This is getting frustrating. I am now going to have to take my car in for the 3rd time in less that three months.

As a refresher, the passenger side was replaced over a year ago. This is specifically for the driver's side.


First time they couldn't recreate it.
Second time they couldn't recreate it, but replaced the handle anyway.

Now, it won't lock when you touch the dimple. After it is locked (by using the remote) it will unlock as soon as you near the door, before you even touch the handle.

I love this car and this has been really the only issue with it, but it's starting to tick me off.

Sorry, just had to vent.

 

Hawks, that is really weird. I have only experienced this twice, and after washing the car when the handle was likely saturated with water.

Mine work very well and when locking them I barely have to graze my hand over the blister.

I also have to say my RL is garaged at home and the office. But we have plenty of rain and humidity here. Could it be more suspect to colder climates?

Or perhaps is it because of your bionic hands?

 

Mine originally started out where they would be tempermental just after washing, especially if I went to a high pressure touchless wash. I could actually live with that since it would clear up in a day or two.

But this new thing now were it'll open on it's own without touching the handle. That's just weird.

 

Funny! I just took my '06 in on Friday for the third time for the same thing! I've had the driver side handle replaced once and now the passenger side handle twice. This is amazing (unacceptable); it shows there is a flaw in the design of the damn thing. It starts going out from moisture/rain and it gets progressively worse. The fact that I live in Florida does not help I'm sure, but it should take it like all the others...

 

I have given up on getting ours fixed. Lease is almost up anyway. I'll let someone else worry about it.

 

I wonder if one of the techs that frequent this forum can explain the type of switch/sensor used in these handles. My guess is a capacitive proximity switch. These switch types are susceptible to moisture causing spurious results.

So far I had my driver side handle replaced and it has worked fine since then.

I had to smile when the list of improvements for the 09 MMC had "New Smart Entry Keyless Entry and Start System". Fancy verbage for "we have door handles that work now".

 

Lets hope they fixed this on the '09. An upgraded version (whatever that means) of the keyless access system is listed as one of the changes on the new RL.

 

Yeah, maybe I got the upgraded part where it'll unlock without even touching the handle.

 

You probably don't want to hear this, but the system on my LS460 is almost identical to the RL's (in function), it works beautifully, and I haven't seen a single post on malfunctions.

NOW ... my Lexus has a rubber-covered lock button instead of the body-colored dimple, SO ... if the only difference is the dimple, I have to conclude it's some form of galvanic-response switch, and is more subject to error than the rubber-covered mechanical button Lexus and others use.

Frankly, I never had any trouble with my RL, but I know many of you have. Perhaps Acura needs to go with the mechanical lock button.

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The thing is that I don't think it's just the dimple. Unlocking the doors involves the sensor on the inside of the door handle and most recently that's the issue I'm having.

Either the dealer "programmed" the handle incorrectly, or there is another issue.

Quite honestly, I like the fact that it unlocks as soon as I approach the car. Sometimes my kids will reach for the door before I get a chance. This way if we all approach the car at the same time, the car will just unlock.

Saying that, I know it's not how it was intended to work and I just want it fixed.

 

Well I went by the dealer after work. Everytime I took it in, they said they couldn't recreat it. Since it was happening pretty consistently, I didn't want to risk it clearing up in a couple days and me getting the same response.

I pull into the service bay. I lock the door (with the fob), walk out of range and as soon as I walk back and get within 4-5 feet of the driver's side door, the car beeps and the doors unlock.

The SM laughs and says, "It's not supposed to do that". Gee, ya think?

We joked about it saying it was a new keyless, touchless opening feature.

At least they know now I' wasn't making this crap up.

It goes back in on Wednesday.

 

Good job reproducing the fault with the service manager watching, now that's weird!

I noticed in the owner's manual (page 161), it says if the remote is within operating distance ~ 32", while you wash the car or it is raining heavily, the door sensors may respond by unlocking the doors. It probably wasn't raining in your case but it does demonstrate the fickle sensitivity of these sensors.

 

Yes, I have experienced this, while washing the car, and carrying the fob. The stream of water from the hose hit the door handle and the car started beeping like the door was being unlocked. I now wash the car with the set aside more than 32" from the car. Fortunately, except for one time after doing a laserwash, I have had no issues with the handle. After a day, the car worked fine. Now I hand wash it, with no problems.

 

Aaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/venting on

Now my passenger door handle is acting up again. It will lock if you touch the dimple, but it will not unlock when you grab the handle.

This will be the second time the passenger door handle is replaced along with the two times for the driver's side.

As I said above, this is really frustrating and it's bordering on lemon law.

I truly love this car and this has been really the only issue. If nothing else, it affirms my decision for the extended warranty. Replacing a couple door handles a year alone will pay for the warranty.

I called the dealer and they think that "there must be something wrong with the central locking unit" for all these handles to keep going bad.

I'm not so sure about that, but I have literally made more visits for door handles to the dealer as I have for maintenance. Aside from some rear sunshade rattle issues when I first bought the car, this is the only problem I've had with this car.

/venting off

 

I had the problem on my driver's handle for about 3 days then it went away.

I just now use the key fob to lock it. Problem solved.

Btw - lemon law won't cover non-drivetrain (or starting) related items (in my experience in Georgia and NY State).

 

Lemon law for door handles seems excessive to me, I would never consider using that law for something like that.

 

I don't realistically believe a Lemon Law would cover replacing a 2-year old car with 34K miles on it. I said it more out of frustration.

I appreciate I can use the fob, but after spending $42K for a car, I expect all of it's features to work consistenly.

I'm kinda funny that way.

 

What about all those poor people who have MANY problems with Mercedes ( per consumer reports).
My friend with a 12 cylinder MB had to have the engine pulled and have about 100 sensors replaced due to an oil leak, he would love to have only a handle problem. He sold the car after the work.

 

I feel your pain. I started a similar thread, the door handles are great when they work!!


https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...t=door+handles

 

THat's equally unacceptable, but it doesn't excuse Honda/Acura for this problem. That's why I'll probably never own a Benz. I can accept them going bad once, but this is getting ridiculous.