Is this door handle broken?

rbarrios · 08-18-2009, 05:41 PM

For those of you that work at dealerships..

is this broken- requiring a new part replacement--- or have nut/bolts come loose- in which case it can be retightened?

Sisters 08 Buick Lucerne.
While checking to see that the door was closed- it popped off...

**shadams** · 08-18-2009, 05:59 PM

Broken. Did 4 of those today alone. Solstice, Denali, 2 Lucernes, and all chrome. Have not replaced any black ones or painted ones. My theory is when they chrome plate them, the chrome makes the hole that the stud presses into smaller, so when the stud is inserted there is pressure outward on the plastic which over time cracks and here you go. I have a Denali coming in with 3 of 4 handles broken.

See the little teeth lookin deals on that metal piece, that is what is supposed to hold that in the plastic door handle. On the other side of it is the nut that bolts the handle to the door. For what it is worth, I havent replaced the same one twice, they must have changed something.

MrCritical · 08-18-2009, 06:42 PM

Definitely broken.

rbarrios · 08-18-2009, 06:58 PM

thanks SHadams....
Is this a hard job...

boston boy · 08-18-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadams

Broken. Did 4 of those today alone. Solstice, Denali, 2 Lucernes, and all chrome. Have not replaced any black ones or painted ones. My theory is when they chrome plate them, the chrome makes the hole that the stud presses into smaller, so when the stud is inserted there is pressure outward on the plastic which over time cracks and here you go. I have a Denali coming in with 3 of 4 handles broken.

See the little teeth lookin deals on that metal piece, that is what is supposed to hold that in the plastic door handle. On the other side of it is the nut that bolts the handle to the door. For what it is worth, I havent replaced the same one twice, they must have changed something.

WOW what a POS part

Is his car covered?

Are they plastic? I never saw this before

HiHoSilver · 08-18-2009, 09:30 PM

Definately broken. I had to have the driver's side handle on my LaCrosse replaced last summer because the same thing happened.

rbarrios · 08-18-2009, 09:37 PM

I got a good look at it.
Shadams is right..
when they pulled on the handle- a piece of plastic flew out. yes it was part of the circle where the toothed items grabs onto the plastic.
THe actual lock mechanism is still affixed to the door. so no problem with the lock.
the part that moves is the plastic chrome piece that is supposed to stay stationary and the mechanism that moves when you pull the handle.
Looks worse than it is... when I saw that pic- I thought the locks and all those parts had been pulled out.

1999 White C5 Coupe · 08-19-2009, 08:21 AM

Yestereday, my Chevrolet dealer replaced the actuator and lock assembly on the left front door of my 2008 Impala LTZ, as it would not unlock. Despite an appointment, it took two days as the dealer had to wait for parts. The car was purchased new and now has 15,800 miles on it. The LTZ has the chrome door handles, although the handle did not break (yet).

What happened to "GM's quality is improving....."?

**FenwickHockey65** · 08-19-2009, 09:10 AM

...

So if I buy a used Lucerne in a year or two, I should get the handles replaced?

rbarrios · 08-19-2009, 03:14 PM

sister took in the car and it was fixed under warranty. The vehicle was in and out in under 2 hours.

TuffG929 · 08-19-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadams

Broken. Did 4 of those today alone. Solstice, Denali, 2 Lucernes, and all chrome. Have not replaced any black ones or painted ones. My theory is when they chrome plate them, the chrome makes the hole that the stud presses into smaller, so when the stud is inserted there is pressure outward on the plastic which over time cracks and here you go. I have a Denali coming in with 3 of 4 handles broken.

See the little teeth lookin deals on that metal piece, that is what is supposed to hold that in the plastic door handle. On the other side of it is the nut that bolts the handle to the door. For what it is worth, I havent replaced the same one twice, they must have changed something.

has the mother ship at least recognized that this is a problem?

rbarrios · 08-19-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TuffG929

has the mother ship at least recognized that this is a problem?

HA!.. pretty funny....

The dealer had it in stock...

Triple-X08 · 08-19-2009, 10:30 PM

for some reason those handles like to come apart on those cars. cheaply made i guess. unfortunately it is broken, you cant repair it, as it has seperated from the handle and the base. really makes for a fun time when you try to open the door.

