Door handle presents, won't open.

[L-P-G]

Before anyone tells me to search, I know this is a common problem but I have a new spin on it and the SC is saying they can't recreate it.

When I park the car outside in the FL summer heat, if the handle is hot the door won't open. It presents fine but won't open the door.

After it cools down it's perfectly fine.

Anyone else had this happen?

 

[JPP]

???bad microswitch or bad solder joint/connection? When you pull on the extended exterior handle, it has to strike a microswitch to activate the electromechanical latch. Maybe when hot the switch or connection is failing?

 

[L-P-G]

That's the funny thing, the SC has already fixed this issue once when the door wouldn't open no matter the temp. I wonder if they didn't replace both micro switches.

 

[AMPd]

I had that happen, the SC replaced the handle

It was also difficult to recreate but I got lucky and was able to recreate it for the service tech

 

[scottm]

What's happening is the microswitch wires are internally broken near the microswitch. The copper strands have severed but the insulation of the wires looks fine and is holding the severed wire together enough to make contact, sometimes. Heat and cold affect the pliability and flex of the insulation around the break.

Visually inspecting the wires, they look whole. If you bend / flex the wire, you'll notice it's extra bendable at the broken spot. If you pull the wire you'll notice it stretches a bit. Wait! What!? Wires don't stretch! They do if they're severed.

A service tech who visually inspects and "sees everything if fine" might skip the step of replacing just the microswitch kit, and swap the whole handle. .... A faster and more sure job. Addresses a whole range of other possible problems too. Sledgehammer for a finishing nail.