Difficult to open door easy fix

[65Tuxedo]

Just got my 2006 XLR. Passenger door difficult to get open. Watched video on Corvette C6 site.
2 screws to remove pad. 6 screws to open. Clean with emery and reinstall. Took less than 10 minutes and works like new. Easy fix to a repeated daily irritation.

 

[airmike]

Can you describe difficult to open?

 

[65Tuxedo]

When I tried to use my fingers to press the pad to pop the door open it took several attempts. I would have to move my fingers around and apply significant pressure to get the door to pop. Now it opens easily.

 

[airmike]

Thanks 65 tuxedo

 

[mccluskd]

Actually my drivers side is doing the same. You don't have a link for the video do you? Searching over there on that site isn't awesome.

 

[65Tuxedo]

I stumbled onto the thread and I would not recommend it. I could repair both of your doors and drink a beer before you could watch the entire video!

It is really simple. Just remove the two phillips screws and pull the little unit out from the door.
Raise the little clip on the electrical connection and separate it. I took the unit into the house so I would not
lose the little screws on the back. Use a tiny phillips and remove those six screws and the rubber pad will be released.
You will see the copper connectors. I cleaned mine with emery cloth but a wire brush or anything
mildly abrasive would work. I made the contact points shiny and put it back together.
If you have the emery cloth or brush ready, the entire repair will take only a couple of minutes.
I could do one in the time I have taken to write
this. It's very easy. Also, A new one is just $12 or so on Ebay.
Then it would just be two screws and the connection.
I ordered a pair, but I probably won't use them right away.

Good luck!

 

[lextoy]

can you describe how a good functioning door switch works.
when i touch mine it takes a second to drop the window and unlatch the door.
if i pull too fast the door doesnt open. i think its the latch not opened yet.
i know to wait a sec and then pull the door open.
i do not have to press hard on the switch, or move around.
it just seems to be a split second slow.
is that how they all are?
i know to go slow, but all my passengers, seem to take two tries to open the door.

 

[SJP]

I have had the same experience, I have no problem opening the door but passengers seem to have to try a couple of times. Which irks me when I see the expression on their face

 

[ccclarke]

There's a slight delay between pushing the exterior/interior door switch and the time the door latch disengages to allow the widow to index.

CC

 

[lextoy]

i think its just the electronic door opening is a split second slower than a manual latch would be, plus it has to drop the window.
its a high tech gadget type setup, cool idea, but real world execution actually worse than a simple manual lever.
the only part that makes it really necessary is the window drop.
could have been engineered out. but they engineered it in on purpose for the cool factor of electronic door handles!
with all the battery issues, and having to manually open from the trunk etc
manual door handles would have been soooooo much better.
hindsight is 20/20
KISS principle should always be applied to any problem. engineers dont usually remember this when designing things.

 

[XLRATING]

i think its just the electronic door opening is a split second slower than a manual latch would be, plus it has to drop the window.
its a high tech gadget type setup, cool idea, but real world execution actually worse than a simple manual lever.
the only part that makes it really necessary is the window drop.
could have been engineered out. but they engineered it in on purpose for the cool factor of electronic door handles!
with all the battery issues, and having to manually open from the trunk etc
manual door handles would have been soooooo much better.
hindsight is 20/20
KISS principle should always be applied to any problem. engineers dont usually remember this when designing things.

They actually got it much better later - my 2013 CTS coupe is almost instantaneous on the window indexing on opening & closing, & the door pad is much more responsive.

Our 2008 Mustang, which has completely manual door handles, also has window indexing, & it has the same lag time as the XLR's. My understanding is that the indexing is needed to account for tighter window fit-in (I know that's not the right term but you get the point) for aerodynamic purposes. I'm sure there are others on here who know this much better than me & can give a better explanation. Based on the Mustang I don't think indexing is related to electronic door handles.

 

[ccclarke]

Timely thread; I've been trying to help someone with a related problem.

The XLR's windows have two built-in functions that are controlled by their respective door modules: Normalization and Indexing. Normalization is the process of calibrating the window position when a door latch button is depressed. The upper-most window position is called the Zero Position. All calibration is derived from the Zero Position. The Zero Position is determined by one of two things - the Anti-Trap location (if something blocks the window from raising and an over-current condition is detected) or the window position switch is held for greater than half a second when it's raised to it's highest position. If the Anti-Trap feature is enabled, that location becomes the new Zero Position.

