Broken door handle: Any ideas on how to fix (w/ pics)?

[rmi]

Hey everyone:

The interior door handle of my 2001 2.0L gas recently broke (see pics below). I am not positive that the two are related, but my window regulator cables also got messed up. I have a regulator fix kit on its way.

Any DIY ideas for this handle? ABS cement? Epoxy? Plastic reinforcement strips? Wire?

My ears are totally open to any and all suggestions!

Thanks- Ryan

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

The handles are cheap. The door panel that is cracking next to the handle, well that is a different story. I probably have the part number somewhere. I see and hear about this all the time, My Daughter broke both in the NB I bought here. Stop slamming your doors, they close very easily if they are properly adjusted and lubricated. Can you not see two attachment screws? I think I can almost see the top one in your picture. I don't remeber exactly how they attach, I'd have to look at the spare handle I have. Or in the Bentley if it even shows it. The Bentley doesn't show it, but indicates the face piece (it is a two part assembly) needs to be remved to R&R the door panel so there must be fasteners there, that mount both the handle and the door panel to the door frame.

You can go here and find the part number yourself.
VW Parts and Accessories

Then simply Google the part number. Or p/m me and I can give you a list of 15-20 online sources. VW Dealer Parts and OEM Resellers.

MORAV

[rmi]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

The handles are cheap. The door panel that is cracking next to the handle, well that is a different story. I probably have the part number somewhere. I see and hear about this all the time, My Daughter broke both in the NB I bought here. Stop slamming your doors, they close very easily if they are properly adjusted and lubricated. Can you not see two attachment screws? I think I can almost see the top one in your picture. I don't remeber exactly how they attach, I'd have to look at the spare handle I have. Or in the Bentley if it even shows it. The Bentley doesn't show it, but indicates the face piece (it is a two part assembly) needs to be remved to R&R the door panel so there must be fasteners there, that mount both the handle and the door panel to the door frame.

You can go here and find the part number yourself.
VW Parts and Accessories

Then simply Google the part number. Or p/m me and I can give you a list of 15-20 online sources. VW Dealer Parts and OEM Resellers.

MORAV

Thanks for the advice. I looked at the link you posted, but can't figure out which part number I need:

2001 New Beetle VW Replacement Parts

That's a great website, though. I am sure I will use it in the future.

Is there not a cheap DIY fix? Zip ties?!

You are right about the screws. That entire panel was sitting on my porch when I took the photo, so there were no screws in it. I have everything gutted (and the window taped shut) and am expecting my regulator replacement parts tomorrow.

Thanks-Ryan

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by rmi

Thanks for the advice. I looked at the link you posted, but can't figure out which part number I need:

2001 New Beetle VW Replacement Parts

That's a great website, though. I am sure I will use it in the future.

Is there not a cheap DIY fix? Zip ties?!

You are right about the screws. That entire panel was sitting on my porch when I took the photo, so there were no screws in it. I have everything gutted (and the window taped shut) and am expecting my regulator replacement parts tomorrow.

Thanks-Ryan

The face piece is Position #5 in your link. I could be mistaken. I thought the one I had was the entire assembly, but looking at this diagram, it appears the back piece is apart of the door trim. I didn't replace my Daughter's, she wrecked the car, and I have it back, in the morgue, awaiting resurrection. So...

Your best bet may be to buy the face piece, and then fashion a reinforcement behind the broken piece, and simultaneously bond it and the broken pieces back together, carefully though so you can snap on the face. I'll look at your pics again, and see if I can figure a better way. The face piece is like $15.

M.

[rmi]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

The face piece is Position #5 in your link. I could be mistaken. I thought the one I had was the entire assembly, but looking at this diagram, it appears the back piece is apart of the door trim. I didn't replace my Daughter's, she wrecked the car, and I have it back, in the morgue, awaiting resurrection. So...

Your best bet may be to buy the face piece, and then fashion a reinforcement behind the broken piece, and simultaneously bond it and the broken pieces back together, carefully though so you can snap on the face. I'll look at your pics again, and see if I can figure a better way. The face piece is like $15.

