DIY: Passenger door handle cover...FAIL!
 

Has your passenger side door handle cover fell off out of the blue? If so, you are not the only one. According the my local Acura service department it's a common problem along many others (ex. passenger side engine mount).

I have a 2006 Acura TL. About a year ago my bluetooth failed, so, after much delay I went ahead and bought the module with cover and all and replaced it myself. My vehicle is near 98k but it's been acting funny lately so i went ahead and got the 105k service done just so I could sleep at night.

After I got home from picking up my car from the mechanic, my gf noticed the passenger side door cover is missing. Our initial reaction was someone hit it in the parking lot or it was a failed theft attempt.

I didn't want to stress over it so I went ahead and ordered the replacement part. It was like $12 and some change. The part included the die cast piece and the paint matched cover.

I didn't think it was going to be difficult to replace at first because I was just going to put the cover on the original die cast piece. Well, that didn't work because it was apparently worn out.

Even then I said, no problem, I will go ahead and replace it all...but NO! the screw that's holding the die cast piece is on the inside of the door :cuss:

I come here to find out how to access the inside and found a thread on how to open the door panel. So, I get to work and the door panel is off and then I get screwed again! to access the screw, you have to look through a hole the size of a quarter. Now, here is the worst part. It's a HEX SCEW!!! and not only that its partially blocked by the window frame :yikes::rasp::loco::crazy::finger::owned::pissed:: snipe::angryfire::whine::cuss:

#1 Part that came off and the replacement part that I have in my hand
Attachment 88838

#2 Door panel off and the screw driver in the hole where the access the hex screw that's holding the die cast
Attachment 88839

#3 The flash from camera blew up the screw but it's a hex screw and you can see the metal construction in the way
Attachment 88840


I gave up and going to leave it to my mechanic to handle this. I suck at DIY.

happened to me recently. Haven't put it back on yet, but was thinking of gluing

I am going to give that a shot by gluing it with epoxy.

FYI, in case your cap base is not defective: https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...2&postcount=18.

Since there was a TSB on this, will the dealer take care of it?