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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green
Driver Side door handle won't open the door anymore

Hhhhmmmm, I seem to be having a stint of bad luck. Today, I went to open my driver door on My 2003 Range Rover 4.4 and it clicked and now when I pull the handle, it doesn't open the door from the outside. I have to open the passenger door and open the driver door from the inside which is a right pain Smile

Anyone had this problem before? Any advice on how to fix it? I am reluctant to take it to a Land Rover dealer/specialist at the moment ....£££££££

The door locks and unlocks ok both using the remote and the key in the door, it's just the handle doesn't open it when I pull it from the outside Smile

Post #301118 27th Dec 2014 4:59pm
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Mr Tee



Member Since: 13 Dec 2010
Location: Near Wackyjim
Posts: 2598

Scotland 

There is a cable connecting the handle to the locking mechanism, the end will have sheared off, it's identical to a bicycle brake cable. I found it to be a right PITA to replace because I'm a ham fisted Censored , there's a thread on it here somewhere.

Post #301122 27th Dec 2014 5:22pm
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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green

Looks like I might need this part - FQZ000041 (Front Door Handle Release Cable).

Looks as if I need to take the door card off

Disconnect;

4 x Connectors to window switch module (drivers door)
1 x Speaker cable for the mid range speaker (Logic 7)
1 x Courtesy light
1 x Interior mood lighting
1 x Door opening cable

Disconnect airbag also? I have read you don't need to disconnect it and this will avoid the SRS light coming on and it having to be re-set.

Peal back foam insulation then re-seal it afterwards.

Blimey - how did I guess this would not be straight forward.

Is this likely to be the correct path for me to take?

As I say, it opens from the inside and I can lock using the remote and the key in the door. When pulling the handle from the outside, nothing happens, it feels like they do when the car is locked, i.e. no resistance.

Post #301124 27th Dec 2014 5:27pm
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Mr Tee



Member Since: 13 Dec 2010
Location: Near Wackyjim
Posts: 2598

Scotland 

I did it without taking the door card completely off, left everything connected up and had the card resting on a chair, there was enough space. I found the hadest part was getting the internal door handle connected properly, very fiddly indeed. Make sure you seat the cable properly , otherwise the door will cease to open at all, a foolish mistake I made . You can leave the airbag connected but you still need to unbolt it for access.

Post #301136 27th Dec 2014 5:54pm
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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green

Thanks for the advice. I guess I first need to order the part off eBay. I'll leave everything connected as you say, with the exception of the airbag that I will unbolt but not disconnect.

What do you mean with regard to the internal door handle?

Post #301177 27th Dec 2014 8:34pm
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birchyman71



Member Since: 19 Feb 2013
Location: stockton on tees
Posts: 147

United Kingdom 2008 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 Java Black

Did the passenger one on mine removed the door card, didn't touch the airbag, had to remove the door handle and drill the old cable end out as it was stuck solid. Took about an hour altogether

Post #301210 28th Dec 2014 1:10am
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Cam-Tech-Craig



Member Since: 04 Aug 2011
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 16171

England 2015 Range Rover SVAutobiography SDV8 Loire Blue

If you follow the correct procedure for disconnecting the battery then no matter what you do with the door airbag! As long as its refitted & plugged in when you re-connect the battery you very much limit your risk of A, light coming on & B, harming yourself etc sir...

Thumbs Up

Post #301215 28th Dec 2014 7:11am
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Mr Tee



Member Since: 13 Dec 2010
Location: Near Wackyjim
Posts: 2598

Scotland 

At 1min 49, the black clip for the internal handle has to come off, for the life of me I couldn't get the damn thing connected again! There is obviously a certain knack to it, but it was blind luck that I got it back on :

Post #301231 28th Dec 2014 10:25am
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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green

Thanks all. Re disconnecting the battery, I am assuming it is the same as any other car or does the Range Rover have a different procedure?

Post #301341 28th Dec 2014 6:29pm
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stan
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Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation
Posts: 34922

United Kingdom 

it does ,details in the wiki.. ... - .- -.




click link for ,

FORUM WIKI

HOW TO Ǝꓕ∀ꓕOꓤ PICS

workshop manual downloads are in our wiki

.

Post #301342 28th Dec 2014 6:30pm
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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green

OK thanks. I'll order the part on eBay. Do you all feel this is likely to be the issue? Lock works ok, the internal handle opens the door ok, it's just the outside handle does nothing and there is no resistance anymore when I pull the handle.

I am trying to avoid having to take it into a dealer.

Post #301443 28th Dec 2014 10:11pm
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stan
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Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation
Posts: 34922

United Kingdom 

there are two cables, one from the inside handle to the lock and the other from the outside handle to the lock...your outside cable has snapped which is a common FF problem. ... - .- -.




click link for ,

FORUM WIKI

HOW TO Ǝꓕ∀ꓕOꓤ PICS

workshop manual downloads are in our wiki

.

Post #301448 28th Dec 2014 10:14pm
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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green

ok thanks. I'll get one ordered.

Post #301507 29th Dec 2014 1:07am
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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green

I have the part now and was going to attempt the job tomorrow weather permitting. Any last bits of advice before I take the door card off? I don't plan on disconnecting the battery, will just place the door card on the seat if possible and leave as many wires connected as I can.

Post #302506 3rd Jan 2015 5:12pm
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scwilson



Member Since: 15 Dec 2014
Location: Dorset
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 2003 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 V8 Epsom Green

Well I finally did this job today. It took me 2 hours as I took it slow and didn't want to rush it. What a Censored of a job, especially if your not built like a hobbit.

I took the 4 torx screws out of the door card and pulled the lower poppers out, lifting them gently at the bottom with a flat screwdriver blade then lifted it off, you can't do much until you have unclipped the internal door handle cable, which was straight forward, just pull it up at the one end then the card comes free so I placed on a fold-up chair at the side of the car.

I didn't disconnect the battery or remove any electric cables, I did however have to unscrew the air bag which was held in place with 3 torx screws, then removed some of the insulation foam to access the hole where the cable and connectors were.

Sure enough the cable had snapped, so it runs from top right where it connects one end across to the left and down back across to the lower right where it connects to the other end. Took me a while to get the broken piece out of the hole but once done, just fitted the new cable and ensured it was placed in all the clips along the way.

Re-fitted the foam and airbag, made sure all was ok, re-fitted the internal handle cable (ggrrrr) - you don't have much room to do this. Re-fitted the door card.

All OK.

Post #302718 4th Jan 2015 8:40pm
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