Re: door handles and sympathy

[harrison sapir <hsapir@earthlink.net>]

Ahh, door handles. Just when you thought that you were in the clear,
Audi finds a new way to make a defective door handle. After years of
messing with the door handles on our 5ktq and 4kq, I started driving
88-89 90q's with the new style door handles. I was so thrilled with the
new design (no more prying the lever back with fondue forks) that I
bragged about them for the last 2 years of ownership. I have discovered
that the problem is worse on the new cars. It seems that the actuating
rod that moves with the lock cylinder is made of the cheapest pot metal
money can buy. I haven't seen such low grade metal since the episode
with my Lancia's alternator hardware. Anyhow, replacing this piece
requires completely dismantling the door, you must remove the window
carrier to access the back of the handle. So I got myself a used one
from the yard and spent a good 2 hours on the job. To make a long story
short, the replacement part broke on the first try. I am in tears. Audi
has made a redesigned replacement part from stamped steel to correct the
problem, but the dealer is unwilling to order it because he is lazy. Has
anyone with the 88-newer 90 series had the same problem? Is there a good
source for this part other than Audi? Any info would be appreciated.

harrison

todd@qualmedoregon.com wrote:

> The thread that wouldn't die!  Really, I just wanted to brag
> that I got this problem fixed.  As you may recall, I tried
> bending my linkage around to get the door handle to push far
> enough to release the latch, but it broke before I found a
> good length.  I was going to get a new connecting rod at the
> dealer, but I got there 5 minutes after the parts department
> was supposed to close and they wouldn't sell it to me!  I
> was steamed.  So I thought, why not try a hardware store for
> a rod like that?  I was about to give up, and it had dawned
> on me that I could find a rod at a welding supply store, but
> then I saw a bunch of hooks for hanging tools on a peg board.
> 39 cents and some well-practiced bending later, and I had a
> door that opens better than it would with the $5 dealer part,
> thank you very much.  No more climbing through from the
> passenger side, and I can use my knowledge to perfect the
> other doors.
>
> Can you tell I'm pleased as punch with myself and the door?
>
> P.S.: Is it me, or are there at least 3 Todds on this list?
>
> ---
> Todd Hutchinson
> 4kq