Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:44 pm

98inSFl wrote:: UGH!

Got cold, my handle popped, now I am diving over the console.

Anyone have a maroon 98 style drivers side?

Welcome to the club! I've got my door handle just waiting for money to get it painted. Unfortunately couldn't find any pearl white handles. I do believe there was a few maroon ones floating around on ebay though. Search the same handle from the Riviera is used on 97-05 Park Aves too. I believe there was a maroon one from a 99 park ave on there a few days ago. I unfortunately had to get a black primed one.

BearsFan, as far as removing the panel it's fairly easy. One of the easier panels I've had to take off. Basically there are five screws you need to remove and you just lift the panel up and the clips on the bottom will unclip and it should come off. You'll have to disconnect a few electrical connections too (and watch out for the blue lens cover on the interior door handle or it'll fall off). You need to remove a screw on the side of the panel towards the rear of the car, one on the front of the panel, two in the door pull, and one behind the interior door handle. There's a writeup on here that'll explain it in more detail, but if you go slow enough you'll be able to figure it out fairly easy.

Edit:

Here's the link to the door panel removal writeup:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/interior-f20/write-up-interior-door-panel-removal-t317.htm#2618

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 4:23 pm

If you guys that are replacing your door handles are just going to throw them away I've got an idea! If you would be willing to ship them to me, if the broken parts are included, I would pay your shipping cost and could have a supply of repaired handles ready to go!?!
Once removed the repair I did on page 2 was only about a 15-20 minute job.
Let me know if anyone is interested.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:08 pm

99Rivman wrote:: If you guys that are replacing your door handles are just going to throw them away I've got an idea! If you would be willing to ship them to me, if the broken parts are included, I would pay your shipping cost and could have a supply of repaired handles ready to go!?!
Once removed the repair I did on page 2 was only about a 15-20 minute job.
Let me know if anyone is interested.

I'd be willing to do that. Hell I'd be willing to have you fix it and buy it back from you. You're fix seems to be very good. I actually printed out your writeup for my body shop guy, but he said it'd be just as much to do that as a new handle painted. He wasn't familiar with the process so it would have taken him awhile to fabricate it.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:55 pm

I am undecided right now as I just painted the car and even if I locate a maroon handle it likely will look different.

I am going to remove mine and stare at it ,and Randall's pics, to see if its going to get fixed or replaced.

Randall, what would you estimate your repair would cost if someone were to cover postage?

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:11 pm

98inSFl wrote:: I am undecided right now as I just painted the car and even if I locate a maroon handle it likely will look different.

I am going to remove mine and stare at it ,and Randall's pics, to see if its going to get fixed or replaced.

Randall, what would you estimate your repair would cost if someone were to cover postage?

I'm interested in the cost too. Considering the pearl paint is so hard to match exactly.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:16 pm

98inSFl wrote:: Randall, what would you estimate your repair would cost if someone were to cover postage?

I would think it would be worth at least $20-$25 each? That would be plus shipping both ways. Does that sound reasonable?

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:24 pm

Sounds plenty reasonable.
I have not removed mine to see if its something I am going to do myself.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:35 pm

Let me know if there is any interest. I should be able to get them turned in a day or two depending on when it might get to me.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:17 pm

Hey Randall,
I may also be interested in just sending mine to you and paying you to fix it. Looked heavy duty, better than stock!
I'll let you know what I've got after I open'er up....

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:22 pm

Thanks Kyle...
The "lift straight up" instruction was just what I was looking for!
Some you have to "fold down" others "pull straight out" no matter what, if you dont know which way to take it off you break the clips.
Thx again....

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:34 am

Until I get time to pull apart the door I have gotten pretty good at getting in the car, I open the passenger side, start the car from where I am standing, while still reaching across I hit the auto down on the drivers window...

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:22 am

At last, a use for that Express Down module!

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:32 pm

I just joined the console diving club today! At least my window was open this time.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:49 pm

Exactly 2 months later I was tired of reaching across the passenger side, starting the car, hitting the express down and walking around to get in.. this morning in the rain was the final straw..

I took the door apart and from memory of this thread took a thick piece of tin from a scrap infiniti cat converter heat shield and shaped it to contour the sides of the plastic, riveted it down and reassembled.

Anyone with tin snips, tin, a dremmel ,a drill, 3 long 1/8 rivets can do this if you have some patience , thanks guys for this write up!

