Ford Focus (00-07) Exterior Handle Fail (manual locking models)? Try This

*01/2016 update-
Almost a year and a half later, and still no problems since last being inside the driver's side door. Just have to be gentle with it and not muscle the handle. :)
2002 Ford focus zx3 exterior door handle on driver side did not engage latch. Blew $70 in parts to find out I didn't have to. Hoping this will help someone!

[@ramonaneyrinck2292]

OMG! Thank you so much. I have this issue with my Ford Focus!! Now i know i can get it done.

[@skylabryant8279]

This is the only video I found on trying to figure out why my rod was broken and I found what I needed! Thank you! And about the tab. Very much appreciated 💕🐬

[@keyas00]

Sorry for the delay. Yes nyne that's exactly what I did.. Push away on that bend to give it some more length to get the actuator moving enough. Glad this has been helpful. Just as a note, 8 or 9 months later and still no problem. Just be gentle with the handle and it'll be great. Even though cold and icy Pennsylvania winters, still no problem. Make sure you grease up the components with some pb-blaster or wd-40 while you're in there to keep everything moving freely for months to come.

[@petermills3639]

Thanks - Really helpful. You are a star.

[@DyadoPopets]

You helped a lot! I was doing whatnot in order to get that think working, then I found your video and bent it to extend the rod and now it works perfectly!

[@colinwilliams1968]

This helped fix my door handle. I found the rod that pushes the latch but couldn't work out how to adjust it. Didn't think of just bending it a bit. Door's working now, thanks!

[@katiealderman525]

Your voice is dreamy and my car is fixed!!!

[@DrHecubus]

This video is EXACTLY what I needed! Thanks a bunch!

[@mohammedfarooqui9358]

You Sir are Scholar and a Gentleman. Thankyou very much!!! Peace & One Love from the UK.

[@ummadghauri3490]

Great vid. Had the same problem and it was very frustrating. Did what you said and its fixed. Thanks

[@ensjesse]

The clip that holds the rod to the lock mechanism is part # W702246-S300.

[@Jaysoncitou]

Your video helped me a lot! Thanks man! 💪

[@FrankFriedrich-lc6ie]

Thanks 👍 your's was the most easily understood demonstration

[@bill7853]

Thanks for the video . I have a 2002 1.8 tddi focus and the driver's door finally stopped opening after years of yanking on the handle. The problem was not so much the length of the rod ,which I couldn't adjust without loads of work , but the white block pivot was very wobbly after 17 yrs of use and so wasn't directly pushing down . I tried lots of bending the rod and finally found a position where it stopped the pivot wobble and hey presto ..all is good. Took a lot of trial and error but got there in the end. I expect a lot of other well used cars will have the same problem with the white block pivot having lots of play. ( think yours is yellow and slightly different ) .

[@zuperman2002]

Just fixed my sons SVT the same way today. I didn't see anything broken and it just seems like the rod was going down enough. Bent the top curve inwards and no both doors work great!

[@mpe5101]

Great video. Thanks for the help. I will see if I have the same problem!

[@darabzsolt642]

Very useful! Thankx a lot. Off to repair mine! 👍👍

[@kb5zcs]

Thanks for the video you made,It did really help me out Thanks.......

[@cabo7907]

You the man. Thanks brother

[@johnzehrbach820]

Thanks, I also sprayed T-9 on all the moving parts.