S4 Door Handles (New GM Ones)
Discussion
hi all,
is there anyone out there that has an outside door handle (my car is a 94 S4, so has the new GM door handles) that is a bit loose? my passenger side is nice and "tight" but the driver door handle is a bit loose (normal i guess after being used all the time)...i'm guessing that newer cars probably haven't had this happen yet as it would take a few years to show up, if at all....
can the door handles be "tightened" back up in any way? when i first got my car from the lotus dealer, they said that it couldn't be tightened and could only be replaced... anyone had this same loosening of door handles and been able to fix it? any help would be most appreciated...
rgds,
anthony
is there anyone out there that has an outside door handle (my car is a 94 S4, so has the new GM door handles) that is a bit loose? my passenger side is nice and "tight" but the driver door handle is a bit loose (normal i guess after being used all the time)...i'm guessing that newer cars probably haven't had this happen yet as it would take a few years to show up, if at all....
can the door handles be "tightened" back up in any way? when i first got my car from the lotus dealer, they said that it couldn't be tightened and could only be replaced... anyone had this same loosening of door handles and been able to fix it? any help would be most appreciated...
rgds,
anthony
Anthony,
I took a quick look through the parts manual and service manual and it is not clear how the thing mounts. Personally, I would remove the door panel and take a look at it. I'd be happy to e-mail you a PDF of that section of the Service Notes if you want. If you do, drop me a line "tpup@mindspring.com".
Good luck.
Roy
I took a quick look through the parts manual and service manual and it is not clear how the thing mounts. Personally, I would remove the door panel and take a look at it. I'd be happy to e-mail you a PDF of that section of the Service Notes if you want. If you do, drop me a line "tpup@mindspring.com".
Good luck.
Roy
I have the same problem and the diagnosis is the spring retainer that puts tension on the handle has broken off. When you look at this, it is casted together with the outer retainer. You have to buy this part and paint it. One other solution is JB weld the baby but you have to find the broken piece and spring in order to do this. Once you have your door off, you might as well look at the condition of the door swing limiter. These are flimsy and tend to break if your door is swung out too frequently. If you find a source for a new part, let me know because I couldn't find the broken pieces. They must have fell out of the drain vents or something.
Dindo
Dindo
G'day anthony,
I'm surprised your smash repairer couldn't "include" this in the overall repair of your front end...
Anyhow, I believe the door handle is a holden astra (aussie domestic name). A fellow lotus club australia (lives northshore syndey) member has actually converted his SE to the late model door handles. I will check with him (e-mail me of line and I will also give you his e-mail details).
Also there is a lotus owners drive to queensland next easter- approx 50 cars going- so far two red SE's from Sydney would be nice to get you and the other anthony from wollongong with the other black S4 (two anthonys with black S4s!) two come as well. A track day is included- should be heaps of fun!
P.s- you car on the road yet? (also saw a laser blue V8 lotus in double bay last night.... wonder who owns it?)
I'm surprised your smash repairer couldn't "include" this in the overall repair of your front end...
Anyhow, I believe the door handle is a holden astra (aussie domestic name). A fellow lotus club australia (lives northshore syndey) member has actually converted his SE to the late model door handles. I will check with him (e-mail me of line and I will also give you his e-mail details).
Also there is a lotus owners drive to queensland next easter- approx 50 cars going- so far two red SE's from Sydney would be nice to get you and the other anthony from wollongong with the other black S4 (two anthonys with black S4s!) two come as well. A track day is included- should be heaps of fun!
P.s- you car on the road yet? (also saw a laser blue V8 lotus in double bay last night.... wonder who owns it?)
sydneyse said: G'day anthony,
I'm surprised your smash repairer couldn't "include" this in the overall repair of your front end...
Anyhow, I believe the door handle is a holden astra (aussie domestic name). A fellow lotus club australia (lives northshore syndey) member has actually converted his SE to the late model door handles. I will check with him (e-mail me of line and I will also give you his e-mail details).
