Passenger Door "sticking"

Mud Pie · 09-22-2009, 06:53 PM

Did a search, but never came up with anything....

This morning my exterior passenger door handle has to be pulled twice for the door to open. It only happens after I unlock the door. When I got home, I shot a little lube on the mechanism, with no results.

Anyone else have this problem and what was the fix ?

Trying to avoid a day at the dealers.....

smartSEATTLE · 09-23-2009, 09:06 AM

How does the inside door handle feel? Can you feel tension from the cable on the outside door handle?

The exterior door handle is very easy to remove two T27 screws on the inside edge of the door and the entire handle comes off.

I have never had an issue with the exterior handles.

Mud Pie · 09-23-2009, 10:40 AM

I'm sitting at the dealer right now, I'll let everyone know what they found...

Mud Pie · 09-23-2009, 03:31 PM

Well, it only took one hour but they fixed it.

Or so I was told.

When I locked then unlocked the door, it took 2 pulls of the handle to open to door.

Unfortunately, I was already back at work. I went there during lunch (it's a good thing to have 2 dealers in town, and I work by both of them !!), so looks like I go back again tomorrow....

I don't think the mechanic knew exactly what the problem was. If the doors were unlocked, it only takes one pull. If the doors are locked, then I unlock them, it then takes two pulls. Any door openings after that takes only one pull. I explained it to the service tech, he tried it, confirmed it and wrote up the service order.

The mechanic said it only needed a little lube.

They were busy, I was running late, but I should've stayed there and tried it a few times.

Oh well. At least the service center is really plush (spoiled Mercedes owners....

) and has free wi-fi so I got a little work done (and free coffee, water, etc.).

Mud Pie · 10-22-2009, 05:28 AM

Update-

The day after I posted last, my door started working properly, one pull every time for the door to open. I guess it took a while for the lube to "sink in".....

Yesterday I got a call from Richard with smartcenter North (the dealer from which I purchased), saying he was going through old service orders and saw my ticket. He said he had ordered a new passenger lockset for me, to come on by at my earliest convenience and they'll install it.

I told him that the door was working fine, he said, "It'll happen again, let's get it replaced while it doesn't cost you anything. I have the parts here with your name on them."

Now THAT is service !! A call a month later without me saying a word ?

When I owned my PT and had warranty work done, it took involving the service tech, manager, general manager AND a letter/phone call to Chrysler Corporate for approval.

Yep, glad I bought a smart and a big thumbs up to my dealer !!

sato7 · 10-22-2009, 05:46 AM

Mud Pie... THEY are getting payed by SmartUSA to work on your car while IN warranty... so it really was not "you" they were looking after. If they did not do the work they would not be payed for the potentially 2 hours of billiable time they "work" on your little car.

Mud Pie · 11-12-2009, 05:45 AM

Brought it by the dealer yesterday to have the lockset replaced. They also replaced the drivers side signal by the door; there was condensate under the lens.

They fixed my car, washed it (even cleaned the brake dust off the front rims) and had it back to me in less than 2 hours. It didn't seem long because the waiting area has 2 large LCD televisions, an internet lounge, many leather chairs, free drinks. But I spent most of my time talking to an elderly german couple (whom spoke german to each other, but perfect english to me). She asked me what model Mercedes I had, when I told her I have a smart, she looked confused.

I said, "one of those tiny cars", she just smiled and said, "Oh. Zey are cute. But, too small".

I smiled when she began reading the closed captioning on the TV shows to her husband, the volume wasn't too loud and he couldn't see the text. My wife called and I repeated the loving gesture the old lady was doing and asked if she would do that for me when we get older. She just said, "Don't leave your glasses at home."

Sunspot · 11-13-2009, 03:11 AM

Mud Pie - that is great service! And its great to see that in this day-and-age. To get things done with my old Solstice required pulling of some teeth and it still didn't get done.

sato7, of course they get paid by SmartUSA but do you think the individual people really care where the money is coming from? It sounds to me there is actually true pride and professionalism going on over there - the ethical "care" factor. They did something they didn't have to do, but did it anyway...maybe the motive was that people will come back, or tell their friends and forum buddies, who will bring in business.

Rich