Hi,

 

I've just bought a 1999 Felicia LXI 1.3 which has a few problems before I can get it through the Swedish equivalent of the MOT test, including leaking exhaust, oil filler cap missing and non funtioning door handles on 2 of the doors. It's this last one I would love some advice on.

 

The drivers door can be opened and closed from the outside, but the interior handle is intermittent - sometimes the door opens, other times it's crawl over to the passenger side or wind down the window and use the exterior handle. I've removed the door panel and can see all the rods and levers etc. I've removed the operating mechanism from the door and given it a good clean and lubricated it as it seemed well gunked up with old grease. This hasn't helped. I'm also unable to lock or unlock the door from the outside using the key, although the interior locking button does work to lock and unlock the door. Does anyone have any clues as to where I should look next, please?

 

Another problem with the doors is my own fault - partly. In trying to find the problem with the outside door handle not working on one of the rear doors, I accidentally used the child safety lock. Now I can't open the door from the inside, obviously, but also cannot open that door using the exterior handle either. Does anyone know a way of releasing the child safety lock please? Otherwise I fear I'll need to try to take the interior trim off that door too, which may not be possible with the door permanently closed...

 

Any replies would be much appreciated, as the MOT test is due at the end of next week.

 

Thanks, Sympol from Sweden

Hello Sympol from Sweden

The door is unlocked from the inside using a steel rod (see yellow arrow) between handle and locking mechanism. In time the mechanism gets loose and the solution I found to be working is to kink the steel rod a little like I showed in bottom right. The rod gets shorter and will pull better. But first have a look at handle area (see yellow oval) to see if there is some obvious faulty part. Then try to slide the whole handle a bit to the right after loosening the screws.

 

The children lock problem is weird. The outer handle should open the door regardless of children lock. Try using the interior locking knob (up/down a few times). If not successful try removing the door panel or lower the window and improvise a long hook from steel wire and try fishing the unlocking rod.

 

 

Is there a Skoda Felicia forum in Sweden?

Edited 4 June, 201511 yr by RicardoM

Thanks for the reply. I managed to get the rear doors open as you suggested by wriggling the lock/unlock button up and down while using the exterior handle and after a few attempts the door opened. But that's the problem with the exterior handle on both rear doors - it's very stiff and intermittent. Guess now that the doors can be opened I'll need to strip the panel off and have a good look/clean up to get the handles working properly...

 

I'll try your suggestion with the kink in the operating lever for the driver's interior door handle too, thanks...

The key to your problem is understand 100% how the mechanism works.

In your case it is about finding spots that rub, including the outer lock.

Just an update. The problem with the drivers door was caused by the spring on the locking button having been butchered at some stage in the past. I've taken the interior panel off, tidied up the spring and lubricated all moving parts. Now it's back together again and works like a charm. The other doors also now can be opened from inside and out after the mechanisms have been cleaned and relubricated. I suspect the previous owner didn't use the rear doors very much.

 

Thanks again for your useful comments. Now to tackle the main/dipped beam stalk problem. If I can't fix the existing stalk then I guess I'll need to replace it before the MOT....