door hard to open

[Tom Lewis]

I have a 1995 gmc yukon and about 3 weeks ago the passenger door
got real hard to open (from the inside),you have to pull all the way up
on the handle and push on the door to get it to open, my wife can not
open it from the inside, you can open it with ease from the outside, any
help out there.

[amac209]

sounds like the linkage is either bent or binding. if you take the door pannel off you'll see whats going on there might be a broken or damaged clip or something loose.

[Jayson C]

Originally Posted by Tom Lewis

I have a 1995 gmc yukon and about 3 weeks ago the passenger door
got real hard to open (from the inside),you have to pull all the way up
on the handle and push on the door to get it to open, my wife can not
open it from the inside, you can open it with ease from the outside, any
help out there.

Yup, I knew it was going to be a '95 yukon after reading the "door hard to open" subject. I had the same problem. The problem is that the door alignment is off and the hinges are starting to sag. Of couse, the hinges are welded on, which makes for very difficult replacement.

Actually, to verify this, open the door and close it without latching it. Look at where the pin hits the catch. Is the pin lower and rubbing on the catch housing or is it hitting the catch square in the middle? If it's not hitting it in the middle , you have the same problem I had and I've acutally come across quite a few other owners with this problem.

To fix it properly you'll need to replace the hinge. To fix it for the time being (mine is still fixed this way after 1+ year), you'll need to bend the door hinge back into alignment. I had a friend at a body shop do this for me: all you need is about a 1 1/4" socket and a long (6"+) extension for the socket. You'll need to place this socket in between the lower square hinge frame and the chassis and hold it there with the extension while steadily applying pressure to close the door. (Put it in the upper square hinge if you have to move the pin down to meet the catch.) Pull the scoket out and check the pin-catch alignment, repeat as necessary. This may sound like an odd procedure, but it worked for me, I've had to do both doors. (I guess I hang on them alot and didn't realize it.)

If you let this problem go for too long you'll end up unbending the linkage in the interior door panel. Eventually, you can even get to the point where the aluminum interior door handle breaks from overbending, like mine did. No Fun.

Hope this helps. I really wish there would be a recall on this.

Sincerely,
Jayson