[gonzarelli]

The outside driver door handle doesn't work. I went to open the door a couple days ago and something broke inside. The handle just flops around with no effect when I try to open the door.

I took it to a local Jeep dealer. They ordered a new one and tried to fix it. No go. First, it turned out to be the passenger side handle they ordered. Then they tell me that they can't even open the door from the inside! WTF?

They told me that Chrysler lists both the passenger and driver handles as the same part number when they ordered it. The dealers assumed that one handle could be work for either side. Nope. Then I'm told i need a new latch on the inside. Apparently, there are only 5 in all of Canada and they're in Toronto.

The good folks at the dealership proceed to (try to) convince me that my '92 YJ is way too old to still be driving around. I was told that YJs are too much of a pain in the arse to maintain since it's hard to find replacement parts. I was given a spiel about the need to buy a new vehicle to prevent more frustration in the future.

Man, my Jeep runs like a dream and I was shocked. You mean I should get a new vehicle just because Jeep can't come up with a replacement part quickly and easily for a '92 YJ?

Why is it getting so much harder to find replacement parts of YJs? I see plenty of them still out there. What should I do about my useless door? The dealers made it worse (I have a tough time opening it from the inside now) and they still charged me. They called it a "diagnostic check" or something like that.

[jeepboy21]

#1 Stop going to the dealer.
#2 Parts are not necessarily harder to get, see #3
#3 Check out online retailers, I purchased my PS door handle and a few other "hard to find" parts from Quadratec.

About the door, if you are able to do the work yourself, take the inside door panel off, see what is broken, order the parts (not from the dealer) and replace.

About the dealer. I would go back and "work" with them to get a refund or have them fix the door free of charge. Yes the dealer needs to be compensated for their time and effort attempting to fix your vehicle, however you deserve to be compensated by the dealer for any and all damage done to your vehicle by them.

Personaly it just sounds like they are trying to get you into a new vehicle form any angle they can.

[flame0086]

Never got that from the dealership I go to (Barton Jeep in Spokane, WA). Course I don't know what the situation is in Canada. Parts are expensive, but I had to get a new driver side door handle. It's expensive, but they always got me the part the next day (always have to ship from their warehouse in Portland, OR). The did the same thing to me and got the wrong side. When I went back to them, the guy looked at the computer and said "ah, it looks like they same handles were used in different years, but they installed them in opposite directions."

Anyways, parts shouldn't be hard to find (YJs were even built in Canada) It's the specialty parts that get anoying. I had to buy a speical high pressure fuel rubber fuel elbow for $26 the other day. As for other parts, the 4.0, 2.5, ax5, ax15, np231, D30, and D35 were all used in YJs and TJs.

[JeepMan1975]

OP, don't listen to them! I loathe sleazy Jeep parts departments. First, they should be greatful that I'm coming to them and giving them business. Second, they shouldn't insult the vehicle I'm driving (especially if I like it enough to buy parts for it!). And third, if I want to purchase a new vehicle, don't they think I know where the new car salesmen are?

Kind of hard to miss. Anyhow, there are tons of places that sell replacement Jeep parts. If your service department doesn't want to help you out, contact Chrysler LLC. Believe it or not, if you explain to them what happened, they will actually redirect you to several different places that are not affiliated with Jeep, but have OEM replacement parts.

Or you could go online to places like quadratec and 4wd. For Jeep steel replacement parts, stay away from anything labeled rugged ridge. On full doors and half doors, I've seen outside and inside replacement parts. Once you get the parts, it's all just a matter of trusting yourself and being able to correctly assemble/disassemble the door. A full service manual helps!

[vadslram]

Any one of the online parts houses have the door parts and just a guess on my part but I believe that your problem is a broken retainer clip and those are available from every corner parts store.
I would let the manager of that stealership know what you were told and that not only WON'T you buy from there but now quite a few other people know to steer clear also.

[truckin88]

quadratec.com 4wd.com easy to get parts all the way back to the Willys, stop going to dealer

[ctm]

and don't forget there are "NOS" parts online too, "New Old Stock", like at Collins Bros., and a bunch of jeep ebay stores, where you can get all kinds of replacement parts

[monger]

you can mailorder an entire Jeep to your door if you wanted to. I havent been to a dealer for anything for the 5 years I've owned my 89

[YJ Rider]

No one at the dealership cares about your Jeep as much as you do.

[GreyfoxVt]

I have a 95 Jeep Wrangler, purchased from Florida and it is a clean as a new Jeep. I have purchased every part but one from Quadratec without a hitch, and there are many other places to get parts, both new and used, online. Those *******s are just trying to help the sales department make their numbers. That is BS! Also, the older Jeeps like the YJ use leaf springs not the coiled, which make them a much better off road vehicle, and very easy to repair!

Stay with the YJ, it is a great vehicle,and should last a long time if taken care of!

[Jeeples]

Hey GreyfoxVt,


That Jeep looks good, what have you done to it?


EDIT:

Coil springs are generally the better of the two options for offroad, 99% of competition rock crawlers and hardcore wheelers have converted over to coils. You can bet that if most people here were to go all out and build a trail only rig, it would have coils at all four corners.

[MetZenDS]

Originally Posted by Jeeples

Hey GreyfoxVt,


That Jeep looks good, what have you done to it?


EDIT:

Coil springs are generally the better of the two options for offroad, 99% of competition rock crawlers and hardcore wheelers have converted over to coils. You can bet that if most people here were to go all out and build a trail only rig, it would have coils at all four corners.

While I agree that coils are better for overall preformance, I personaly like the simplicity of leaf spring set-ups.

As for the OP- like everyone before me has said- Order the parts you need from q-tec or other onlines stores like it, or check your local O'Rielys, auto zone, and advance auto parts. You'd be suprized at what they have lying around those stores!

[jeepboy21]

Originally Posted by flame0086

Never got that from the dealership I go to (Barton Jeep in Spokane, WA). Course I don't know what the situation is in Canada. Parts are expensive, but I had to get a new driver side door handle. It's expensive, but they always got me the part the next day (always have to ship from their warehouse in Portland, OR).

I am from Portland and they have always had to get parts next day from California

[dell2028]

I wouldn't do anything different. Its your Jeep. Who cares how old it is. Yeah, older specialty part are a little tougher to find, but its doable. If I wasn't making three car payments I would have so much more flexability. Why take on a BIG car payment like that when there is nothing wrong with yours. Check out the local parts stores for basics like brakes and what not.

[Joe Dillard]

Did you tell them you may have been born at night, but it wasn't lastnight.

Post the dealership info here so we can all email them & voice our opinions.