Door won’t open

[Jillmark99]

Over the past few weeks I have experienced an issue a couple times with my drivers door handle. The handle presents when walking up but when I pull on it the door won’t open.
If I walk away and let the handles pull back in then approach again and grab the handle it opens.
What mechanism in the handle causes this problem? I will need to order parts to repair it.
Thanks.

 

[Ostrichsak]

If you have one of the earlier version door handles there are three micro switches that detect various inputs and positions. There is a complex loom of wires that runs between all of these along with some other electronics inside of the door handle assembly. At the factory, some of the people who were assembling these thought that they were doing a good thing by zip tying everything tight before sending it down the road. The problem this creates is that it doesn't allow the wiring to flex and move as the handle presents and retracts. Over time this can cause the wires to bend around corners and eventually wear through their insulation and ground out and quit working. This can present early on in inconsistent issues that come and go randomly similar to what you describe. My guess is if you took your door handle assembly out and took it apart you would see a couple of small wires bent around a corner that have wore through there insulation and are now grounding out.

 

[Jillmark99]

Thank you for your reply. Is there an aftermarket wire harness thats better than the factory one? Or just reorder from Tesla?

 

[Doanster1]

EV Tuning has all you need along with great DIY videos to repair/install.
Tesla Model S Door Handle Microswitch UPGRADED Harness Replacement for 1016009-00-C

 

[Jillmark99]

Thank you

 

[tdbostic]

I have the gen 3 handle in a 2014 model s with the same issue as the OP. Any ideas why it would happen for that particular handle?

 

[Jillmark99]

Unfortunately I’m not familiar with Gen 3 handles at all so I cant help with this one.