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Exterior Door Handle Not Opening

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#small driverdoor exteriorhandle
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2.1K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  amc49  
#1 ·
Hello! For starters I should mention that I have a 2004 Ford Focus. Here's my problem, I unlocked and tried to open my drivers side door, with the exterior handle, and something broke inside and fell to the bottom of the car door. The handle isn't broken, it is attached, but it is very loose and the door has to be opened from the inside. The interior door handle still triggers the door. I pulled off the plastic cover, insulation, and found a silver (maybe plastic?) metal piece. (see photo below)

I thought I'd ask this group if there is anyone who can help me identify what it is, how to replace it safely and correctly, and how to avoid it happening again. Thanks!
Image
 
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#2 ·
It's commonly part of the inner door handle reinforcement part, which has a small rocker that breaks off. It happens because the part is too flimsy and when the main door latch friction runs higher due to grease on parts drying up then it can be common to break that as it is the wealest link there.
 
#4 ·
Benjilafouine said:
What’s the fix? I’m curious.
Click to expand...
Replace the handle.

www.focusfanatics.com

How-To: Fix a broken Door handle assembly

I had a pretty good idea from doing other cars at work; but I learned the Focus as I went along. I documented what I could to make other's attempts in the future a tad easier! For what ever reason, pics and vids have this mysterious way of building confidence enough to get you out there; doing...
www.focusfanatics.com www.focusfanatics.com
 
#5 ·
tuxtanium said:
Replace the handle.

www.focusfanatics.com

How-To: Fix a broken Door handle assembly

I had a pretty good idea from doing other cars at work; but I learned the Focus as I went along. I documented what I could to make other's attempts in the future a tad easier! For what ever reason, pics and vids have this mysterious way of building confidence enough to get you out there; doing...
www.focusfanatics.com www.focusfanatics.com
Click to expand...
I would too take some pictures along the way. Maybe it looks worse than it really is. I didn’t know this was a common problem on these models.
 
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#6 · (Edited)
Not the door handle, the door handle REINFORCEMENT, Ford name for the part. Goes inside door rather than outside like handle does.

Get the right year part, Ford has modded it several times but typically it now breaks even easier than the originals did.
 
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