I'm so incredibly frustrated. This has been a ten day problem and there's no end in sight.

My driver door (interior) handle snapped. Replaced it. Then the exterior handle failed. Wouldn't open the car. Took out, took it apart, got it to work. All was well.Then interior handle failed -- completely jammed up. It hasn't broken like the first one did, but if I pull it, it will. Obviously this is what caused the first handle to fail, the mechanism is jamming.

I called around for days and days and days, spoke with about a zillion people trying to obtain parts -- even sent emails with photos that were asked for of the parts and then got no reply! -- and am absolutely nowhere. Roy tells me it's a plastic part that needs to be "just pulled out." There's a plastic theft shield, black plastic, that he said when damaged would cause this. I can't really figure out how to remove this shield, so any help with that is appreciated. I really can't find any damage on it as he says, and I don't feel that it's causing the problem, as when I feel around with my fingers up in the door, no part of it seems to be touching the latch mechanism at all, but I guess it's possible, in which case I do need help figuring out how it "just" gets pulled out.

It does NOT seem to be a lock issue. The cylinders turn, the vacuum engages, all seems fine. It's something within simply pulling the handle to open the door. That simple act does not happen.

I now have a barely-operating exterior door latch and a completely inoperable interior one. This is beyond frustrating. Ten days and I am no closer to resolution than I ever was. I can't get my door handles to open the driver door.

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1980 300SD 220,xxx
somewhere, nc

Have you tried removing the door liner on the opposite door to compare the two? That is what I would try next.

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

What exactly might I be comparing? There's next to nothing one can observe by looking into the lock mechanism.

Has no one else encountered an issue like this that might know what the issue is?

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1980 300SD 220,xxx
somewhere, nc

What exactly might I be comparing? There's next to nothing one can observe by looking into the door, let alone looking into two.

Has no one else encountered an issue like this that might know what the issue is?

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1980 300SD 220,xxx
somewhere, nc

The exterior door handles not working is quite common on a 116. That is fixed by a removing the door handle and adjusting the piece that goes into the latch.

I have a couple parts doors for a 116 if you figure out what you need, but the exterior should be fixable.

The other possibilty is that the latch itself has something bent.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Adjusting the long plastic extended piece? I'm really stumped as to which piece is failing, whether it's the interior handle, the exterior handle, the latch or simply the way I am putting it all back together.

Should there be play in the long plastic piece? It is quite floppy right now.

To get out of the car now I have to engage the interior handle, then BANG hard on the door several times and it pops open. I can't put the door panel back on if I want the door to open. Sucks.

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1980 300SD 220,xxx
somewhere, nc

post pics of your door lock, and your door handle, i'll tell you what if anything is broken on it.

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