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General Information => General => Topic started by: dyoungen on November 03, 2009, 06:06:17 pm

Title: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: dyoungen on November 03, 2009, 06:06:17 pm

I bought a 1985 Jetta Delux about a month ago and the passenger door handle was broken, the latch wouldn't open the door. I have bought 2 handles off ebay and they have both broken the first time I tried to open the door. The package the handle came in  has listed "HU-VW3202-FR" OUTSIDE HANDLE,  GOLF 1.2 85-92. It broke so easy I couldn't believe it. The drivers side door is much harder to open but it hasn't been any trouble at all. Anybody have any ideas? This is the outside door handle.

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: burn_your_money on November 03, 2009, 06:33:09 pm

With the handle removed are you able to open the door? You might need to remove the latch mechanism that is on the side of the door and lube it up

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: dyoungen on November 03, 2009, 06:42:07 pm

I have lubed the whole mechanism and it is free to move. That's what makes me wonder if I have the right door handle. It's listed for my jetta but I wonder...............

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: the caveman on November 03, 2009, 08:24:22 pm

There is some real garbage out there for sale. It could be they just broke.

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: maxfax on November 03, 2009, 09:14:46 pm

X2 on that..   I bought a real cheapo years back..  Barely had it installed till it broke..

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: burn_your_money on November 04, 2009, 04:49:17 am

Quote from: burn_your_money on November 03, 2009, 06:33:09 pm

With the handle removed are you able to open the door easily?

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: dyoungen on November 05, 2009, 05:16:56 pm

With the door handle removed I can look inside the door at the release and locking mechanism. Everything is loose enough that I push down on one of the tabs and the door pops open. I just ordered the handle from GermanAutoParts.com. I bought the previous 2 from a guy on ebay and if the one from GermanAutoParts.com works ok I"ll be jumping up and down on the ebay seller for sellingtrash. One bad part I can understand but 2?

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: macka on November 05, 2009, 08:08:48 pm

dyoungen,

     sounds like a crap part. I pulled out my mechanism, and cleaned it up good, clearing the crap the DPO had gooped on it. I put it all in and put on a POS cheapy door handle and it broke after 2 openings. I learnt and scored an OEM one from the scrap yard and its been on since.

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: ALVW3 on November 07, 2009, 10:07:44 am

Experienced exactly the same thing with my 90 Jetta this summer. Local wreckers completely sold out.  Ordered Chinese replacement off ebay, fit fine but broke on first opening.  Went through the hassle of demanding a replacement, thinking it was just bad luck, then the exact same thing happened again. Very weak metal.

Ordered one through autopartsway.ca - the one without lock, as I wanted to transfer the lock. I believe it was made in Germany - much more sturdy. Unfortunately, 5 months later and it just broke too. ???

It doesn't feel like the mechanism is stiff at all, but I'd better tear it down and lube it up.  This is getting ridiculous - passenger side gone too now - have to open from inside via back door.

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: dyoungen on November 28, 2009, 06:21:21 pm

Update on the door handle. I got the Handle a couple of weeks ago but didn't have the time to install it till this afternoon. Put in the lock and put everything on the door. Works like a champ. I emailed the guy I bought 2 handles off ebay to see what he offers. I"ll let you know the outcome of that one. I even offered to send the broken ones back to him. BTW, I got it from Germanautoparts.com. I think that's the name of the place.

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: GEE-BEE on November 29, 2009, 08:04:58 am

Hella of Germany OEM supplier $$

Moogie298 ( mk1AutoHaus ) ebay seller only carries the good stuff

Same thing happened to me on  a cheap pair I purchased

Good Luck..

Gee-Bee

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: drrtybyl on November 30, 2009, 07:25:25 pm

Tried installing my prothe door handles tonight and the first one sort of popped apart while first trying to open the door.  Hopefully it will pop back together.

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: bajacalal on November 30, 2009, 09:44:46 pm

The door handles on these cars seem to be a weak point. I pull them at the junkyard and when I see a good one because they tend to break fairly regularly. It's nice having a spare. It also helps to keep them lubricated.

Title: Re: door handle question on a 1985 jetta Delux
Post by: dyoungen on December 09, 2009, 09:56:51 am

Update on the "defective" door handle parts I bought off of EBAY. After I installed the good part from Germanautoparts.com the door has been opening like it should have from the beginning. I went back and tried to contact the seller on EBAY but he never answered so I went to EBAY with my complaint and after answering some questions they decided in my favor. The seller statement was "We do not cover unproffesional installation". GO EBAY! The EBAY seller was "Vehicle Parts Unlimited"