08-18-2009, 05:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
rbarrios 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 845	Is this door handle broken? For those of you that work at dealerships.. is this broken- requiring a new part replacement--- or have nut/bolts come loose- in which case it can be retightened? Sisters 08 Buick Lucerne. While checking to see that the door was closed- it popped off... Last edited by rbarrios : 08-18-2009 at 05:46 PM.

08-18-2009, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
shadams GMI Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Drives: 09' G8 GT 08' GMC X-CAB Posts: 3,349	Re: Is this door handle broken? Broken. Did 4 of those today alone. Solstice, Denali, 2 Lucernes, and all chrome. Have not replaced any black ones or painted ones. My theory is when they chrome plate them, the chrome makes the hole that the stud presses into smaller, so when the stud is inserted there is pressure outward on the plastic which over time cracks and here you go. I have a Denali coming in with 3 of 4 handles broken. See the little teeth lookin deals on that metal piece, that is what is supposed to hold that in the plastic door handle. On the other side of it is the nut that bolts the handle to the door. For what it is worth, I havent replaced the same one twice, they must have changed something. __________________ 2008 GMC Sierra XCab Z-71 4x4 Onyx Black 2009 G8 GT Magnetic Gray GM/ASE Certified Service Consultant MOE Platinum 04-05-06-07-08 "Contrary to common belief, planning is complicated and is not run by complete idiots, so you'll just have to trust that the decisions were made on good information that's not made available to you." Last edited by shadams : 08-18-2009 at 06:03 PM.

08-18-2009, 06:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
MrCritical 4.6 Liter Northstar V8 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Of The North Drives: '08 GMC Canyon Posts: 1,849	Re: Is this door handle broken? Definitely broken.

08-18-2009, 06:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
rbarrios 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 845	Re: Is this door handle broken? thanks SHadams.... Is this a hard job...

08-18-2009, 09:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
HiHoSilver 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 35	Re: Is this door handle broken? Definately broken. I had to have the driver's side handle on my LaCrosse replaced last summer because the same thing happened.

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08-18-2009, 09:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
rbarrios 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 845	Re: Is this door handle broken? I got a good look at it. Shadams is right.. when they pulled on the handle- a piece of plastic flew out. yes it was part of the circle where the toothed items grabs onto the plastic. THe actual lock mechanism is still affixed to the door. so no problem with the lock. the part that moves is the plastic chrome piece that is supposed to stay stationary and the mechanism that moves when you pull the handle. Looks worse than it is... when I saw that pic- I thought the locks and all those parts had been pulled out.

08-19-2009, 08:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
1999 White C5 Coupe 3.0 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 701	Re: Is this door handle broken? Yestereday, my Chevrolet dealer replaced the actuator and lock assembly on the left front door of my 2008 Impala LTZ, as it would not unlock. Despite an appointment, it took two days as the dealer had to wait for parts. The car was purchased new and now has 15,800 miles on it. The LTZ has the chrome door handles, although the handle did not break (yet). What happened to "GM's quality is improving....."?

08-19-2009, 09:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 GMI Staff Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Drives: '07 Malibu, '03 Envoy, '98 Sonoma Posts: 10,511	Re: Is this door handle broken? ... So if I buy a used Lucerne in a year or two, I should get the handles replaced? __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles)

08-19-2009, 03:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
rbarrios 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 845	Re: Is this door handle broken? sister took in the car and it was fixed under warranty. The vehicle was in and out in under 2 hours.

08-19-2009, 10:30 PM	#13 (permalink)
Triple-X08 4.6 Liter Northstar V8 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Michigan Drives: 2009 Chevrolet Impala LT, 83 Camaro Z28 Posts: 1,835	Re: Is this door handle broken? for some reason those handles like to come apart on those cars. cheaply made i guess. unfortunately it is broken, you cant repair it, as it has seperated from the handle and the base. really makes for a fun time when you try to open the door. __________________ ASE Master Certified Technican ASE Advanced level L1 Engine Performance Specialist GM MOE - 2007 bronze level current cars in garage- 09 Chevrolet Impala - daily driver 83 Camaro Z28

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