V70: General Quick cheap fix for sticking door handle.

[ShadeTek]

I have had the sticking door handle syndrome since I got this car a year ago and I realised the problem was the handle was coming out of the hinge causing tit to jam open. If you tapped it back towards the hinge, it would not stick for a short while until the next time you opened the door, pulling the handle away from the hinge. Today I took it to bits to have a look and it looks like just a poor design with nothing holding the handle in place except the facing onto the lock. If the hinge could hold the handle in place then all would be well so I tried placing a piece of tape around the inside of the hinge receiver to make the hinge post stay inside the handle and so far it works. Don't ask me yet how long it is going to last, I will report back. It certainly feels better when refitting the handle as it now has a positive click into place.

[37 RUBY]

ShadeTek

I've not encountered this issue yet but thanks for posting your cure.

As I see it what you've done with version 1 is shim the aperture with duct tape? Preventing it from popping out?

As a version 1.2 to your adaptation what about bonding a very thin u shaped plastic shim made out of say an old washing up bowl plastic. Some no nails type adhesive would suffice to attach it. Would last longer than the duct tape which may be susceptible to rucking up when moisture gets under the adhesive.

I would be happy to share the patent with you

[ShadeTek]

Thanks for the offer 37 RUBY, the thought of an early retirement sounds appealing. What you've described there is basically what has been done already acting as the glue and the shim. Reminds me of a tyre puncture repair where a material is stuffed into the gap requiring filled. The tape is just the right thickness and I'll see over time how it lasts as there is not much angle movement at the hinge end of the handle. It also depends on how you use the handle. If you pull it towards the rear of the car when you open the door then you are stressing the plastic hinge apart each operation and reducing its grip in the hinge pin. If you were to pull at 180° away from the car or to the front, then there would be little stress in the hinge and it would last longer.

[Peter86]

I also had a sticking handle on my V70 passenger door. Good spray of white lithium grease seemed to cure my problem. The handle design does not seem to be the best though.

[ShadeTek]

...a month and a half later and the tape fix is still working.

[ShadeTek]

Over a year later and this fix still working with no problems.