Door handle won't work

[MN88k1500]

Got a 1995 Custom Sedan and the door froze shut last night and while trying to open it, apparently something broke in the latch assembly or something because now you can't open the door from the outside. The handle just flaps loosely. A new handle is $45 from the dealer but before I go in and get one, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if it might just be a cable or spring or something that broke or came loose. I'm just not sure how these door handles (exterior) function mechanically and I'm not in any position to pay $100 an hour for some lachey at the dealership to take the door apart and put it back together so I'll be trying it on my own. Any advice/information you could give me would be great. Do you think it's the handle itself or something inside the door? Ever change one yourself and if so, how long did it take and was it difficult or not?

[Flatrater]

I was going to offer some help to you till I read you sad comment about dealer lacheys!

Since a dealer lachey can fix your problem with little effort what does that make you?

[tman]

take it easy flatrater!

Firstly, I'm not familiar with the door latches, are they the moon style found on most new cars, or a handle and push button?

On mom's 99 park ave, with the moon style, her door handle broke. I know they replaced the door latch and handle, not sure of the cost.

[raybuick]

I had similar problem and what probably happened is that you broke the part on the door handle where the linkage attaches to activate the latch.You'll probably need another door handle and a couple of snap on-linkage clips.Naturally you'll have to remove the door cover and everything else in the way. Its tight where the linkage is and the door handle removes from the inside. Good luck Raybuick

[MN88k1500]

Well, we took it to the dealer and got it fixed today to the tune of $153, $43 of that being parts, the rest was labor. At $98....these dealer shops must be compiled with mechanics with PhD's or something!! I only paid it because we needed it fixed by the weekend and they didn't require an appointment.

But it's fixed and I gotta say, we've got the gold Regal and we didn't have the new handle painted to match thus leaving it black and wouldn't you know it...it looks BETTER black!!! Offsets the black pinstriping and moulding and really gives a sharp appearance. Of course at $150 a door, we're certainly not about to replace them all! But when the need arises...one at a time....