Inside door handle won't work

[JimmieD]

Hi guys!

My '90 W-350 had much abuse being a former 'Gubment' truck. The other day I got in and closed door as usual and when I went to open it from inside - no go! Rolled down the window and let myself out.

Pulled door panel and found that Ma Mopar used a metal rod from inner door handle lever mechanism running across to the latch at door edge. Pure genius, they use some screwy little plastic clips to keep the rod in place at both ends - broken. Very little room to get in there and work on it plus this truck's door had a really hokey repair in the past. Metal had torn and a patch panel was pop riveted in place!

Anyways, I wanted the easy way out. Drove to the local hardware store and bought a coil spring about 1/2" OD and maybe 6"-7" long, fairly stout tension. Attached one end of that spring around the door handle rod and the other end of spring I attached to a hole in the door once spring was stretched out some. This causes constant tension downward on the rod so it keeps it from popping out of the hole in door handle lever mechanism.

Cheap, easy, expect it to last a long time, no more funky plastic clips. Thought I'd pass it along if it could help the next guy...

[PToombs]

I never thought of doing that! I have a bunch of the extra plastic clips, When I leave the junkyard I have a few "extras" of bulbs, screws and clips in my pockets. They still use the same clips in my '97.

[ellis93]

They still use the same clips in my '97.

And are available in the help section of any part store

[JimmieD]

Thanks, guys! Yes they're still available. I just didn't want to try to get one installed through the opening in the door, hard to get to and especially so because a former tech installed a patch panel on the door with pop rivets. Spring was just too easy, I like easy!