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:18 am

Well, I just had a major DUH moment last night while I was tossing & turning...

After weeks of gathering parts, the body shop is finally replacing my LF fender this week. While I make it a habit to use the edge of the door or the bottom of the glass to actually pull the door open if I'm not parked on level ground, rather than the door handle, they're gonna' be mixing & matching color, and shooting primer & clear for the fender... Thus, this is the perfect and practically free time to also spray a spare driver's door handle before the seemingly inevitable failure of the inner lever on these "improved" '97+ handles.
bonk

Since the shop manager has had his own brain farts that delayed this job, I won't feel too guilty about pushing it back another couple days. However, I thought I'd share what I found today while searching:

RockAuto has '97+ left-side door handles in flat, "primer-ready" black for less than $35 shipped by Priority Mail. Ironically, they're made by "DORman"... lol

They also have the less-abused passenger-door handles, but they don't stock them in their main warehouse...
Hopefully the pre-'97s ARE a better design, because they don't have them. wink

RockAuto LINK

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:13 pm

The handles from Rockauto are cheap but absolute crap as far as build quality goes. I feel like I'm gonna break mine every time I open the door. Although it seems to hold up rather well.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Oct 14, 2010 12:36 am

GMFreak8 wrote:: The handles from Rockauto are cheap but absolute crap as far as build quality goes. I feel like I'm gonna break mine every time I open the door. Although it seems to hold up rather well.

Well, I'll admit that they're Chinese, but then again I said I've always mistrusted the originals because they feel flimsy - and might well be Chinese... cyclops

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:20 am

Eldo wrote:: Hopefully the pre-'97s ARE a better design, because they don't have them.

FYI of interest, the 95 door handles have always felt *different* and more robust than that on the 98. Build of the handle itself seems the same, but the feel when opening the door is quite different. More like a handle than a door latch.

_________________

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Oct 14, 2010 2:38 pm

Eldo wrote:

GMFreak8 wrote:: The handles from Rockauto are cheap but absolute crap as far as build quality goes. I feel like I'm gonna break mine every time I open the door. Although it seems to hold up rather well.

Well, I'll admit that they're Chinese, but then again I said I've always mistrusted the originals because they feel flimsy - and might well be Chinese... cyclops

The passenger side feels like my old 1990 Park Ave compared to the replacement drivers side handle. I can wiggle it side to side and up and down. I've checked the linkage in the door and it's all fine. There's just so much play in the actual handle it's scary sometimes. If I park on a hill it's like a puzzle trying to get into the car. You gotta figure out just the right angle to lift the handle up at.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:21 pm

I hate the Riv door handles. Even the arm that actually opens the door (with the rod) is plastic....it's stupid. Mine broke in the middle of winter last year. Then I dented the door putting it in. That was fun to straighten shout

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:56 pm

Abaddon wrote:: I hate the Riv door handles. Even the arm that actually opens the door (with the rod) is plastic....it's stupid. Mine broke in the middle of winter last year. Then I dented the door putting it in. That was fun to straighten

Yeah I was shockingly surprised how cheap and simple the door mechanism is. The only chance of me denting the door is when it won't open and the only thing that works is hitting the door with the side of my fist. lol

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:00 pm

My turn....

I've always been very careful with the handle, but I guess it's an inevitable failure. Damn winter with no heat in the garage! frown

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:02 pm

99Rivman wrote:: If you guys that are replacing your door handles are just going to throw them away I've got an idea! If you would be willing to ship them to me, if the broken parts are included, I would pay your shipping cost and could have a supply of repaired handles ready to go!?!
Once removed the repair I did on page 2 was only about a 15-20 minute job.
Let me know if anyone is interested.

Randall, did you ever manage to get this deal going? Need a bright white diamond driver side.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:51 am

The replacemenf from Dorman broke on SA#12 on Saturday, it's only been used since early September and not used every day even. Rock Auto warranty is at work, just have to send the broken one back! But what a PIA! And it's cold outside!

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Fixing Outside Door Handle Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:26 pm

Roberta, thanks for the warning! Guess I'll be calling my Buick dealer for an oem. Really sucks to have this happen in December. If I can come up with one by Friday, maybe I can work on it Saturday afternoon. We're expecting 40+, so the garage won't be quite so cold.

The REAL bitch would be if the right side handle broke this week...

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