Indexing occurs when a door switch is activated. The window glass should drop about 4 mm until the door position switch is depressed, and will raise again after the door position switch indicates the door is not ajar/open. The whole point of Indexing is to effect a watertight and acoustic seal between the window and roof. There's a slight delay for the door latch to open as the sensors communicate via the Class 2 bus with the door module to determine where everything is. Occasionally, I have to prod the door switch pad a few times to get it to open, but the system works pretty well for what it is. This was a pretty cool feature when it first came out.

CC

 

[XLRATING]

See, I knew someone on here could do a better job explaining than me - Thanks CC!

 

[Crimson Pearl]

There is some great information in John McCormicks book Cadillac XLR explaining the process and how they had to work to "speed up" the process.

Everyone should read this book. It really helps you understand the car much better.

 

[blanketdude]

I have had the same experience, I have no problem opening the door but passengers seem to have to try a couple of times. Which irks me when I see the expression on their face

I fixed this myself and I am not very mechanically adept. Just watch the video at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr>v=wCTu-mQUSMQ

If you don't want to do that, buy one for $13.00 on ebay. Just watch the video for how to replace it without cleaning the old one and just replace the module with the new part.

05 13 C6 Corvette 04 09 XLR New GM Updated Door Latch Release Switch 22751230 | eBay

Both doors honestly took me less than 30 minutes utilizing my Dremel. My doors were barely opening and now they open with ease.

 

[pure zen]

Thanks,,

blanketdude,,,, Thank you for providing the links. I'm not currently having any difficulty but may need to see it done before actually doing the job.

p z

 

[BusaMan]

The Price of "Fly by Wire"

There are quite a few "fly-by-wire" (FBW) functions on the XLR. One can think of the door-open switch as sending a REQUEST to have the CAR open the door. If all the stars are aligned, and the car's in a good mood, it'll comply. If not, it's time for plan "B" (which might even involve getting the physical key into the action). Other FBW actions that come to mind involve the throttle, the top up/down, the trunk switch, traction control, StabiliTrac, ABS, even the steering (as I'm led to believe), and many more. There really isn't much direct physical control of the XLR by the driver. We just let our intentions be known to the car, and it'll do the right things to comply as best it can within the operating parameters of the vehicle. If we ever have an EMP attack, our cars will be expensive paperweights.

Now, my '64 'Vette is a different matter. NO COMPUTERS!!! EMP away!!! I'll still be running around when all the new cars are dead on the road... until I run out of gas, then I'll also be "hosed".

Then, it'll be getting on the bicycle and using that to get places.

Tim

 

[xlrlist01]

I fixed this myself and I am not very mechanically adept. Just watch the video at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr>v=wCTu-mQUSMQ

If you don't want to do that, buy one for $13.00 on ebay. Just watch the video for how to replace it without cleaning the old one and just replace the module with the new part.

05 13 C6 Corvette 04 09 XLR New GM Updated Door Latch Release Switch 22751230 | eBay

Both doors honestly took me less than 30 minutes utilizing my Dremel. My doors were barely opening and now they open with ease.

This is easier to do than describe, but if that door release pad is being difficult, try 'dragging' the pad slightly as you press it. There is enough give in the rubber to allow slight movement horizontally. The problem is usually that the contacts are not clean enough and can be improved by this method.

 

[boydavid]

Thank you!

Just bought 2007 XLR yesterday. After some trouble getting door to open I found this site and post. Cleaned finger pad connectors in 5 min. just like you described. Thank you!

I stumbled onto the thread and I would not recommend it. I could repair both of your doors and drink a beer before you could watch the entire video!

It is really simple. Just remove the two phillips screws and pull the little unit out from the door.
Raise the little clip on the electrical connection and separate it. I took the unit into the house so I would not
lose the little screws on the back. Use a tiny phillips and remove those six screws and the rubber pad will be released.
You will see the copper connectors. I cleaned mine with emery cloth but a wire brush or anything
mildly abrasive would work. I made the contact points shiny and put it back together.
If you have the emery cloth or brush ready, the entire repair will take only a couple of minutes.
I could do one in the time I have taken to write
this. It's very easy. Also, A new one is just $12 or so on Ebay.
Then it would just be two screws and the connection.
I ordered a pair, but I probably won't use them right away.

Good luck!

 

[ccclarke]

Welcome!

Since you're new, the best place to start a technical post is in . . . the Technical Section! (It helps others quickly find relevant posts.)

Here's a link with more detail for your issue: https://www.xlr-net.com/forums/cadi...r-intermittent-and-dead-door-switch-pads.html

CC