Superb mk3 Passenger door handle again.

[Scudddboy]

Hi

When I bought my 2016 Superb  I knew it had a passenger front door handle issue because it pulled out too far when I went to open the door! So after buying the car I knew I had to tackle the problem.

I looked at uTube vids to check how to put the handle back in.

Pulling the end cap on the backplate with a hook, seemed straight forwards enough. The handle would work OK for a while and then one day it came out again.

This happened several times and I realised the backplate needed replacing as some glue could be seen from a previous repair. So I got the new plastic backplate (£23), fitted it and all seemed well again.....for a while. Then one day while washing the car, it pulled once more. I left it like that till a DSG oil service at Heritage Skoda in Bristol. They popped it back in and quoted me to properly fix the problem, £426 for a new KESSY handle, to paint it and fit it!

Too much for a door handle that doesn't get used much. So today I took the handle off and mated it to my old backplate to see what the issue really was.

All it seemed to be was that the "hook" that connects with the cable pull on the backplate sometimes worked and sometimes it didn't depending on how you pulled the handle. Pulling left seemed better than  a 'straight' pull.

There are mm in it between the hook of the handle "grabbing" the spring latch in the backplate and slipping off causing the handle to pop out. The end cap also showed some wear. Plastic on plastic with no lubrication.

So my solution...

Was to put the hook end of the handle into a bowl of boiling water.

At the same time applying pressure to bend it in the hook direction. Finally cooling it in cold water.

After several goes the hook has moved several mm left , so it now contacts the spring latch perfectly.

I will order a new end cap to ensure the hook stays close to the spring latch through out operation of the handle. Cheaper than £426!!!

 

So if anyone else has this issue, try this first. Take the handle out and perform the above. Will take less than an hour and will solve your problem without spending shed fulls of dosh!

I am still at a loss as to why the drivers side rarely seems to get this problem especially when it gets used so often.

 

Maybe it's  because most people are right handed... this suits the design of the drivers door. This doesn't work so well on the pax door. Maybe always opening pax door with left hand would reduce the problem...hey ho!

 

Edited 5 February, 2021 by john999boy
Photos added in a more viewer friendly way.

[ukgnome]

I think the driver door may not be affected as it has a metal key lock built into it, so probably slightly different alignment.

 

You mention ordering a new end cap, which part is that ?

[Scudddboy]

After bending the handle end catch in hot water and cooling it, the door handle has been absolutely fine. So I didn't need to buy the end cap. When you pull off the end cap, it's side profile is of varying thickness which mates up with the door handle and 'presses against it". Only if it looks worn would you need to replace it. 

[ukgnome]

mine does look worn, will take a photo next time I have it removed, I was wondering if a thickish layer of gorilla glue or similar would work, or maybe a piece of thread glued along where it is worn.

 

Anyone know if the back piece from the back door can be swapped over with the front door.

[Scudddboy]

A new backplate for the passenger front door is only £23  so it's not worth faffing around changing back for front.

If a new backplate is purchased and door handle heated and cooled to change the end hook shape, it should work as normal.

[Scudddboy]

Sorry  may have got confused here...if you meant "handle end cap'

with its worn ridges, then yes I did stick a piece of plastic on mine to force the handle hook it self to always "push' towards front of car  thereby ensuring hook always connected with back plste

20210205_172247.heic

[Leecey1]

Just registered on here as having exactly the same problem with my passenger door handle being stuck open and appears disengaged with the release cable. I’m having real problems getting into the lock mechanism through the side of the door. Do I need a special tool to release the unit? Any help appreciated! 

[Scudddboy]

Hi

Check out a uTube video called "vw/audi door handle". It's 3.44 mins long. Shows how to get handle end cap off and how the release mechanism works on the backplate.

Best of luck.

[beaser]

Fantastic! Mine has been pulling out too far for ages. Everytime someone who doesn't have "the knack of it" gets in the car they pop the handle out.

 

Just tried this trick and reshaped the hook slightly as described. Now working perfectly! Thanks so much.

[beaser]

On 31/12/2021 at 08:09, Leecey1 said:

Just registered on here as having exactly the same problem with my passenger door handle being stuck open and appears disengaged with the release cable. I’m having real problems getting into the lock mechanism through the side of the door. Do I need a special tool to release the unit? Any help appreciated! 

As per above. I've been keeping an old screwdriver in the glove box with the end couple of mm bent to 90 degrees. Perfect for opening the catch in the door jam.

[fraz8888]

thanks for posting this, looks like i have this issue, my passenger handle is stuck and wont open. 

