# 1997 Jaguar XJ6 Door Handle broken **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** jaguar, xj6\ **Created:** [October 23, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905 "2013-10-23T07:04:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![johndenver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@johndenver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johndenver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905/1 "2013-10-23T07:04:44Z")
I have a 97 XJ6 and the driver side door handle snapped off. For a while I just reached in through the window to open the door from the inside handle. Then that broke too. Now I can’t open the driver side door at all. I took the inside door panel off as far as i could thinking I could open the door from inside the panel, but the connection from thew inside handle (the cable) is broken back at the door lock. I can’t get it open that way either. Any help please? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905/2 "2013-10-23T07:14:45Z")
I’d get another door and swap them out. Probably cheaper than repairing the handles. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905/3 "2013-10-23T07:42:05Z")
The door could probably be opened with a Slim-Jim but that leads into the question of closing it again… If the outer handle and inner cable broke that often points to a latch mechanism seizing up or getting gummed up. I can’t speak for the difficulty of the job as I have very little experience with Jaguars but the price of parts and possible aggravation due to access of the latch leads me to agree with texases about finding another door possibly being the best option. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905/4 "2013-10-24T01:31:10Z")
So, how do you replace the door if you can’t open the door to get at the door hinges? Tester ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905/5 "2013-10-24T01:47:31Z")
Once I had a replacement door (should be able to find one with matching paint) some aggressive work with a screwdriver or slim jim should find the right part to push to unlock it, I’d think… ---
**Author:** ![johndenver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@johndenver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johndenver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 9:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905/6 "2013-11-12T09:40:15Z")
Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like replacing the door will be my best option. I have been considering taking the rear door off to access the exterior of the locking mechanism of the front door to pop it open. I will let you know how that all goes. John ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 9:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jaguar-xj6-door-handle-broken/81905/7 "2013-11-12T09:49:27Z")
@johndenver Welcome back to the land of the living I seem to remember some plane crash years ago Our elementary school made us listen to “your” songs back in the 70s