jftjr

Ouch! File this one under the "Gee Rocky, guess I don't know my own strength..." category.

Was pulling my RL's door closed yesterday, as normal, by the interior grab handle, and the handle snapped off in my hand! Wasn't applying Superman force or anything, just closing the door. Pow.

Yes, it's entirely plastic, looks like it's just ABS with a piece of leather wrapped around it, and it broke off at the top by the screw. The plastic cover went flying across the parking lot I was in.

Very frustrating. Can't believe they'd not reinforce this part, or make it out of something besides brittle ABS.

GoHawks

I will admit that it doesn't feel very sturdy.

Mike_TX

Do you find that sometimes when you get very, very angry, your skin turns kinda green, and your muscles swell up and bulge so much they tear your shirt open, and you eyes turn a weird color you grunt incoherently? That could explain it.

I don't know - it's just a thought.

.
.

TampaRLX-SH

Can ya pull a rabbit out of your hat?

The RLs front door are heavy! I like the style of the RLs doorhandles, but I think they are a little too far forward for decent leverage. Sounds like your inner self agrees?

If the were self closing doors like the TL, we'd all be amputated by the ankles.

Now, for the important stuff. Who know's where Bullwinkle went to college???

static808

We might want to merge my thread with this one. This is the rattle noise I hear with my interior door handle. It feels like I'm going to rip the handle off.

It has that "classic" plastic-to-plastic noise. The Video. Not sure if I can get this fixed under warranty, its very annoying...

GoHawks

Yikes. Mine will occasionally let out a creak, but nothing like that.

neuronbob

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking that handle felt a little flimsy. I have no noise from it, however, and certainly don't "Hulk" it closed.

That video was very illustrative.....sounds ugly. That should be covered under warranty, I would hope.

123456SPEED

On my 5 or 6 test drives, I also noticed the door handle was way too far forward ergonomically and causes much harder pulling force and bad leverage. Seems like it could have been designed better.

Rexorg

Wassamatta U

TampaRLX-SH

DING! DING!! DING!!!!

Rexorg wins a one year supply of Rice-A-Roni and a weekend for 2 at Mount Airey Lodge in the Poconos (the one with the red velvet heart shaped beds).


Now I just came in from washing the RL (with one arm still in a sling )

I did notice some play in the door handles, but no creaks or groans. I do remember the TLs door handles had enough play that the entire door panel flexed! The RL must have more rigid plastics in the handle, but it appears that they can crack and send shrapnel! I can't afford more foreign objects embedded in my gimpy arm!

jftjr

I spent a night with my fiancee at "Beautiful Mt. Airy Lodge" in the Poconos a few years ago. It's a dump... the lobby was playing an endless loop of Barry Manilow hits, the room was not particularly clean, and there were strange burns all over the rug shaped like the soleplate of an iron. The private swimming pool in each suite, though, was a feature, even if it was set to about 100 degrees. Felt like a lobster in a pot....

But I digress.

I assure you, it was a perfectly normal amount of closing force applied to the door. It had been feeling a bit wiggly for a while, and I guess it just finally gave way.

So, no, Mike, I haven't been doing any gamma-ray experiments, and while I've split pants in the past, it hasn't been with rippling green muscle. However, if my dealer doesn't get this fixed immediately, and/or tries to say it's not covered by warranty, then I might just throw a Hulk-rage fit.

static808

I'll definitely take to the dealer. I am not a big fan of creaky plastic noises. I got a few by the gear shifter and will get those fixed or I'll just do it myself with some felt inserts...

TampaRLX-SH

Geez, jftjr...you weren't supposed to let the cat out of the bag! I guess the Mt. Airy Lodge is unchanged form the tacky commericals I remember in the 70's. I can still hear that jazzy jingle...very Austin Powers.

I would expect the handle would be changed under warranty. They replaced my whole driver door panel simply because the leather on the armrest was bubbling up form the foam below.

I suggest, however, taking a feeble stance and when the Service Manager hands you a pen to sign the work order, drop the pen due to it's sheer weight. If you need, I can loan you my arm sling. They dare not pick on a gimp.

lland

Yes , but the door is "spring assisted" and needs very little force to close it. In fact, yesterday my wife was complaining that it wouldn't stay open when she was trying to get out.

LL

jftjr

This has been a major irritant to me since I bought the car. I have a driveway that's got a pretty steep slope to it, and my shins continually bear the brunt of the doors on entry and exit. Very, very annoying.

