Drivers door won't open

[Tovar_Vanek]

I washed my Model S, and the drivers door no longer pops out.

I can hearing a faint whirring noise inside.

What's up?

 

[brkaus]

I washed my Model S, and the drivers door no longer pops out.

I can hearing a faint whirring noise inside.

What's up?

Handle doesn't extend out? Or Door doesn't open when you pull on handle?

 

[Tovar_Vanek]

The door handle does not pop out anymore and stays recessed. All the other handles pop out when I get near the car with the key.

 

[Tovar_Vanek]

It seems the car wash had something to do with it, but I cannot figure out what. Cold water? It was hot that day.

 

[fasteddie7]

It seems the car wash had something to do with it, but I cannot figure out what. Cold water? It was hot that day.

I would venture to say the water did not cause any issue unless the handle was out and you pressure sprayed into the handle and into the space that hoes into the door, and even then, my s has seen some incredible rainstorms and the handles came out while there was a torrential down pour and nothing has happened to that effect. Perhaps a crazy coincidence?

 

[Tovar_Vanek]

I was reading on a Facebook site just now that the plastic gear in the handles may be the culprit. Apparently a metal version upgrade is available which resolves the problem. Does anyone have any experience with this? My car is a 2014.

 

[brkaus]

I've read about the gear replacement. Used to have to replace the entire handle. Two handle problems. Broken gear or broken wire on one of the switches.

You are still under warranty? Call service.

 

[Tovar_Vanek]

I will check with Tesla of course. If the replacement is another plastic part, I would rather do an aftermarket retrofit to something more reliable like metal. Does anyone have any sources for this type of part, or if it exists?

 

[brkaus]

Here is a thread about someone making a replacement part (tesla has one available for purchase now, but I can't find part number)
Tesla door handle failure - pivot gear (anyone have one I can buy?)

And here is a thread about repairing door handles. HAs some references to the paddle gear as well
Fix your door that won't open

 

[mmccord]

I will check with Tesla of course. If the replacement is another plastic part, I would rather do an aftermarket retrofit to something more reliable like metal. Does anyone have any sources for this type of part, or if it exists?

The original part isn't plastic, just a really cheap metal.

 

[Tovar_Vanek]

Sounds like pot metal.

 

[mmccord]

Sounds like pot metal.

Sounds sketchy, but I'll go try to smoke it and report back.