2G Door Handles Help! [Merged 11-7] broke broken eBay replacement repair handle outside

[mattdev]

My handles both ended up doing this. It's a pretty tough problem to solve and explain. Basically the rod that opens the bear claw from the outside is not connecting right. The interior handle uses a different rod to open the same bear claw, so that is why the inside works and not the outside. (Thank you DSM for not COMPLETELY screwing us)

The rod pushes down on the latch to open the door and SOME extra play is required, so you don't snap the handle off, and so the handle doesn't open when you pull it 1mm. There is what appears to be a metal spacer, and over time the spacer bends, warps, etc. so so the handle's motion is just absorbed by the extra "space" the "spacer" was intended to create.

What I did is wrapped a small zip tie around the area to keep the rod from having too much play. (Don't tighten it TOO tight, I did and the handle is very picky...) The zip tie now acts as the spacer.

Again, it's hard to explain, but if you take some time to look at the mechanics of it, you will see the problem, and this is how I fixed it. (I'm sure there is "better" ways). Sadly, simply buying a new handle does not solve your problem, at all... (I tried that too...)

Door handles, IMO, are one of the biggest PITA's. Be patient... <--- (Most important advice)

 

[srt4_acr]

i pulled on my passenger door handle a bit to hard
and broke it, do i need a new door or would a junk yard have jus a door handle , in others words what should i do to fix it ?

 

[97 4G63]

All you need is the handle you can find it on ebay ..

 

[tt281gt]

Guys, I still have to double check exactly what broke but it seems that the actual handles [YES BOTH handles broke and on the SAME day too ]. It looks like the handle is "ok" but when I lift it and look under there is a WHITE looking bracket thing and I can see that is what is broken.

Do most kits fix this or do I need something else?

 

[azdave]

Guys, I still have to double check exactly what broke but it seems that the actual handles [YES BOTH handles broke and on the SAME day too ]. It looks like the handle is "ok" but when I lift it and look under there is a WHITE looking bracket thing and I can see that is what is broken.

Do most kits fix this or do I need something else?

The OEM handle and the cheap ebay handles all have a poor design. There is a stress riser in the hinges that transfers all the load to one point in the hinge and that is where they nearly always break. The hinge that goes first is the one that pushes the rod going down to the door latch mechanism.

My repair kit will likely fix the problem. Here is a tech topic for getting the handle out of the door a little easier. Notice that if you loosen the door latch the handle and rod are much easier to access for removal and re-install.
Eclipse 2G Door Handle Removal

 

[Defiant]

^ ^ ^ One of the best products ever devised for DSMs.

 

[lucid15]

So the lady said that the car im about to go pick up, the drivers side door doesnt open, she said she went to go lift the door handle one day and something popped off? so she has to open through the passenger side. Does anyone know the probable cause of this? and is it easy to fix?

 

[DGajre777]

It is a broken door handle which is common with DSMs. It takes about 30 minutes to replace it. You can get a new door handle or get kits like these to fix the issue - http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-parts-feedback-reviews/298664-door-handle-kit.html.

 

[giovanniv]

^^ that is a common problem with eclipses. Just get a new door handle and you'll be good.

 

[lucid15]

i dont get the whole JB weld stuff? do i need to use that? and do i have to wait for it to dry? damn... it looks pretty complicated to me.

 

[Deuce_three]

You could check out the junkyards. Got my door mechanism from a Dodge Avenger at the junk yard

 

[giovanniv]

Ya go to a junkyard or just look on ebay and see if you can find one for cheap.

DSM Graveyard - Your #1 Source for Used DSM Parts!

There is one but it is kinda expensive.

Search results for Mitsubishi Eclipse door handle in Car & Truck Parts & Accessories

There is the whole ebay list

 

[lo_boost]

+1 for the junkyard. you can get one or 5 or 10 bux.

 

[1LE]

It is a broken door handle which is common with DSMs. It takes about 30 minutes to replace it. You can get a new door handle or get kits like these to fix the issue - http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-parts-feedback-reviews/298664-door-handle-kit.html.