Meanwhile, my '03 Accord Coupe's doors stay open no problem on the hill, and close at a touch. Honda *can* do it right, they just chose not to in the RL.

rltraveler

Since day 1 of ownership of this fine car, I have been very gentle in closing the drivers side door because of the "felt" imbalance of the handle relative to the weight of the door,,,makes you wonder who designed position of that handle relative to weight of door- and then used plastic!,,,

Rob144

I always wondered what the interior door handle was made of and mounted to. I'm not surprised that the handle is plastic. Aluminum would have been a classier touch in keeping with some of the car's aluminum body parts!

I really like the self-closing doors. The doors are weighted so only a gentle pull is required to close them. Sometimes, though, I do wish there was a cutout in the door armrest to grab to more easily control the door. The inner grip is somewhat close to the pivot point of the door, even with the weighting and new passengers often let the door fly open when getting out.
Rob144

Digit

You would think they would have had a better design. I called the dealer and setup an appointment and asked to make sure they had the part in stock since it would be a 140 mile round trip to the nearest dealer. The service rep. set I will check and call you back. Also they couldn't guarantee me that it would be covered under the factory warranty. I post again with the results of the replacement. The part cost $118.

nyctl

question
if you snapped the interior handle
how did it go flying outside across the parking lot
when you were inside the car pulling the door in?

posted while watching csi....lol

lumpulus

I HATE them....It seems like every time I open the door to get out it comes back towards me, and once or twice actually trapped my leg between the door and the sill.

470hpGS400

iTrader: (1)

Mine are solid as a rock-for now. But at least it's only $100.00.

Ballinger

I'm replacing mine with walrus tusks. I've already got super-plush harp seal seat covers. With these, the only squeaking is from the neighbors.

getakey

Reviving this thread as my door handle came off yesterday.
Was not a big tug on the handle, just the normal slight pull. Completely snapped off.
Car is 2005, so I guess it will be my expense

neuronbob

The only weak point of the interior! I think for the next RL (if it comes) Acura will bolster that area a little better.

woodek

After hearing stories of these things breaking, I always grab mine from the bottom part of the handle and pull.

getakey

That's where I did grab and pull from. Once it comes off, you can see that the bottom part is no more secure than the top.

I'm waiting to fix it during my next service appt. I'm getting good at Closing door with one finger grabbing at indentation in window controls.

getakey

After driving a couple weeks with no handle, I examined the broken ends this past weekend. Looked like a very clean break, so I Super Glued it back together.
It is holding so far, but I've been very very careful about how hard I pull.

Now, I have a moral delimma. I am due for a Service, so will probably have the car at the Dealer next week. I'm thinking there is a fairly good possibility that they may pull the handle off. Should I say something to the Dealer? Or let them think they broke it?

oo7spy

Super glue is pretty easy to recognize. If they can't figure that one out, then they should think they broke it just for being stupid.

getakey

probably going to be a moot point
handle held for a couple days, then broke again at the top attachment even though I was pulling from the bottom
Not sure the top got glued successfully, so may try one more time

tnobori1

Just wait and see what happens during the service appointment. It would be hilarious if they broke it and replaced it without ever telling you!

rlx015

Indeed - I agree handle is really to close to front of the door; last three weeks I am still adjusting on how to close the door without putting much pressure on pulling the handle (fear of snapping lol) ...

tnobori1 - nice thought in the above comment

getakey

I reglued handle last night as I was taking car in for service this morning. Service advisor opened door to get mileage. Opened wide to get in - I though holy s**t, he's going to pull it off right in front of me. Just before he gets ready to close the door, he lowers the window to pull door shut. Obviously they are hip to the issue.
No new handle for me

oo7spy

HAHAHAHA! Good try though. Feel better in the consolation that they try their hardest to get out of fixing things for free. So, your glue it and "they broke it" plan probably wouldn't have worked had he pulled it off.

getakey

Picked the car up last night. My reglue job held all through service or they know to avoif the handle. That said, it does feel much more secure, so I might have done a better glue job this time around. In any case, I have a door handle again without spending $110+ to replace.

bf024

I had this same problem. I'm the only one that uses the car, and there's no kids to hang off the handle or abuse it. It came off right in my hand. This is an 06 RL with 59,000 miles on it!

I went to the dealership yesterday, and was told AcuraCare considers this to be a trim piece, not covered. $375 to replace the part. I took the estimate, but before I lay out $400 for a part Acura ought to be embarrassed to be using, I'm going to see if the Gorilla Glue holds it. Doesn't look hopeful..