Door handle help!

[didi]

Just bought an 89 Jetta diesel-- my first VW of this generation. Lots of problems with the door handles/locks. I wanted to look at the cost of replacements, but all my parts searches for my year/model turn up images of the handles with the "trigger" style latch release-- not what mine came with. I have the kind where the body of the handle pulls away from the door, hinged at the back end.

Did a previous owner put the wrong replacement handles on this car?

The part I really need is the V-shaped bit that is screwed to the inner end of the lock cylinder--the one that came on it is the wrong size, and when the key is turned it doesn't interface with the lock mechanism (which seems original to the car). Hence the not-working lock.

I'd live with the wrong handles if I could get just that part (but no one seems to sell the bitty parts of the handles separately). Or I'd replace the offending handle if I was sure the trigger-style would work with the lock mechanism.

So:
1. Did somebody put the wrong handles on my car? Should I get the trigger-style ones?
2. Any ideas how I can I get that little part separately?
3. Any other wisdom on this out there?

Thanks for any help--

--didi[/list]

[twerked]

i think those are the chinese door handles, iirc. try searching for those and you might find some replacements or the part you need

[RiceHater4Life]

The door handles you have on your car are MK3 style handles that people usually put on MK2's sense majority of the time the trigger style handles are junk too. The handles you have are dirt cheap of eBay. You can get them for like 6-9 bucks from China. Which isnt bad for new replacements, but sucks that they have to be shipped from China. If you do decide to buy them of eBay, make sure you get the ones that are for MK2's, even thought they are the style of MK3's. Because ones made for Mk3's wont directly fit. If all else fails you can always get the actual MK2 trigger style door handle for cheap too. They all come with every thing to put it together, all I think you need is your lock part and key; if that.

[didi]

Thanks for the info-- it all makes sense now.

--didi

[rootrider]

late reply.. but here it goes..

Yeah, those are called 'mk3-style' or 'chinese' door handles. You can actually get some rather decent quality chinese handles but they'll cost you $30 - $40 per set.

The chinese mk2's are a sort of mk2.5. They look almost like a b3 passat from the front and they have a lot of mk3 and passat-like upgrades all over.

You probably have to add a washer or two to the screw on the side of the door. Add one washer at a time and see if you can get the piece to engage the locking mechanism.