Hello All,

Well, yesterday my partner attempted to open the passenger-side front door when we both heard a very loud "SNAP." Needless to say it didn't open.

I started dismantling the door today and as soon as I had the handle escutcheon removed the cause was obvious: the "arm" that holds the bottom end of the pivot pin on which the door handle hinges had snapped off.

I decided to try epoxy glue, just for the heck of it, but of course the forces are just too great and the area being held is just too small. So, now we look at other options and a number of questions have sprung to mind:

1. What is the actual name of the part I have circled in the image attached? It appears that this thing (and possibly the cable from it) come as a unit, but I'm not sure. I also don't know what I'd even be asking for from a parts source.

2. Does anyone know where in JTIS (or elsewhere) the method for removal and installation of this part are found? Obviously, I found the image attached, but I wasn't able to successfully find the step-by-step instructions for this thing. It's clear that it's attached to the inside of the door by some sort of brass fitting that screws into it from its back side through sheet metal in the door.

3. Is there any point in even trying to repair this? I thought about removing it, drilling very small holes through the main body and into the "arm", then using glue with several tiny screws?

Guidance, suggestions, etc., are much appreciated.

Submitted by vogelbp@gmail.com on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 22:40

Steven,

Thank you so very much for this information. Now the adventure has begun to locate a salvage replacement part. I dread to even think about what a new one, if that's even available 13 model years later, would cost.

Is the front part of this assembly held in place pretty much by the coupling made between the escutcheon, door, and the plastic body of the assembly? After a bit of playing today it would seem that's all that holds it in place.

I think I'll end up attempting a repair just to see if I can come up with a method that might work, even though I'm trying to get a replacement. I want to see if "screw and glue" just might work just for the heck of it.

Again, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the assistance.

Submitted by stevejag@sbcgl… on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 23:30

Hi Brian,

1. The parts catalogue calls that a 'remote control handle'. RF = part number GNC1100FC.

2. I comes with the cable and housing attached, and once released from the latch assembly, it just slides forward a couple of inches and comes right off of the door. There are no fasteners to release it. There is a small narrow black spring clip that locks the rear end of the cable in a curved track in the latch assembly. Be careful not to loose that clip, the cable will come loose if it's not there. The bit of brass you see is the ferrule the escutcheon you removed screws into.

3. Personally, I don't think there will be any reward in trying to repair that handle; just too much leverage going on there.

Good luck!