😃👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@NC944er]

Nice! A trick door handle. 😂 My brother had an RX-7 where he broke the key off in the ignition, so he would just carry around a small flathead screwdriver that he could wedge into the key slot to start the car.

[@finster7582]

@@NC944er thats awesome! Lol

[@exekious321]

Is this roughly the same for the 968?

[@NC944er]

Yep, the 968 features an updated outer door handle and trigger/actuator, but the internal linkage for the locking mechanism and the release trigger is setup the same way, both pieces using the same part numbers from the 944 version.

[@juansantos1614]

Thank you very much

[@8359s]

How do I adjust it so it opens ealrier?

[@NC944er]

For the trigger to release the latch earlier, you should loosen the plastic ball joint on the linkage arm by turning it counterclockwise so that is sits further down on the threads. When properly adjusted, my plastic joint ended up on the lower end, where I could only see one single thread protruding from the plastic. The challenge at that point is that the joint is a little loose on the metal lever, which makes installation on the ball a bit more difficult.