Drivers door handle not working

[Gaz]

The drivers door handle on my type-85 coupé quattro isn't working , it opens from the inside, but the lever on the outside feels loose and has no resistance and doesn't open the door any more .

What part has likely broken? and can it be repaired or do i need a new handle?

Also, are the handles universal for both doors? Or do they have a 'left' and a 'right' ?

Is it an easy fix? or even an easy replace job?

Cheers!

[BackintheFold]

Impossible to say which part for sure, but if you remove the handle it will be clear.
Almost certainly needs a new handle.
They are "handed".

Easy to replace, easier with inside door panel removed.

[Isimmo]

This might help

https://audi.7zap.com/en/rdw/audi+co...1/8/837-82000/



It might be as simple as “8” coming disconnected.

[Hanuman]

As Simmons says- 8 (and 9?) actuating rods can become detached for a number of reasons. There are plastic clips which hold them in place. They locate the end of the rod, then by rotating 1/4turn lock them. The plastic clips may become brittle with age, have been known to be disconnected and not reconnected properly with work on the innards of doors, or simply lost.

Likewise, the quadrant piece #29, the upper end of the rod clips in here, and is free to move. The lock key turns the quadrant. It’s not unknown for the screw to become loose, and all of a sudden, the lock stops working. A little thread lock compound helps stop the screw shaking loose.

[Flying Frank]

Originally Posted by Isimmo

This might help

https://audi.7zap.com/en/rdw/audi+co...1/8/837-82000/



It might be as simple as “8” coming disconnected.

Thank goodness for people like you Ian and also Mark, stalwarts of the CA Forum.

Latest project , an '85 Audi Sport is giving me all sorts of ( understandable) grief. When I got it , none of the doors opened from the outside ....it was delivered with an open window and the warning "don't close that window or you'll never get into the car" as all doors only opened ok from the interior handles.
Long story short and 3 of the 4 doors all work fine now but the drivers door handle is giving me grief. I searched for 7Zap and it seems to be permanently "off-air" but thanks to you dear Ian, here is the picture I wanted .

Now struggling to get the handle out of the door as the actuating rods are pigs to get to , especially when half of what I'm trying to do is guesswork feeling up in the doors innards. Now I may be able to do a bit better with this diagram , but searching my memory of doing this in the past I seem to remember ( as Mark says ) that there are plastic inserts in the door handle which keep the actuating rods secure ( bit no 36 in the picture ) and I guess if this is missing it'll not help the operation.

Ah well, I'm a glutton for punishment and the grief the car gives me is only surpassed by that I receive from SWMBO .

Thanks again chaps, CA rules ok !

[urquattr085]

I had also noticed 7zap is off-air.

Found this as an alternative though, hope this can help someone

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/audi/RDW

[Flying Frank]

Originally Posted by urquattr085

I had also noticed 7zap is off-air.

Found this as an alternative though, hope this can help someone

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/audi/RDW

Fantastic alternative to 7Zap.

Many thanks.

[urquattr085]

Happy to help

Been there with the door handle issue too, need size 0 hands if I remember correctly. Hope you can get it sorted.

[Isimmo]

Originally Posted by urquattr085

I had also noticed 7zap is off-air.

Found this as an alternative though, hope this can help someone

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/audi/RDW

Ooo, nice one G, really helpful.

And glad it was of help Frank.

[Colin Aitchison]

I have had the same problem with my coupe Gt, thought it would be a case of getting new cheap door handle, (as the bit that fail is hard to replace), pop the lock/key barrel out of the original door handle and slip it in to the new handle, no, new cheap handle has smaller hole for lock/key barrel car now has two keys