SeattleC43

Hi - I'm new to the site. A while back I had an independent shop replace the driver's side rear door latch on my '99 C43. We rarely use the rear doors. After just a few uses the inside handle "broke loose" from the linkage wire. It became disconnected. The shop used an OEM latch, but that's probably about all they did right. I do not want to bring it back to them. I want to fix it myself. I searched online and throughout this site without any luck.

When I try to reassemble the door panel the connecting post for the door handle interferes with the linkage wire. Everything goes back together, but when I use the door handle I can feel it getting caught up and the linkage disconnects again. Something is wrong. Nothing appears to be obviously bent out of shape.

I'll attach a few photos. In the first photo the handle is in the full open position. In the second photo, I moved the linkage wire back to the door to show where it sits.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

speed43

If you close the door and pull the metal rod at the end, does the door open normally? If yes than than the linkage up to that point is good. If you install the door handle and than open the door and it gets stuck than it has to be the way you're installing the handle to the tip of the metal rod.

SeattleC43

I closed the door and was able to operate the latch using the linkage. That worked fine. So, yes, there must be something wrong with the way the linkage is connected at the interior door handle.

If you look at the first picture, there aren't many options. The problem occurs where the linkage hits that plastic and metal "post" to connect the door pull. I'm not sure what else to try. I tried removing the white plastic clip and flipped it over. Still doesn't clear.

???

speed43

..

PJmak

Its an easy fix but its also easy to get it wrong. Ive taken off my front panel many times and every time id put it back i had to think for a second how that hook wend in.

Id just take off the other door panel and look. I tried googling it for you for about 20 minutes but i couldnt find a picture of that section

SeattleC43

That white clip holds the linkage in place. There's not much flexibility to tilt it around. It's secured at two points. In the photo, the handle is in the full open position. When it's fully closed, the linkage is moved a good inch to the right and it does clear. But, when you open the door it hits that post and pulls loose. If it didn't have that bend it would be fine. The bend appears to be original.

I tried flipping that clip, but the linkage ended up in roughly the same position.

I would open up the passenger side, but I'm afraid of breaking off the plastic tabs on the door "pull". When the shop replaced my door latch they broke the tabs on my door pull. (Now I'm looking for a replacement part.) If you haven't disassembled your rear door in the past I wouldn't ask you to risk it. Thanks, tho.

SeattleC43

@PJmak - Thanks for looking. I also searched around and have not been able to find any detailed or high-res images of this area. The closest shots were actually stills from videos, but even those were too grainy to help. I'm hoping that someone here has recently assembled a C43/W202 rear door and can quickly tell me what I'm doing wrong.

speed43

Don't flip the CLIP, flip the linkage itself right in the middle. Might give it a different position.
And have you tried removing the metal that goes to lock (which may be shorter) and put the long one in its place? The mechanics may have turned them around. In some pics I found of earlier w202s the shorter linkage goes to the door handle, the longer to the lock release or whatever that's called.

SeattleC43

@speed43 - "And have you tried removing the metal that goes to lock (which may be shorter) and put the long one in its place? The mechanics may have turned them around. In some pics I found of earlier w202s the shorter linkage goes to the door handle, the longer to the lock release or whatever that's called."

I think that's it! Those jerks reversed the linkage wires. I attached the longer linkage to the lock mechanism and it fits like a glove. Without the bend, the shorter linkage doesn't interfere with that post. I found a Youtube video to confirm that the linkages were reversed.

Thanks for your help!

While I was poking around at the lock mechanism I noticed a missing screw. That indy shop I was using had a tendency to leave off bolts and screws. I just ordered the missing screw from the MB dealership. It never ends.

SeattleC43

Still shot from Youtube video referenced above...

speed43

Glad it worked out for you.
Any more problems just post, people here are pretty good at helping out.