 

Hoping I can put it in under warranty, if not then I will be looking at this fix.

[fraz8888]

this happened whilst on hols, wont go back in, thankfully the door and lock still works, just have to reach over to let the wife into the car

 

car booked into dealer next week to see if they can fix / hopefully under warranty

 

 

Edited 14 June, 2022 by fraz8888

[beaser]

Good luck. I took it to Skoda to try under warranty. They said it wasn't covered by warranty but would replace the whole mechanism for £420!!! I said no and they then tried to bill me £120 for the examination by a "master mechanic".

 

I have permanently resolved the issue for £0 by bending the plastic hook in about 2mm by dipping it in boiling water and shaping it before it cools. 

 

 

[fraz8888]

5 minutes ago, beaser said:

Good luck. I took it to Skoda to try under warranty. They said it wasn't covered by warranty but would replace the whole mechanism for £420!!! I said no and they then tried to bill me £120 for the examination by a "master mechanic".

 

I have permanently resolved the issue for £0 by bending the plastic hook in about 2mm by dipping it in boiling water and shaping it before it cools. 

 

 

ouch

 

did you have to remove the door card to access the handle from the inside I assume?

[beaser]

No. Its really easy.

Pull the handle to remove it from the hole along with the back piece of trim. Wiggle the handle out carefully to fully remove it, it's not tricky. There is a wiring loom attached to the end of it. Take that off and the handle is free. Takes about 2 mins.

[Donc]

I had exactly the same problem.  You might need to remove a rubber cap on the edge of the door and using a bent tweaser (or something similar) hook and pull the small catch within the whole.  This releases the plastic outer cap that is holding the handle in.  The whole handle mechanism can then be removed and put back correctly.  Several YouTube videos available.  I managed it without stress, which is saying something!

[fraz8888]

thanks, looks like this video to me from your description

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDYTALYbUtc

[Donc]

That's the one.  My handle is still in good working order after DIY job.

[fraz8888]

dealer was very helpful and adjusted / fixed for free.  will see how long it lasts...

[PBOCT]

Garage (VW specialist not dealer) has inserted a bit of plastic to try and push it into position. Working for now. No charge but said the replacement would be in the £100s. I’m putting the kettle on ready!

[passatman62]

So this is what I did to mine, glued in a strip of plastic to the backplate. This moves the handle slightly forward allowing the hook to grip again. Been 6 months with No issues and helped a few people who did the same on a facebook forum.

 

[freezin]

I've had this EXACT problem.

First occurred the day I picked it up my 66 plate.

The car was less than 2 years old at the time. It's happened another 3 or 4 times since.

 

Each time it's happened seems to be during hot weather, so put it down to expansion of something. 

 

Pretty sure it wouldn't get done on warranty, however my local dealer is happy to pop it back in free of charge. 

 

It's a bit irritating but I'll keep this thread in mind for the next time it happens.

 

Thanks for the info, peeps

 

 

[raveydavey]

Mine did the same.   Dealer ‘fixed’ (pushed back in!) it in about ten minutes for free (Derek Slack in Middlesbrough = they were very good).

I guess it’s just another part of the car that is seemingly made out of cheese.  I have not been that impressed with the quality and fitness-for-purpose of mine. Still miles better than my previous Seat Leon.  That was woefully bad. 

[freezin]

2 hours ago, raveydavey said:

Mine did the same.   Dealer ‘fixed’ (pushed back in!) it in about ten minutes for free (Derek Slack in Middlesbrough = they were very good).

I guess it’s just another part of the car that is seemingly made out of cheese.  I have not been that impressed with the quality and fitness-for-purpose of mine. Still miles better than my previous Seat Leon.  That was woefully bad. 

 

I took a long time to make friends with mine. 

 

It's a 66 plate L&K estate with every conceivable option (except heated steering wheel, wireless charging and spare wheel) - the lack of spare wheel really stung me last week. 

 

I've had a leak in the wheel well that took a couple of times to resolve. I've had the front sensors stop. They wanted to charge a fortune for recalibration but it rectified itself. 

I've had gremlins in the head unit. 

 

But I love the car.

[raj_makwana]

Hi all. Forum has been amazing for all the things to check on my skoda superb. Im having same issue for the handle especially in the freezing cold. Door open ok using handle but does not fully go back in. I have to push the last 2-3 mm back in. In the cold i have to deactivate autolock as when driving and autolock turns on the car door opens. Assuming its becuase the handle is ajar. Any help would be appreciated or if near leicester i can travel to have some help fix it?