You got a special trick on how to do it that fast? Takes me about 2 hours. Really hard to even try to get my hand all the way up in there to work on it!

 

[lo_boost]

just get a new or junkyard handle. its easier in the long run. save yourself the trouble.

 

[giovanniv]

I would buy a new one so i wont have to worry about the same thing happening to it again......

 

[noonan98turbo]

I broke both my driver and passenger door handles within the same week. It sucked because when I locked my car I needed to crawl through the trunk to get into my car. I checked junkyards but I couldnt fine any so I ended up going on ebay. For $30 i got two brand new door handles, both driver and passengers door.

 

[JWoodley]

I've got a set of metal door handles on my GSX. Definitely worth the money. Got them from a GB on 2gnt.com a few years back.

 

[1LE]

I would buy a new one so i wont have to worry about the same thing happening to it again......

Unfortunately, the new ones have the same weak design and will also break on you. Either buy a new one and beef it up with a kit, or just repair your old one.

Wish I had known about the kits when my last one broke. I threw it out and replaced it with a used one. I'm just very, VERY careful about only using it (gently) to pop the door open (don't use it to actually pull the door open). I also reach inside and use the inside handle whenever possible to open the door (like in grid at the track).

 

[gregalmighty]

Yeah its common, all of the 2g handles SUCK. I have gone through 2 passenger handles and 1 driver handle in less than a year and the new ones I've replaced them with are already sticking.

Heres a good article about how to fix the weak 2g door handle problem: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/120274-3-door-handle-fix.html

Jwoodley, got a link to the metal handles? They sound like the best alternative.

 

[1LE]

Yeah its common, all of the 2g handles SUCK. I have gone through 2 passenger handles and 1 driver handle in less than a year and the new ones I've replaced them with are already sticking.

I've never had a problem with them sticking. They just suddenly snap off with no warning.

It's not just the 2g handles. I've had the same problem with 1g handles. If it's a DSM of any year, be very careful with those door handles!

 

[JonathanNL]

I've got a set of metal door handles on my GSX. Definitely worth the money. Got them from a GB on 2gnt.com a few years back.

Jwoodley, got a link to the metal handles? They sound like the best alternative.

Seems like it was the following group-buy back in 2003 on 2gnt.com:
Team 2GNT Forum - Viewing message

Unfortunately the site of the seller, redefinedrides.com, doesn't excist anymore...

Somebody should definately (re)make metal door handles, so that we replace them once, and never have to worry about them again...

 

[DGajre777]

The seller of redifnedrides.com is on this board and PMed me a few times but also wanted $90 for 2 metal door handles that you would still need to drill holes into and then install. I went with the http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-parts-feedback-reviews/298664-door-handle-kit.html that I linked and fixed my broken door handle without having to buy another one. I didn't want to buy new door handles and keep breaking since installing them was a pain. I speed up the installation process by using a dremel but other than thar, there is no quicker way to install the metal inserts in the door handles. I made mine a weekend project, I did one door handle on Saturday and another one on Sunday.

 

[EventsCo21XL]

It is a broken door handle which is common with DSMs. It takes about 30 minutes to replace it. You can get a new door handle or get kits like these to fix the issue - http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-parts-feedback-reviews/298664-door-handle-kit.html.

I second that link as well. The item is made by one of our members (AzDave) and really does the job for fixing a door handle great. There is a weakness in the design of a 2G door handle and this kit eliminates that.

Used it on my drivers side handle and you can really feel the sturdiness oh the handle afterwards.

PM AzDave if you have any questions about it. He was really helpful when I ordered from him.

Good luck

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

I hate dealing with the door handles, its straight forward job, but it still sucks. Tedious work, and the space limitations, esp if you have big hands.

But props on EBAY door handle, has worked great and has been the cheapest price.

actually matches well if you have a talon with black top, never painted it, the black it comes with goes well.