[THEONE]

I was having an issue with my passenger side door handle, it wouldn't open with the vicinity touch and the locking button wouldn't lock the doors. I went to the dealership and before I could finish explaining the problem they said they would be ordering handles for both the driver and passenger side. They already had two 2011 Chargers and one Challenger that had the same issue. The early 2011 vehicles have an issue with moisture getting in the connector and corroding it. They said the issue has been corrected with the newer handles being made, it was an issue on the early models. This could effect all of the early build guys, just giving you guys a heads up.

 

[THEONE]

That's exactly what I was thinking, but it's a new design for the handles so I kinda understand.

 

[THEONE]

I will give them the opportunity to fix it, but I will not keep coming back for the same problem. This might be the last straw for me with Dodge products, I had a water leak problem with my 09 and took them forever to find it and fix it and the car had 100 miles on it when the leak was discovered.

 

[THEONE]

They will have to replace the handles, they need to use electrical grease on the connectors. They did both of my handles in 15 minutes I watched them do it, the key is the grease on the connectors. Once water gets in thats it, this might be a bigger problem than we think.

 

[THEONE]

Yeah I don't think they did a lot of R&D on the new handles.

 

[THEONE]

That's sad, I would find another dealership they are going to wait for a TSB that is pathetic. You can always make them do the research because it's not working properly. My dealership called Chrysler, I'm sure they have tons of complaints about this.

 

[THEONE]

Don't worry the electrical grease will work. I haven't had anymore issue's since they replaced my handles and coated the connector's.

 

[THEONE]

Guys make sure you tell them to use electrical grease on the connectors. I feel like they really dropped the ball on the design they should have had a water proof cover for the connector.

 

[THEONE]

There is no service bulletin yet, they have to replace the handles and coat the connector if they don't it will happen again. If you don't do anything both handles won't work pretty soon.

 

[THEONE]

ok, Somebody check my math on this...

If changing the handle and applying contact grease fixes the problem, then why wouldn't just cleaning the contacts and applying contact grease not work?

The door handle must act as a switch (and only a switch). It seems to me that the handle completes the curcuit through your hand to the ground with no moving parts. I can not believe that the handle its self has a computer or chip in the actual handle. If this is the case then the handle would not need replacement, just a clean and a lube.

If that is not the answer then there must be a computer downstream somewhere that has the problem. If a corroded contact on the door handle caused a short or a high resistance that in turn messed up a computer somewhere... then that computer along with the door handles will have to be repaired/replaced.

I am just spit balling here but I can not believe that you would need to have only your door handles with out also addressing an upstream problem.

or

It can be fixed with a little contact cleaner and then contact grease (no replacement parts required).

I am hoping that it is the latter.

Tell me if I am crazy.


.,

I know it worked for my car and the other cars that were brought into my servicing dealership. The connector had moisture in it and contacts were corroded when they pull one of my old handles off. So I didn't want that back on my car anyway.

 

[THEONE]

Well electrical grease on my contacts worked.

 

[THEONE]

The handles are also getting water on the inside. It's a poor design and they need to get a fix for it asap.

 

[THEONE]

There is a redesign in the works, a message was sent out to dealers not to replace the handles anymore. I will see if I can get a copy of it and post it.

 

[THEONE]

Thanks for the work order. I went to the dealership and they said "We have an update for it." They plugged it up, updated the computer, and rolled it out of the bay. They did not replace the handles.

Should I go to another dealership? Or keep pressing the issue with this dealership?

I would go wash your car and get the handles really wet and bring it right back to them. The problem is most of the time when the issue occurs the handles dry out by the time you get the car to the dealership. The dealership could try to simulate the conditions that cause the problem, but not all dealerships will go above and beyond nowadays.