Also there is a lotus owners drive to queensland next easter- approx 50 cars going- so far two red SE's from Sydney would be nice to get you and the other anthony from wollongong with the other black S4 (two anthonys with black S4s!) two come as well. A track day is included- should be heaps of fun!
P.s- you car on the road yet? (also saw a laser blue V8 lotus in double bay last night.... wonder who owns it?)
Do you have more details about this drive? Even though we are in Perth (my wife and I), we might ship the cars to our house in Melb and drive up from there.
Thanks.
Andre,
the details that I have to hand so far:
Lotus 2003. It is basically a trip to QLD over
easter next year. You get 3 day accommodation and a track day. There are currently over 50 cars going.
I will contact the secretary of the lotus club (not particular to esprit's-covers all lotus cars) and post the details here as well as e-mailing you- SUPER effort if you make the trip!
the details that I have to hand so far:
Lotus 2003. It is basically a trip to QLD over
easter next year. You get 3 day accommodation and a track day. There are currently over 50 cars going.
I will contact the secretary of the lotus club (not particular to esprit's-covers all lotus cars) and post the details here as well as e-mailing you- SUPER effort if you make the trip!
g'day all!
thanks for the speedy replies!
the door handle is fine, the "looseness" is barely noticable at all (but we all know how pedantic esprit owners are about their cars!
hehe..)
Roy: thanks for the info! spot on there, the service notes have great diagrams for the doors, only they have everything EXCEPT the outside door handles! d'oh! murphy's law i guess.... thanks for the offer to send the PDFs, but no need as i have the service notes...
Dindo: hmmm, spring retainer problem eh? will have a look see one w/end to see if i can just fix myself... though knowing me, i will prob just go the lazy man's option and change the whole thing as Reeves mentiond that the Holden Astra has the same door handles... yeah prob change it if it doesn't cost too much (on a lotus? am i kidding?) will check out the price at a local holden parts place and let you know how much it costs... also, are you based in australia?
Reeves: a 10hr drive in the esprit up to QLD? now that would be GREAT!... will keep a look out for your posted details about the Lotus 2003 event... track day also? hmmmm, may have to just watch that, i'm guessing i'm probably not the most popular person at the moment with my insurance company and the last thing they would let me go on would be a track day! oh well.... as for the car, nearly there!! check out the new photos ("about time anthony!" i hear you cry!):
www.users.bigpond.com/anthony_lai/S4R.htm
as you can see, it's nearly there, only about a week to go (yeah, they say that every time...)
as for the blue esprit in Double Bay, havent seen that one and dont know who owns it... actually Reeves, you have to meet this mate of mine, he just bought one of the new SL500s (merc), he is a true car fanatic! he also has a 360 mondena and is getting an Enzo soon as well (though he is having trouble as apparently they are a bit hard to get)...
Andre: bringing the car over from Perth? now that is the kind of dedication that makes other lotus owners proud!
rgds,
anthony
thanks for the speedy replies!
the door handle is fine, the "looseness" is barely noticable at all (but we all know how pedantic esprit owners are about their cars!
hehe..) Roy: thanks for the info! spot on there, the service notes have great diagrams for the doors, only they have everything EXCEPT the outside door handles! d'oh! murphy's law i guess.... thanks for the offer to send the PDFs, but no need as i have the service notes...
Dindo: hmmm, spring retainer problem eh? will have a look see one w/end to see if i can just fix myself... though knowing me, i will prob just go the lazy man's option and change the whole thing as Reeves mentiond that the Holden Astra has the same door handles... yeah prob change it if it doesn't cost too much (on a lotus? am i kidding?) will check out the price at a local holden parts place and let you know how much it costs... also, are you based in australia?
