2010 Tahoe Door Handles issue

[Amanda4461]

Please take a look at the picture of my Tahoe's front passenger door handle. The front of the handle pulls away from the door skin. Both front doors do this, but not the rears. I am wondering if this is normal, and if not, any idea why they do this and /or how to fix them?
Thanks for the help. I only noticed this because I was doing a much-delayed wash and wax. It sure doesn't look normal. You only notice this if you pull out on the front of the handles. Regular use, it isn't an issue...

 

[Kenny D]

I do not believe that is normal, you would have to access them through the inside. There is probably a fastener that has fell out or broken off.

 

[kbuskill]

They have a threaded insert that a bolt goes into and they are prone to breaking if pulled on to hard... Like when someone grabs the door to yank it open but its locked... Very common problem on these trucks and not terribly expensive or hard to fix.

I bought my handle off of Fleebay, pulled the door panel and swapped handle.... Maybe took 20-30 mins tops.

 

[Amanda4461]

Thanks folks. I assume the inner door panel has to be removed and replaced? Ugh! I hate messing with interiors and their cheap plastic hold-down gizmos that invariably break. Then either the parts dept. acts dumb and doesn't know how to get them, or they are unobtainium.

 

[domoarigato]

Its not a bad job (there are how-to vids on youtube), make sure you get the proper plastic trim tools ($10 bucks on amazon).

If you do happen to break a door clip, dont buy it from the dealer. They want $5 a clip. You can get 20 clips for $5 bucks on eBay

 

[PG01]

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/fosscores-2013-suburban-ltz-build-thread.87856/page-18

Took a while but i found it, fosscore just removed, fixed and reinstalled his. Very good write up in his thread.

 

[Amanda4461]

Galante,
WOW! Thanks a bunch. My search skills didn't get me that item. It did three great things:
1. Showed me how to fix the door handles for cheap, instead of the $450 my dealer just quoted when I drove by for an estimate.
2. Showed me some great looking LED Backup lamps that I could use.
3. Told me about the AFM issue I didn't know was a problem.
I appreciate your help.

 

[miner_49]

I only had the 2011 Denali for a week when I noticed the driver side door handle would pull out on one side about 1/2 inch if I pulled on the door hard when opening it. I suspect it was already broken when I bought it at the dealer. I guess I should have pulled ******* all the handles first before buying it. Never occurred to me as I've never seen such a fragile door handle on a truck before. Given what these SUVs cost when new, that really surprised me.

So after 3 weeks, I finally pulled the door apart to replace it today. I was worried that I'd get water intrusion into the door if I didn't take care of it soon as we are moving into the rainy season here. The plastic was broken where the metal receiver fits in so the bolt wasn't doing much good.

When I tried to remove it, the bolt there wouldn't unscrew and just rotated, damaging the paint under it. It stayed on the door when i removed the handle. I had to hold the one end with with pliers as I unscrewed the bolt afterwards.


Overall, it wasn't very hard to replace after watching a Youtube video of how to take the door apart, but I resent having to do it. I swapped in another GM part I ordered online for ~$50, but if I end up having to do this again, I think 'll buy those aluminum billet ones at 4 times the price as I figure they at least hopefully won't break. Cheap ceases to be cheap when you have to buy the same thing over again.

 

[swathdiver]

Gruven has a better system than GM: http://www.gruvenparts.com/stainless-machined-gm-door-handle-inserts/