Not from factory. Looks like JB Weld to me.

That's pretty common to see. The whole lock cylinder/door handle assembly is just weak.

BLACK'98DSM said:

That's pretty common to see. The whole lock cylinder/door handle assembly is just weak.

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I assume the part that is laying in my door panel is supposed to clip on to the back of the mechanism to tell the other door to lock/unlock? This clip will not fit on with this glue stuff..

mx3baker said:

I assume the part that is laying in my door panel is supposed to clip on to the back of the mechanism to tell the other door to lock/unlock? This clip will not fit on with this glue stuff..

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If you’re referring to a white plastic rotary switch, usually with wires plugged into it, then yes, that is the alarm switch that tells your alarm system whether the door is locked, or unlocked.

Contact Rix Racing to get a used door handle in great shape, and reattach the alarm rotary switch and wires (plug).

DogWhistle said:

If you’re referring to a white plastic rotary switch, usually with wires plugged into it, then yes, that is the alarm switch that tells your alarm system whether the door is locked, or unlocked.

Contact Rix Racing to get a used door handle in great shape, and reattach the alarm rotary switch and wires (plug).

Click to expand...

Thank you, That explains everything.

Now that the problem is solved, I can say honestly with no guilt that the JB weld on the door handle is freakin' hilarious. As someone who has done WAY too many door handle changes on 2G DSMs, I can appreciate getting so angry with that STUPID tumbler and the clip for it to lock it in place, that you'd say eff it and just JB Weld the SH*T out of it. I wouldn't do it, but I can appreciate it.

But yeah, grab a new handle and replace it. Be ready to see why the PO did that with JB weld though. That STUPID CLIP can be infuriating. And honestly once those alarm clips come off...I have never successfully put on back on without the alarm going batsh*t anytime the door is unlocked from the outside. So if it gives you issue, just make it think the door is always unlocked by putting the wires together and avoid the 3am horn blaring altogether. Or cut the proper wires at the module from behind the b-pillar panel behind the driver's seat.

Always happy to make someone have a good laugh. Honestly I had no clue these cars had a stock alarm, therefore i wont miss it. Without looking I assume the PO cut those wires anyway.
I assumed that plastic clip was to tell the passenger door to unlock when the driver side door was locking or unlocking from a key, My old Mazda MX3 had a similar function and i only assumed it was the same.
I don't see a need to replace the handle if its working with the the JB weld.. The fight with the clip does not sound fun at all in such a tight space, ill put this one off for as long as my current handles hold.

Any used door handle is old and brittle at this point. I'm not saying that a new one would be any better but unless a used one is significantly cheaper then it's not worth it.