Hi,

 

The driver's exterior door handle on my 2001 Octavia has to be pulled all the way out before it engages the mechanism, or whatever it does. All the other door handles feel much more 'crisp' if you know what I mean, apart from the driver's one. It feels like something has worn down inside and doesn't work right.

 

Does anyone know if I need to replace the whole exterior handle mechanism? Or can I get away with changing one part? 

 

thanks for any advice!

 

also, does anyone know where to find the paint code?

Check that all the linkages behind the door card are attached correctly. It's really a case of removing the door card and inspecting to see what the problem is.

Paint code is on the sticker on the boot floor, normally near the spare wheel well.

thanks, I had the door card off recently and they all seemed fine but I suppose I could have another look

Has the small cable popped off the teeth? Open handle look in at the end, could be that that small cable for the exterior handle has snapped off at the other end. Either way that cable would be my prime suspect.

If it has popped off the teeth you have to make it grip the right ones for correct tension or it won't solve anything. Taking out the lock barrel may make life easier.

Bit of a late reply to this (and thanks for the advice!) but does anyone know how to go about removing the lock barrel? 

Yes.

Iirc there are 2 retaining screws in the door, a torx screw and small screw? The torx in the barrel needs to be undone a lot, about 15-20 turns, stop when you feel resistance. The screw undo but don't let it pop out completely as it will fall in the door. I undid mine until I just felt the end of the thread and then turned it back in half a turn.

Then just wiggle it for all your worth! If it's the 1st time out it will be sticky and tricky. I wrap a cloth round a flathead and carefully prise to help get it started, you can also try working it looser with your key in the lock. As my old headmaster used to say, it's all about our old friend Percy, Percy Verance.

Thank you! I'm assuming this is all done on the inside of the door with the door card off?

Nah you can get the barrel out with door card on (unless you drop that screw!) The retaining screws are in the end of the door near the big spline screws that hold the mech in place. The torx one is in a sort of peep hole and you can see the other screw. Wiggle barrel out from outside the door by the handle.

ok thanks a lot for your concise advice! I'll give it a go on the next sunny day

Good luck with getting one!

waheyyyy I managed it! the barrel came out without too much fuss, a bit of WD40 and some gentle prying on each side with a thin screwdriver and out she popped. Turns out I hadn't undone the bottom screw enough before. Door handle is now perfectly adjusted 

 

Sadly though I lost that tiny black top screw in the door card, anyone know what size / type / length it is to replace is? or is it not that important?

Haven't got a clue! Not even totally sure exactly what it retains.

You could try shaking the door and hope it comes out a drainage hole...If it were me I think I'd take the door card off and try and get it back, magnet might come in handy!

Actually you could ask in the breaking cars section if someone can get one out of a door for you?

good idea! but I doubt anyone would want to go to the trouble of posting a tiny screw haha. A week on from the repair it doesn't seem to have any negative side-effects so I'm assuming it will stay that way

Sure someone would for postage but it doesn't seem vital. Turns out I now have to do the lock mech on my Ibiza :( bloomin microswitch is going. Don't think it has one of those screws as it goes, more complicated inner door card though....