Friction with plastic can build or release a static charge, but typically is a poor conductor. Ever slid down a plastic slide when you were a little kit and it made your hair stand up?

 

Looks aluminum to me. You will have to sand it to prep it, regardless... That should give you a fair indication.

 

Nissan states that the door handles are made of composite resin. Which is not the kind of plastic your thinking of, but it's in the same arena.

 

Heck, "composite resin," "engineering plastics," whatever... plastic is still plastic (and altogether well suited for a use such as this). The metal plating is still "metal" and, as such, is a great conductor of electricity. It's a metal plating over a plastic molding... should make everybody happy!

Shocking, huh?

 

I think the confusion is the difference between interior and exterior handles.

Exterior: plastic.
Interior: Metal. 2005 interior door handles have a clearcoat on top of the metal.

 

Who cares what its made of. I just think it looks unique.

 

I still think someone should put a lighter or aim-N-flame on them to be sure.

Take before and after pics.

 

Guys , there is no need to destroy the handle to determine if it is metal. I do not know if it is some type of composite material, but there is indeed a significant amount of metal in the handle. How do I know? Placed the probes of an ohm meter on the handle an received an indication of a closed circuit with a minimal resistance. Plastic does not conduct, but metal does. Therefore, unequivically, the handle has a significant metal content.

 

OK... everybody is not paying attention! The metal plating (over the plastic) is conductive! How do you think printed circuit boards work?

 

Magic!!

 

Dang... You're right !

And I thought that I was the only one who knew...

 

OK! now Iam saying they are plastic with a metal composite plating. I too just did a continuity test and they are conductive.. but they sure had me fooled (I `am refering to the out side handles) I `am pretyy sure the inner handles are plastic..

 

Plastic is an insulator - aluminum is an excellent conductor of electricity - an ohm meter ought to prove one way or another.

0 ohms resistance on the 1X scale so the outside is at least aluminum.

Scraping my thumbnail across the handles it does sound like plastic so I vote for aluminum covered resin.

 

Going to the garage right now and putting the dremel on the handle, I'll be right back!



My vote is for aluminum, it seems other aluminum accents throughout the car are real. But, wouldn't that be cost prohibitive?

 

this is a hilarious thread...

i side on the aluminum.... the dealer dented my handle... i noticed it and touched it. it was definitely not plastic to me....

they replaced it for me.

 

I bet all you guys look pretty goofy doing "continuity tests" on forkin door handles!

Edit: Oh, and by the way, my vote is for metal.

 

I don't care what they are, but mine is scratched and I'm really pissed off about it.

 

This has been a very useless thread but it has been a blast. WILL THAT BE PAPER OR PLASTIC SIR? Plastic!

 

they're plastic

someone called up nissan

composite plastic

end of story....

 

Alum conducts electricity. Someone get a voltmeter and battery.