door lock mechanism - door panel taken apart

[Spinnaker]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

So then is that spring just there for assembly alignment and serves no further function once the door has been opened for the first time?

That's how I read it.

[97 Boxster]

You are right. Just as it shows and you have discovered the spring is in the hook only to "set" the door lock into place and once you pull the handle the spring pops out and hopefully you have a functioning lock.

I couldnt figure this out the first 2 times I took mine out but after trial and error it worked. Good luck.

[j.fro]

Wow!
No airbags or door speakers. Looks very light.

[Jinster]

Spinnaker, with that description in the Bentley manual, it all makes sense now.

The "L" shaped piece connects to the door handle on the other end. The connection is made by snapping a plastic connector onto a screw, the position on the screw this "snap on" occurs is variable. If the "L" is not in the right position when the door handle is connected, then you would have trouble with the length of the connection impeding the operation of the door handle and DLM. So the wire spring clip holds it in place during installation.

97 Boxster, have you resolved your DLM problems yet?

j.fro, yep, no speaker or airbag.

I actually opened up the door to install the silver interior door handle. So I compared the other side. The spring clip is also not connected, obviously.