WHO

My door lock cable broke off, driver's side. Found a cable from a JDM car.

I removed the old cable, which proved more work then I thought on this car with the way the rod is made and the very restricted space/view from the small opening in the door. I got the new one in with even more trouble only to find out I'm now missing about an inch to attach the other end of the cable (to the actual door lock inside the car).

Don't tell me the JDM's cable is somehow shorter than the US/Canadian one?

I must've done something wrong when I snapped the new cable in place. Such a PITA. Don't see anything and can barely reach in. I had to take off the whole lock mechanism out, and still I can't figure the damn thing out.

This is frustrating. Any other car would've been a 5 minute job!
If no one has the definitive answer I'll have to take out the new cable, and compare both cables' lenght. I'll probably have to take it off anyway since it just doesn't fit but I'm somehow hoping for a miracle.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

They SHOULD be the same, but it's hard to say.

If you're doing the job, just go ahead and remove the door latch from the car. That way you can see and get to everything. It's a bit of extra work (you have to remove the window and the rail the window slides on) but it's all pretty straightforward. I'd rather spend 10 minutes removing parts than 2 hours trying to get to something I can barely touch or get to.

Dale

WHO

Thanks Dale, that sure sounds like a good plan if I'm going to have to redo the job.
I did unbolt the latch itself, but wasn't able to take it completely out (I didn't know I had to dismantle the window+rail to have that ability). Thanks for the hint. I guess it's time for round 2 now, and I'm going for the knock out.

WHO

Update:

Thanks again Dale, that was clearly the way to go (I needed someone to tell me to do it, I guess).

Just a note about the procedure: I didn't have to actually take the window out, the main rail stayed on, I just had to remove the rail to the left - the one on the outer edge of the window. Hope it's clear enough in case anyone ever searches for a similar problem and lands on this thread.
Take off the 3 screws that hold the door latch in place, the one 10mm bolt that holds the rail, and slide off the rail (it has a rubber guide, which you need not remove).

Anyway, it still took more than 10 minutes, as sliding that darn rail in proved more troublesome than it looked, but I eventually got it in.

(note to self :I should never work on the car when I'm tired/hungry/rushed because it takes the fun factor out completely)

The answer to my original question? The damn J-spec cable IS IN FACT shorter than the Canadian one (and, I assume, US too). About 2 inches shorter. That's what I thought, it was the only logical reason why once I snapped in place on the door latch, it wouldn't reach the door lock at the other end anymore.

I was very dumb to not compare both cables BEFORE, but I was doing the replacement "simultaneously" - I inserted the new cable on the door lock as I removed the old one, while the other end was still attached to the door latch, and then went around to to the other end. Oh well... not a clever idea.

Now, to find a USDM door lock cable! Or, repair the previous cable (weld the damn thing back together maybe?)

Aubec

There are two cable, one to the lock mechanism, one to the latch. They are different lengths, so perhaps you just got the wrong one? Even taking lhd/rhd into account id have thought the lock positioning was the same on both sides...

WHO

Thanks for pointing it out, I had both cables on hand, I took the correct one...
The one to the latch is definately (obviously) smaller. Since the handle is closer to the latch than the door lock button.

I, too, assumed it would be the same lenght, hence why I went ahead originally without even thinking about comparing them (the thought never crossed my mind). Alas, it wasn't so. I could snap a picture of both the JDM next to the USDM to show the difference.

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

The JDM left door latch mechanism would have had an actuator on it, just like our North American cars have solenoid/actuators on the passenger side (Right door). This is what automatically unlocks the passenger door when the driver's door is unlocked with the key.
Since our driver's doors don't have that solenoid/actuator, the whole mechanism is probably alot smaller. That may explain why the rods/cable are different lengths.

WHO

Touché! That probably explains it.

got_hp

goodluck with it...... i know how much of a PITA it is to work on anything inside these doors!

WHO

Did my best but it may not be easy to see the difference between both, I took a second closer shot from one end - assuming the other end is neck to neck. Oh and on the second shot I'm kind of pointing to where it broke off (the hook vs the cable)





The JDM one is also lacking the bracket that affixes the cable to the body of the door lock. Thankfully the bracket is easy to transfer from one to another, would've been useful if the cable was the right lenght!

WHO

Well, after all this, pictures, bitching, etc.
I think I made a very, very stupid mishap, yeah I'm a bit ashamed

When I got the JDM cable, it came with the release handle cable as well.

Somehow, when I installed the lock's cable, it got mixed up I guess and the one I was actually trying to install of the handle's... I have no idea how this happened, I was so careful to take the "correct" one.

This one was of course shorter, as shown in the picture, since the handle is located closer to the mechanism on the door.

Last night, as I was about ready to bring the old cable to a good buddy of mine to attempt a re-weld of the broken off hook, I grabbed all 3 cables (the old one and both new ones) and realized my mistake.

Compared the lenghts of both LOCK cables and they seem pretty much the same lenght.

Now, to start all over and try this again...

Aubec

So... I was right
Seriously, good job though, I just changed mine out for the same reason and its a PITA!

WHO

Yep (o; I "re"did it Saturday and now I'm a pro at removing the latch etc

All is good, now. It finally works!

Thanks for everyone's tips. I can now confirm that, yes, the JDM and North American cables are indeed the same lenght and are interchangeable.

RX7SP

iTrader: (1)

lol..... great reading material I knew you would get it.......right