So the door handles on my 06 are acting up for the first time...well, acting up in a real PITA way, as normally they would just not work 100% whenever the car was "wet and dirty" but a proper car wash would always get things going again. This time, washing the car hasn't helped and my symptoms are:


- passenger's side door handle not working, for both touch to lock or grasp handle to unlock
- driver's side door handle not working for touch to lock, but does unlock when grasping the handle


I had a rustproofing treatment applied last fall, and I noticed over the last couple months a lot of the rustproof spray material was "oozing" from under the ends of both of the front door handles (as well as from other seams of the car's bodywork). I made sure to wash all of it away from underneath the handles but I am wondering if it has messed things up under the handles inside the doors.

 

I personally haven't had this problem myself, but from reading this website I would suggest you check fuse 7 and fuse 10. It is likely a fuse or a dead handle.
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=door+handle

 

are you getting a Driver 1/2 message on the mids?

Along with checking the fuses make sure the FOBs are synched with good batteries.

 

I think you can still unlock/lock car with unsynced fob

 

ruling out operator error.

 

My passenger handle went out a few months ago for the "touch to lock" feature but still works for "grasp to unlock". The other day after a car wash my drivers handle stopped working completely. I pulled it open and used air in a can to blow out the water. Started working again with no problems. I think these handles just suck

 

No fob-related errors on the MID. I am only using the Driver 1 fob at the moment however. I'll see if there is any change of handle behavior and/or MID messages with the #2 fob

 

My passenger side handle just started working out of the blue last night

 

Have had all these symptoms when I had my RL from 2006 through about 2009. Must have been through two sets of handles on each side. All replaced under warranty. Was told by the SA that there was some kind of TSB out on the 2006 handles. After my second set of handle changeovers ( either 2009 or 2010 ) I was completely trouble free even after car washes. Makes me think there was a design flaw that made the handles not car wash safe when fitted at the factory and Honda/Acura eventually thought of a fix ...

 

having same issue with my 2006 for the third time.

 

Nothing new fellas, nothing new.

 

Fuses #7 and #10 are both fine...so I am guessing my handles are toast?

 

The fact that the fuses aren't blown is better than most people's issues where the handles short out. My guess is your rust treatment gunked up a contact and needs to be cleaned. If you can get the handles off, use Isopropyl Alcohol and a stiff brush to clean all of the electronics.

 

What's involved to remove the handles? I don't see any obvious way to remove them looking at the assemblies as-is on the car.

 

You have to take off the inside panel and go at it from there.

 

Another possible issue is that it's winter and cold temperatures can affect if the handle could feel your hand on it or not

 

And this is a made in Japan car where they get as much cold and snow in the northern Japanese islands as we do ? Sounds like a design flaw.

i'd understand if the handles are covered in snow or ice but otherwise as an owner (former owner in my case ), I would hope the handles would work even when cold.

I've had my 06RL in like 5 degrees at a VT ski resort and everything worked like it should have. Cranked a little slow and central mfd was a little lethargic but otherwise, all good. No door handle problems with my 2nd replacement set. After the supposed door handle TSB was applied.

 

From my understanding of the handles, they hold a capacitive charge that discharges and triggers when you touch it. Capacitors do vary with temperature, but I work with them regularly at -40C with little change in performance, so there is no reason I can think of that would make them affected by cold.

I don't think the handles will work with gloves, but the OP didn't mention cold temps.

 

It's no colder this winter than any of the previous ones since I have owned the car and temperature has no effect on whether they work properly or not

 

I have the same problem with my car. the driver side handle doesnt work, and to top it off when i leave the car over night it drains my battery. i did a parasitic drain test. nothing.... any good idea's? alternator is charging, new battery and no lights stay on....

 

I nave the same problem. Month ago dealer fixed left and now car back to dealer with right. Was park all cold whether ouside(CHICAGO). Then park in local body shop inside(warm) to do break job. And done !!!!!! 7&10 blow!!! Right handle,GPS,radio,memory seats and remote entry not working. Probably more than that. Tomorrow will be a week. But got loaner MDX 2014,

 

Pull fuse 7. If it still drains, it's something else. There was an issue with the XM module in 2005s that would cause a parasitic drain.

 

i Have an 06 RL, i did the parasitic drain test ( 0.13ma ) unless it comes out sometimes.the problem started when it was very cold after new years when the battery was dead i forced door open ( had to pull hard on the handle) after i opend it the battery was dead. i replaced it the car was fine for 2-3 days then i forgot to lock my car . battery was dead in 11 hours ever sence then battery die's not every night!!!!

 

sounds like a new dead battery.

FYI: when the battery was dead i forced door open ( had to pull hard on the handle)

Makes no sense.

 

I have to note that door handle is maybe assembled in Japan or no matter where in the world. But the sensor inside is made by VALEO, AND its 100% FRENCH company. And as for my own experience French can eat frogs, make perfumes, make clothes, but certainly not cars, and electronic components for them. No matter how they try, they don't even come close to japan designs and quality!!! Here in Lithuania, french made cars just suck, especially the electronics! It seem to brake without any reason. And from the first electronics in cars they just dont do good...

I have dissembled my door handle just out of curiosity, to see who and how it was made. And as soon i so the brand VALEO,i was shocked, and it became clear why they stop working, or blow fuses.

Thats my 2 cents regarding handles.

 

I posted in another thread that when I had my '06RL (I bought new) the door handles were replaced at least 5 times on each side (10 in total). Figured out that the high pressure touch less car washes I was frequenting was killing them. After that I resorted to covering the sensors with hockey tape before entering the car wash and I never had a problem again.

 

My driver side door on my 2005 RL does not lock sometimes when I touch the handle to lock. Is this something that can be cleaned if I open the door panel, or should I start thinking on getting a new locking mechanism? How much would it cost the new locking mechanism?

 

How did you pull it open?

 

It's not an issue with the mechanism. It's the sensor. Nothing serviceable. Eventually you'll need a new handle. You'll probably notice it happens more often if the car is wet or damp.

 

Same thing with my handle on my 05... Checking fuses tomorrow. Thanks!

Also need to look into that battery drain issue too.

 

Just pulled the handle the same way you would if you were opening the door.