MY GIRLFRIEND HAS FINALLY HAD ENOUGH! She told me that I have to tell my service department the passenger door is too hard to open. Thinking that maybe the auto-sealing window feature wasn't working right, (something that happens to all of us occasionaly) I went over to examine the door. Sure enough, the window was working fine, but I had to practically use an iron grip to squeeze open the door. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

my 9-year son couldn't open the passenger door on my '03 mcs last night. i had to open the door for him and it was difficult to squeeze the detent. last night was the first that i became aware of this.

 

>>my 9-year son couldn't open the passenger door on my '03 mcs last night. i had to open the door for him and it was difficult to squeeze the detent. last night was the first that i became aware of this.
_____________________
Use the toggle switch on the dashboard to unlock all doors, then have passenger use semicircular door latch to open. Conversely, to unlock the door without using the toggle switch, pull twice in succession at the door latch to open. It's all in the Owner's Manual. If you're having trouble using method #2, take the car to your dealer and have it checked out.

 

It's the outside handle that's difficult. Openiing from the inside is fine using either method.

 

yeah, my passenger door is tough to open and my girlfirend has also been complaining, as well as me.. everyone assumes on first try it's locked. it's on my list of questions and comments for my first service.. 3k away..

wags

 

Reviving an ancient thread... anyone had this issue on 2006 gen1 cars? Mine has been fine for 2.5 years and 50,100 miles... now all of a sudden in the last couple of days, my kids can't open the door from the outside - I can, but the release lever is MUCH harder to pull than before... you squeeze it hard and if "pops" open... maybe the cable is binding? It's not cold out, so it's not frozen. It's been raining the last few days, but it's been wet before without this problem... any recommended periodic lubrication of either the cables or the latch itself?

 

The pull on the handle when you open the door unlocks the latch and the window drops a quarter of an inch to clear the seal. When you close the door it does the opposite and raises a bit into the slot of the frame.

To test it put your fingers at the top outside of the window and pull the latch. You will feel the window drop and then the door pops open.

If it doesn't drop when you attempt to open, you are pulling the door with the window in the ledge. I would suspect that the actuator is not functioning properly. Look in this thread for some pics:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...k-problem.html

 

Nope. Not the problem. Window drop is working fine. It's actually the level of effort required for the door latch to pop that I'm having a problem with. Requires 2-3x as much force to depress the lever on the passenger side as it does on the driver's side.

Other ideas?

 

It happens on my '06 MCS too. My ex complained about it a lot. At one point the handle actually froze semi open (the door was shut, but the black piece you squeeze never snapped back fully) and a buddy of mine was trapped until I had to go around and let him out.

I think it has something to do with the handle itself sticking. Maybe greasing it up somehow? I haven't looked into it yet (considering the ex is now out of the picture and rarely take passengers now) but that's where I'm going to start.

 

I have seen acouple handles that have become stiff/hard to pull. Sounds to me like you need a new handle. Have also seen the cable routed incorrectly inside the door causing it to rub away the covering over a period of time.

 

I am having an issue on the drivers side where I have to pull the inside handle a couple of times to get out. Doesnt matter if the windows is up or not. Works fine from the outside....Any ideas?

 

Is the door locked? Stupid question -but have to ask....

 

Heh..wish that was the issue

Nope...not locked..just have to pull on it 2-4 times to get it to open from the inside

 

There were some other threads about that issue - perhaps stretched bowden cable or something.... not sure what the resolution was...