Reeves: a 10hr drive in the esprit up to QLD? now that would be GREAT!... will keep a look out for your posted details about the Lotus 2003 event... track day also? hmmmm, may have to just watch that, i'm guessing i'm probably not the most popular person at the moment with my insurance company and the last thing they would let me go on would be a track day! oh well.... as for the car, nearly there!! check out the new photos ("about time anthony!" i hear you cry!):
www.users.bigpond.com/anthony_lai/S4R.htm
as you can see, it's nearly there, only about a week to go (yeah, they say that every time...)
as for the blue esprit in Double Bay, havent seen that one and dont know who owns it... actually Reeves, you have to meet this mate of mine, he just bought one of the new SL500s (merc), he is a true car fanatic! he also has a 360 mondena and is getting an Enzo soon as well (though he is having trouble as apparently they are a bit hard to get)...
Andre: bringing the car over from Perth? now that is the kind of dedication that makes other lotus owners proud!
rgds,
anthony
Hi Anthony,
I am in Ventura, CA. The play is there because there is no longer any tension. So the only thing that is giving resistance is the rod that secures the handle to the latch. When the spring breaks, you get that play. I noticed this when one day I opened my door and the handle slipped from my hand. Something sounded like it broke, but I did not pay any attention to this. Until I closed the door and the handle made that clunky loose sound. About a month later, I opened the door and that the rod was out of adjustment. I tightened it and now there was no play at all. However, this was funny, the play is there so that the latch can open. I locked my door when I was drivng and when I wanted to get out, I couldn't. The locking mechanism did not allow this because there was no longer enough movement. Heh Heh. Well, I loosened it and all is fine again, but I still have not fixed the spring. Oh well!
Cheers,
Dindo
I am in Ventura, CA. The play is there because there is no longer any tension. So the only thing that is giving resistance is the rod that secures the handle to the latch. When the spring breaks, you get that play. I noticed this when one day I opened my door and the handle slipped from my hand. Something sounded like it broke, but I did not pay any attention to this. Until I closed the door and the handle made that clunky loose sound. About a month later, I opened the door and that the rod was out of adjustment. I tightened it and now there was no play at all. However, this was funny, the play is there so that the latch can open. I locked my door when I was drivng and when I wanted to get out, I couldn't. The locking mechanism did not allow this because there was no longer enough movement. Heh Heh. Well, I loosened it and all is fine again, but I still have not fixed the spring. Oh well!
Cheers,
Dindo
Thanks for that - it will be fun.
We found a buyer for my wifes Mondial 3.2 so we are looking for a nice S4 or an Elan M100 S2. Mind you we have been looking for over a year... If we find one of either by then, we;ll bring both cars over.
We found a really nice Elan S2 in Melb, with only 6,000km, but the guy wants $70k for it!!!! We would just feel ripped off if we would buy that.
We found a buyer for my wifes Mondial 3.2 so we are looking for a nice S4 or an Elan M100 S2. Mind you we have been looking for over a year... If we find one of either by then, we;ll bring both cars over.
We found a really nice Elan S2 in Melb, with only 6,000km, but the guy wants $70k for it!!!! We would just feel ripped off if we would buy that.
Andre,
A nice black S4 has been for sale for a few weeks at Modena Concessionaires, Crown St Sydney: (02) 9360 1155
I drive past this shop most days.... maserati spyders.... mmmmm..... S4 is good too- Black, Linen interior- around $68K I think.... was thinkin of trading my SE- my wife of 5 weeks is rather petite (actually moves the seat FORWARD to drive the SE...) and could use the power steering... (she finds driving our M roadster much easier
)
A nice black S4 has been for sale for a few weeks at Modena Concessionaires, Crown St Sydney: (02) 9360 1155
I drive past this shop most days.... maserati spyders.... mmmmm..... S4 is good too- Black, Linen interior- around $68K I think.... was thinkin of trading my SE- my wife of 5 weeks is rather petite (actually moves the seat FORWARD to drive the SE...) and could use the power steering... (she finds driving our M roadster much easier
)That price is not bad, but we want leather interior and we can't have a black one because my S4s is black, so then people might think that she is just driving my car
She had no trouble driving my Series 5 Esprit, but she can't drive the S4s as she is very petite as well, and she can't reach the pedals in this one. We would have to adjust the pedals for her in the new car as the S4/S4s has a larger cabin.
In the past we missed out on a white S4 for only $55k! Car was good too (1 owner, etc), but it sold by the time we got to it.
