Exterior door handle lubrication

BigJohn · 12th May 2020, 16:18

My rears doors which aren’t used a great deal (no puns please) had been a bit stiff and grabby in operation for a while. Today the n/s exterior handle refused to open the door. I spent a good hour and a half reading threads on this issue.

Before going down the route of door card off and white clip adjustment I decided to try lubrication as suggested by some by locking the doors, then pulling on the handle and spraying lube downwards through the gap in the mechanism.

I was dubious, and used white lithium grease rather than WD40 but was pleasantly surprised that the outside handle not only opened the door but the action was now very smooth.

Fingers crossed this is a permanent fix, I’ll report back in a few months. If no further issues I’ll add this to my annual maintenance regime.

Certainly worth a try and thanks to previous poster’s suggestions I would just substitute WD40 for lithium grease as WD40 is a water displacer and degreaser rather than a lubricant.

KWIL · 12th May 2020, 17:27

Door locks, striker plates etc all require routine attention, along with hinges, door restraints and bonnet locks etc.

BigJohn · 12th May 2020, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by KWIL

Door locks, striker plates etc all require routine attention, along with hinges, door restraints and bonnet locks etc.

I agree Ken, although this is the first time in 38 years of motoring that I’ve had to lubricate a door lock mechanism inside a door. I found especially important since the common usage of blippers to unlock and lock cars is to use graphite powder on external key slots every 6 months or so.

StewartIngram · 13th May 2020, 08:12

WD40 - useless bodger's tool. It is primarily a water dispersant NOT a lubricant. As appropriate, use a penetrating oil, or a proper lubricant oil.

sworks · 13th May 2020, 08:18

Rear door handles not working used to be a big problem back when the cars were still under warranty. In most cases, pulling on the handle and adding a bit of oil with an oil can sorted it. My local dealer started doing it at service as preventative maintenance.

Mike Trident · 13th May 2020, 19:17

I would only ever use KABA cleaner & lube.

12th May 2020, 16:18	#1
BigJohn Gets stuck in Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 609 Thanks: 518 Thanked 162 Times in 104 Posts	Exterior door handle lubrication My rears doors which aren’t used a great deal (no puns please) had been a bit stiff and grabby in operation for a while. Today the n/s exterior handle refused to open the door. I spent a good hour and a half reading threads on this issue. Before going down the route of door card off and white clip adjustment I decided to try lubrication as suggested by some by locking the doors, then pulling on the handle and spraying lube downwards through the gap in the mechanism. I was dubious, and used white lithium grease rather than WD40 but was pleasantly surprised that the outside handle not only opened the door but the action was now very smooth. Fingers crossed this is a permanent fix, I’ll report back in a few months. If no further issues I’ll add this to my annual maintenance regime. Certainly worth a try and thanks to previous poster’s suggestions I would just substitute WD40 for lithium grease as WD40 is a water displacer and degreaser rather than a lubricant.

13th May 2020, 08:18	#5
sworks Been absent for a while… Rover 75 Tourer, Classic mini Cooper S, Abarth 595 competizione, MG TF and a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cumbria Posts: 13,065 Thanks: 1,033 Thanked 1,686 Times in 1,040 Posts	Rear door handles not working used to be a big problem back when the cars were still under warranty. In most cases, pulling on the handle and adding a bit of oil with an oil can sorted it. My local dealer started doing it at service as preventative maintenance. __________________ ................................................. 'Marmite' Possibly one of the most famous 75 tourers produced! left the production line as the last of only Three Rover 75 tourers produced in Trophy Yellow. 48 hours later Longbridge closed. The last sold ordered 75 Tourer. Paid for by the Phoenix Four and handed over by John Towers to the Warwickshire Northampton Air ambulance service as a Rapid Response vehicle

13th May 2020, 19:17	#6
Mike Trident Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDTi Saloon & Citroen C1 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Oakenshaw, Near Bradford Posts: 1,622 Thanks: 385 Thanked 552 Times in 328 Posts	I would only ever use KABA cleaner & lube. __________________ Rover 75 2.0 CDTi (131Ps) Conn SE Saloon. (Manual) 160 Remap, cruise control, electric window blind, temp gauge, Real walnut / ZT interior, FBH with GSM control. BORN Tuesday, 5th October 2004 @ 12:35:52 This vehicle was the 104,679th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 3,318th 75 CDT Connoisseur SE (135) to be made out of 4,744 This vehicle was the 12,440th 75 in Starlight Silver (code: MBB) to be made out of 14,280 Starlight Silver 75s

12th May 2020, 17:27	#2
KWIL Precise Rover 75 Tourer 2.5KV6 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Fleet Posts: 2,954 Thanks: 630 Thanked 617 Times in 480 Posts	Door locks, striker plates etc all require routine attention, along with hinges, door restraints and bonnet locks etc.

13th May 2020, 08:12	#4
StewartIngram Gets stuck in Rover 75 Connoisseur 2.5 V6 auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Posts: 904 Thanks: 320 Thanked 159 Times in 127 Posts	WD40 - useless bodger's tool. It is primarily a water dispersant NOT a lubricant. As appropriate, use a penetrating oil, or a proper lubricant oil.