All of a sudden the front door handles on my '93 245 (94,000 mi.) are now more difficult to open. The driver's door, more than the passenger door, requires more effort to open both and exterior. I'm concerned that I'll break or bend something inside the door. I tried the archives, but didn't find anything. I sprayed some lubricant on the strikers, but didn't help too much. Any ideas what the problem may be? Thanks.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Mike

Inside the door behind the trim panel you should find the remains of the water shield. Volvo used a sort of tar-impregnated paper. Keep the remains as a pattern, make a new one from vinyl film or whatever you have. I used a bag from the dry cleaners on one, a piece of plastic drop cloth on another.

While in the door spray lube on anything that moves. Also clean out the drain holes along the bottom. Grease up the window lifting mechanism and the pivot points on the outside door handle and its linkage.

Attach the new water shield with double-stick Scotch tape - or whatever you have. Watch the position of the shield and the front speaker. It's strange to have water dripping out of the speaker - messes up one's concentration.

It's an easy DIY job.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Take off the interior door panel and make sure that the locking mechanism is properly seated in the door handle prongs.
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'86 245 DL Volvo Blue/ Blue Vinyl M46

If you have a screwdiver.. and the nut driver supplied in the spare tire comparment, The cap comes off the end of the nut driver and the handle contains various tips for the star type fastners that hold the volvo together..Dismantle the interior door panel, the arm rest etc.. pry the panel off the door with a flat screwdriver.. you can feel as you slide around the perimeter of the panel there are trim clips securing the sides and bottom of the panel to the door. The top edge of the panel hangs in the metal of the door. Remove the lock pull (unscrew, disconnect the window lift wire terminal fron the switch if power windows. if window crank, good luck. Hold the handle and press a thin flat screw driver blade between the handle and washer. look to see the retaining clip. PUSH THE CLIP OFF. (To reassemble, put clip back on handle then put washer on over the door panel then pop the handle back in place being sure to have the handle in the position you want it in the window closed position, ie. not hitting your knee..)Disconnect the speaker wire. Set door panel aside.
Follow the path of the interior door linkage from the handle back to the lock mechanism. libricate the moving parts there. Another possibility is if you have more trouble opening the door from the outside than the inside, the actual exterior door handle is worn out. there are two screws that loosen from the inside along with a clip for the linkage. Dealer new handles are over $80USD. Try a used one from the driver side rear door (less used than the driver door)same part. Or just take yours from the rear door and swap them.

Good luck