She had no trouble driving my Series 5 Esprit, but she can't drive the S4s as she is very petite as well, and she can't reach the pedals in this one. We would have to adjust the pedals for her in the new car as the S4/S4s has a larger cabin.
In the past we missed out on a white S4 for only $55k! Car was good too (1 owner, etc), but it sold by the time we got to it.
Andre,
I think I saw that white one- was on the online version of trading post, a few months ago; however, if its the same one, it was a Series 4 as a opposed to an s4.
Your wife must be very petite- mine has to have the seat so close to thedash to reach pedals, she barely gets out of the car with the interference from the steering wheel
>> Edited by sydneyse on Sunday 24th November 22:30
I think I saw that white one- was on the online version of trading post, a few months ago; however, if its the same one, it was a Series 4 as a opposed to an s4.
Your wife must be very petite- mine has to have the seat so close to thedash to reach pedals, she barely gets out of the car with the interference from the steering wheel
>> Edited by sydneyse on Sunday 24th November 22:30
The one you are talking about is still fo sale. I know the car, the owner and who worked on it.
I really don't agree with what he is doing - the car is a '88 Turbo. It runs rough and when you see it the first thing you think is that the interior has to be replaced - it's dirty, stinky and ripped. That car was for sale for a long time at Lorbek in Melb, then it went to Perth Prestige Motors who sold it to Audi of Perth who finally sold it to this guy.
The thing is this guy is trying to sell it as a 1991 (only because it was registered then) and he's advertising it as the current shape (it's not) and in mint condition (it's NOT!). Oh, and before I forget, now it's listed for $69k at a dealer where it's on consigment! I guess some people have no shame.
The car we missed out on was a 1994 S4, white with navy leather - one owner with books. It was owned by one of the Perth Glory managers or something like that.
I really don't agree with what he is doing - the car is a '88 Turbo. It runs rough and when you see it the first thing you think is that the interior has to be replaced - it's dirty, stinky and ripped. That car was for sale for a long time at Lorbek in Melb, then it went to Perth Prestige Motors who sold it to Audi of Perth who finally sold it to this guy.
The thing is this guy is trying to sell it as a 1991 (only because it was registered then) and he's advertising it as the current shape (it's not) and in mint condition (it's NOT!). Oh, and before I forget, now it's listed for $69k at a dealer where it's on consigment! I guess some people have no shame.
The car we missed out on was a 1994 S4, white with navy leather - one owner with books. It was owned by one of the Perth Glory managers or something like that.
Andre,
That makes sense- I saw the side skirts of the rough white car; scalloped- looked like an 88/series 4- could not understand how the guy said it was a 91!
Actually a similar thing happened to me when buying my SE- was advertised as a 96 (first reg in Australia) for $78k... went on consignment at a dealer for $69K... I ended up paying $55K... but then there were the repairs..... it seems that everytime the car was supposedly at the mechanics.. not all the work claimed was performed... car runs great now!
That makes sense- I saw the side skirts of the rough white car; scalloped- looked like an 88/series 4- could not understand how the guy said it was a 91!
Actually a similar thing happened to me when buying my SE- was advertised as a 96 (first reg in Australia) for $78k... went on consignment at a dealer for $69K... I ended up paying $55K... but then there were the repairs..... it seems that everytime the car was supposedly at the mechanics.. not all the work claimed was performed... car runs great now!
That white one is for sale on carpoint. It's listed as a Series 6 now for $52k.
I know what you mean about repairs. My S4s was a one owner with full books, history. Bought it from the dealer that sold it new. Still spent $10k after I bought it, bringing it up to scratch. It's a dream now though
Taking it up to the track on Tuesday, showing the Ferraris and Lambos who's boss, like usual
I know what you mean about repairs. My S4s was a one owner with full books, history. Bought it from the dealer that sold it new. Still spent $10k after I bought it, bringing it up to scratch. It's a dream now though
Taking it up to the track on Tuesday, showing the Ferraris and Lambos who's boss, like usual
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