previously posted by robarsan:
After doing a little net surfing, it looks like these are capacitance type sensors.





Each paragraph is from a separate article: (NOTE THE BOLD TYPE IN SECOND PARAGRAPH)




Cap sense switches are not limited to the car interior. An ideal example is a door handle sensor. For this application, the metal handle is used as the sensor. This sensor is made extremely sensitive to serve as a proximity detector. As the presence of a hand approaching the door is detected, power can be applied to security hardware requiring much higher power.

Switches for door handles for Keyless Operating Systems are the capacitance type at present. The dielectric constant when the handle is touched with a gloved hand is lower than that when it is touched with a bare hand, and the charge does not change sufficiently in some cases, which makes detection of the initial operation difficult. Water drops may also cause a change in charge, making this sensor vulnerable to disturbance by rain or a car wash. Furthermore, the handle body must be made thicker to accommodate the sensor electrode in the handle lever.

 

Oh boy just lost the driver side have been waiting a week now! lol

 

My passenger side is DOA. THis would make the the 4th time for that side and at least twice for the driver's side.

I've given up. I think my oil life monitor is a 40%, so I'll get it fixed the next time I go in for service.

 

Mine are still going strong-knocking on the fake wood. I wash the car every two weeks. Click click click click the entire time but it still manages to work.

 

maybe thats the trick i will wash it with the key in my pocket next time. lolol

 

thats funny i hope its not fake wood because i knock on it all the time?

 

I'm having this issue now.
Washed car over the weekend and then it rained. Drivers side not locking since. Unlocking seems fine.
Just bought my 05 with extended warranty but can't take it in for warranty work until after 30 days of purchase date. :|

 

washing only causes a temporary problem with locking, should resume locking within an hour or less of washing. Have not heard of rain being a problem.
2005 had a problem with the door handles. Surprised original owner did not get them replaced.

 

My '05 is going in for a new driver's side door handle tomorrow. I have had several replacements, this will be at least the 3rd, I've lost track.

Going through a car wash always buggers the unlock function, usually for a day or two. Hand washing hasn't seemed to cause any problems.

Fortunately, my dealer is close and always has a loaner for me. And, I have the extended warranty. So, it's not a big deal (yet).

 

Wow - 3 replacements! I had mine replaced once and have not had a problem (knock on wood - real wood in the 05)

 

Interesting! I have never had mine replaced on my '05. Possibly due to it being a late build?

 

Mine's an '06 so I'm not sure that has anything to do with it.

 

Hello Rob, I had a question: If i buy the extended on the RL i was told it only covers certain things for 12 months and the rest of the 100k warranty is just for power train? So if i have a door handle giving problems or my Navigation or any electrical part goes after a year i will not be covered? Can you explain how this works.

Much help would be gladly appreciated.

 

If it's an Acuracare warranty, the door handles are covered.

 

I had mines replaced 2 weeks ago for my 05 RL. So far it works good and thank God I got the extended Acuracare warranty or that dealer would've raped me on replacement.

 

yea the handles are 180 us maybe if mine doesn't come baack to life in a month ill buy and install my self

 

Doh!!! I'm hit!!!! Hand washed my '05 yesterday after work and when I went to lock the door this afternoon, it wouldn't lock. I guess I'll have to check the dimple daily.

 

My dealer was so nice they gave me a new one with a little sweet talk. And my waranty was over.

 

Maybe it's due to that settlement with fast ODOs...

 

So this morning, I check the drivers side dimple and still no go. I try the passenger side dimple and it works. I go back to the drivers side, still no go. I pull and release the handle a few times, try the dimple again and IT WORKS!!! I know it has only been a few hours but so far so good.

 

Anyone know the average cost of fixing/replacing the handle if your RL is no longer under warranty?

Thanks

 

300