A1EK

Hi All

I noticed the other day that when I went to open the passenger door, I just touched the handle and it unlocked, however on my drivers door I have to pull it slightly first. I know they get worn out, however is there any advise to remove and check the connection inside the handle?

Second question is can someone remind what the little rubber buttons are on the handle, I press them but do not see anything happen?

Lastly is the remote window / close function with the remote, I understand that you are suppose to press and continue pressing and pointing the fob at the little sensor on the door handle, however for me nothing happens. PS. are you also able to lower the roof in the fashion?

Thanks

Rudeney

There were two style door handles - one that was touch sensitive, the other had a small pad in the handle that required pressure to activate. It sounds like maybe someone upgraded your driver's side to the touch style. The buttons on the handles are to lock the car. They often get dirty inside and stop working. You may be able to press in on the button and "manipulate" it to get it working again. The IR sensor in the door handle is for opening and closing via the Smartkey fob. it has to be pretty close (2 feet or less) and aimed exactly, and you have to hold down the lock (to close) or unlock (to open) button during the whole process. Unfortunately, the IR sensors in the door handle tend to fail. My advice would be to get a SmartTop module which makes this a double or triple-tap function and uses the RF interface which is more reliable. It also has other neat features like one touch of the top controller button to open or close, and the ability to operate the top while driving (low speeds - like 25mph)

A1EK

Thanks Rudeney.

Both door handles are the same and do not have any small pads to squeeze just smooth, The passenger side unlocks by touching, on the drivers side however you you have to pull the handle slightly then it unlocks, you cannot just touch it to unlock.

The rubber square outer buttons I noticed were loose and I could pull them back to see the microswitch button inside, so probably water is ingressed which may have also stopped the infra-red sensor working too. I know how they should work from previous Mercedes, so perhaps I will strip the handles down and check them, buy new, or as you said get a SmartTop module.

Thanks
A1EK

Rudeney

It's strange that you have to pull the passenger handle because if it's capactive touch sensitive, movement should not matter. Then again, if there is a loose wire in the handle, ulling it may be causing it to make contact, so that could be the issue. Here's a thread about the IR sensors:

https://www.benzworld.org/forums/w20...placement.html

I did this on the C240 and CLK550 and it worked well, except the C240 quit again after a few months. I think it's not always the soldering, but the sensor itself can go bad.

A1EK

Good advice thanks.

Gut feeling is that the water ingress has caused the PCB or connections to go bad, as I noticed some verdigris on the micro-switch behind the rubber button. I will strip down and see if its repairable.

Reading the user guide, I think pulling the handle with the key in your pocket triggers the doors to unlock.

Thanks
Alex

eddieo45

Have you tried just giving a gentle stroke to the inside of the handle? I notice the same thing when I open the passenger door for my wife (with my right hand) it opens right away, but when I drive alone and open the driver's door (with my left hand) it seems to take two pulls. Today I was just slower and more deliberate with my touch - again, a stroke of the inside of the handle - and that unlocked it.

Rudeney

Sometimes try to grab and pull the handle too quickly. I've had to learn to just slow down slightly to give KeylessGO time to react to the touch sensor. BTW, with KeylessGO, the door locks use both a pneumatic and electrical actuation. Normally, it uses the pneumatic system to lock and unlock so it's silent, but that would be too slow for KeylessGO, so it uses an electrical servo to quickly unlock the door.

A1EK

Just an update, I took the handle off, fairly easy, ( more tricky to put back), and I was hoping to be able to open the sensor part, however it's bonded together. I will live with having to pull the handle gently just now (yeah I know, 1st world problems!), Then will replace when I get bored☺️

eddieo45

so, have you confirmed that the door doe not unlock when you simply grip the handle without pulling?

A1EK

If I touch (not pull) the passenger side it unlocks. I have to pull the drivers side for the door to unlock, however for the first time ever today for a couple of times I just touched the drivers side and it unlocked without pulling it ! It unlocks by the 'motor' as you can hear the mechanical clunk, (same as the working passenger side).