I bought a 2008 350Z in January of this year. After a few months, the driver's door handle would no longer open. I'd have to hold the unlock button on the remote and open the door from the inside. I bought a replacement door handle on eBay in like March and replaced it and it worked fine. Now it's broken again. I know this is a common problem with these handles because the inside mechanism is plastic, but come on. How do I go through two handles in six months?

Anybody else have problems with this? The door handles are like $70 online and I don't want to be buying one every three months.

 

Something is wrong with the way you are installing the door handle replacement. If the latch keeps breaking, it's because the tolerances are off or not put together properly. Nissan puts these things together with precision, so if they keep breaking, you're doing something wrong.

 

for the 3 years i had mine z, i never broke one. then again, i opened them, and didnt let the handle go to slam back..

maybe you should reevaluate how you are opening the door

 

There are lots of common issues with our cars...but this isn't one of them. If you're through TWO when some of the guys on here have been running over a decade without the issue, it must be an operator error.

 

The first handle that broke was the one that came on the car when I bought it. The second handle that broke was a used one I bought on ebay. I'm very careful with it. I noticed right before this handle stopped working that I had to pull it from the bottom or it wouldn't open. It felt like pulling it from the top of the handle didn't give me any leverage with the plunger thing on the inside.

Maybe possible the plunger isn't positioned correctly in the door? I remember it being a pain to take it off and I'm not excited about taking the handle off just to inspect it.

 

The handle is connected by two cords if I remember from taking off my door panels. Take off your door panels (10mm deep socket and phillips) and make sure it's connected right on the top (opposite side of the door from the handle.) If it was loose/disconnected/rubbed off on the top and you replaced it from the bottom without addressing a top issue that could cause another.

Taking the handle off is, unfortunately, the last part of removing the door panel. I know you're not thrilled about doing it, but it's a good excuse to check things out, requires very little tools, can be done alone, is a good time to clean and makes you more familiar with your car. Before I started getting actual mechanical knowledge I tore the interior of my first Z up and around just to find out the intricates.

When you get the door panel off check the two cords. Have someone else hold the handle (it will swing wildly, make SURE you don't slam the door on it or you could be in for even more trouble) while you hold the cords. Have them open the handle. Both cords should pull equally, you might be able to see from behind the handle.

After that if you didn't find the problem trace them to the top where they connect and ensure there aren't issues. I can't say for sure what you'll find but it should be common sense. I'm fairly certain I've repeated myself a lot. It's too late, I have to work tomorrow why the hell am I still here? Night, good luck.

EDIT - might be 12mm, I forget. Bring both.
EDIT EDIT - after i hit submit I realized that's just the passenger side. Ignore that, you just need a phillips.

 

I is confused.

WHICH door handle? Inside/Outside?

I've replaced my inside handle once and the exterior one once (in last few mos.). Which one is it that keeps breaking? Sounds like you're talking about the exterior handle with the curvy rod/plunger you mentioned. It shouldn't be a big deal to take it off to inspect (if it's the exterior).... it's two 10mm nuts.

Either way, you DID say you bought a USED handle so..... uhhhh......

 

Still on my original ones from 03, I have to say your doing something wrong

 

I've had to replace the outside driver door handle once on my 04 and the car has 119k miles.

 

i never had an inside handle break

i have replaced 4 or 5 outside handles , but that is due to my music

if your issue is an outside handle , be sure not to over tighten the fasteners upon installation

i am not certain if you speaking of in or out, and the handle broken or the mechanism breaking

 

You didn't read the FSM warning about putting 10" subs in the doors?

Laff..... but dayam..... music shakin' the handles off. I'd put that car into a sound system bass-off competition. Hahahaha.

 

My stereo has never broken the door handle.... I got 3rd place in my class at world finals.

 

Awesome , congrats, with the power your running you won't be breaking them.

 

This would be savage af if he wasn't talking about his audio system.

 

Stop man handling with them meaty hands... Lol never had a problem with the door handles. 4 years of ownership. Don't buy used ebay parts. Lesson learned. For real, this is not a common problem. You're doing something wrong.

 

They're actually made from cheap plastic so I understand how it broke the first time, you just have to be really careful with it, not slamming it closed is a big thing. I had to replace mine right when I got it due to the previous owner.

 

I think slamming it closed was probably the issue. My driveway is on a slight slant, and the way I always pull in leaves my driver's side slightly more elevated than the passenger's side, and my door always slams shut. I won't let it do that anymore.

I took the handle apart last night and couldn't find any issues. Pushing on the plunger with a screwdriver opens the door. For some reason the little arm thing inside the handle isn't mustering up enough strength to fully depress the plunger. Since I can't see inside the door when the handle is on, I just have to assume it's broken again.

I ordered a brand new handle from Courtesy Parts this time. Not going the used route again. I'll be more careful with this one and hope not to break it. I can't afford to buy a $120 handle every few months because I close the door too hard.

 

I found this thread with search. My driver side outside handle stopped working, while the inside one is ok. It's an 05 touring with 36k miles, with no door slamming history. Any further hints or suggestions to fix it?

 

replace handle

 

Dayam Trav, you on dat shid today! Same minute posted.