Door Handle Stuck (Popped Out)

[lj37]

My wife opened the door to my jeep last week and the door handle is now popped out. I can't push it back in and the door will only open from the inside. Photo of it is below. I've seen other posts about the handle not working, but I haven't found any about the handle being stuck popped outwards like mine? I also read some different posts saying fixing the handle/door on a TJ is harder than you think. I'm wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of what part(s) I'd need to get and if this is something I should have my local mechanic help fix for me?

 

[WVJeep304]

You'll need to pop the door panel off and see if any of the rods or clips are damaged, missing, or disconnected. At this point, I'd guess a majority of the TJ door handles just need replaced anyway. Mine looked fine when they started giving me problems. But some of the moving parts had actually began to rust/wear and they would stick or get tough to operate. I finally bought new handles for both doors and they've been problem-free.

Changing those handles, however is my 2nd least favorite job on a TJ behind removing/replacing the intake and exhaust manifolds.

 

[lj37]

Thanks! I think it might be best to get two new handles and replace both. I've seen a lot of comments about people saying how annoying and frustrating changing the handles are which is why I was thinking of buying the parts and paying my mechanic to do it. lol

 

[TJRick]

Thanks! I think it might be best to get two new handles and replace both. I've seen a lot of comments about people saying how annoying and frustrating changing the handles are which is why I was thinking of buying the parts and paying my mechanic to do it. lol

Do yourself a big favor and reverse both door handles while you are replacing them.

I did this to my own TJ a few years ago, and this turned out to be one of my favorite mods.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaQxExi-GTU&t=259s

 

[GATORB8]

I put the quadratec replacements in my half doors and the clips failed pretty quickly. Unless someone has a different recommendation, I'd probably spring for the Omix-Ada replacements.

 

[Ctdriver86]

Is there tension on it, at all? My pass door will get out about as far as yours, then latches to open. It vibrates around while driving, and drives me nuts.

I’ve adjusted the driver before, cracked my door panel in the process. Not looking forward to tackling this. But, sounds like yours won’t open at all.

 

[lj37]

It's completely stuck. Won't really move in either direction. Door opens just fine when opening from the inside.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

I just had to replace this on my drivers side. After initially fixing it by lubricating everything, It happened again on a road trip. Got through the trip, but when I got home found that alot of slop had developed in the linkage within the handle itself. The complete kit is cost effective and nice to get at once as you might just want to replace all the handles.

Full door version​

https://www.quadratec.com/p/crown-a...aster-kit-cj-series-yj-wrangler-tj-full-doors

Ultimately I also had an issue with the link on the door lock, the driver's door latch mechanism and the internal link to the interior handle. Possibly all caused by age, or some user error along the way. I have less than 100k on the odometer, so I'm thinking age, dried up lubricant gunk.

 

[freebo86]

There is a handle stopper inside that snaps off. Not common issue but my old 97 TJ had that issue and if you pulled the handle too far it would slip over the stopper (which is like a hook) and get caught like that.

You’d have to pull the interior panel, and with your hand up in there you can get the handle to pop back in place. Used to happen everytime someone unfamiliar with the jeep would try to open the handle..