M.

My face piece is still OK. What I need to figure out is how to fix the part of the handle that is attached to the door trim.....and still be able to snap the face piece back on.

Thanks- Ryan

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by rmi

My face piece is still OK. What I need to figure out is how to fix the part of the handle that is attached to the door trim.....and still be able to snap the face piece back on.

Thanks- Ryan

I had a post ready to submit last night and when I tried I began having problems with the Org server. Could not commute and the post was lost. I think I have come up with a solution. Real busy right now, will try to get back to you tonight.
p/m me a reminder if I forget.

M.

[rmi]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

I had a post ready to submit last night and when I tried I began having problems with the Org server. Could not commute and the post was lost. I think I have come up with a solution. Real busy right now, will try to get back to you tonight.
p/m me a reminder if I forget.

M.

Cool. That would be great!

Ryan

[h_2_o]

you might be able to fix that with fiberglass fairly easily. that is about the only thing i can think of strong enough to hold the pieces together

[rmi]

Originally Posted by h_2_o

you might be able to fix that with fiberglass fairly easily. that is about the only thing i can think of strong enough to hold the pieces together

Fiberglass sounds promising. Any tutorials that you can think of? My only plastic work has been trying to repair a cracked motorcycle fairing....and that went pretty poorly. I don't know a thing about using fiberglass and don't even know what kind of raw materials I would need.

I figure if I can get some sort of material to use as bracing and get some sort of glue/epoxy/cement to stick, I may have a chance.

Thanks- Ryan

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by rmi

Fiberglass sounds promising. Any tutorials that you can think of? My only plastic work has been trying to repair a cracked motorcycle fairing....and that went pretty poorly. I don't know a thing about using fiberglass and don't even know what kind of raw materials I would need.

I figure if I can get some sort of material to use as bracing and get some sort of glue/epoxy/cement to stick, I may have a chance.

Thanks- Ryan

I had considered fiberglass, and you will need to do that to reinforce the backside of the panel where IT is cracking and possibly to fuse the broken piece back together, but I have a better, permanent, solution to the handle portion of the fix. I'm too busy to get into it right now, but will get back here with a post. I believe anyone with this problem, or even concerned about theirs ultimately breaking will want to see my solution. Also need to pop the cover off one of mine to confirm it can be done as I visualize.

Stay tuned...

M.

[jbremount]

My daughter New Beetle has the exact same problem! Both doors! The previous owner used a fiberglass compound to glue the broken parts together. It did not work for long and it came apart. After we purchased the car. I fixed the drivers door by using wire. Basically, I ran wire around the big screw in the door handle, (there are two that holds the door in the car),and then snitched the two broken pieces together with the wire. Oh, I drilled holes for the wire to go into. My daughter has the car so I cannot take a picture, but you can see from your picture how one can wire the two broken pieces together. IMO, it's a shame this problem even happens. Maybe a plastic with a reinforcing metal insert should have be used in this area. Anyway, the glove box handle broke on our car and I need to figure out a way to fix this!

[rmi]

Originally Posted by jbremount

My daughter New Beetle has the exact same problem! Both doors! The previous owner used a fiberglass compound to glue the broken parts together. It did not work for long and it came apart. After we purchased the car. I fixed the drivers door by using wire. Basically, I ran wire around the big screw in the door handle, (there are two that holds the door in the car),and then snitched the two broken pieces together with the wire. Oh, I drilled holes for the wire to go into. My daughter has the car so I cannot take a picture, but you can see from your picture how one can wire the two broken pieces together. IMO, it's a shame this problem even happens. Maybe a plastic with a reinforcing metal insert should have be used in this area. Anyway, the glove box handle broke on our car and I need to figure out a way to fix this!

Thanks for the advice and sorry for the delayed response. Wire sounds interesting. I was thinking about a fix like that , but couldn't visualize what I needed to do. Have any pictures?

As luck would have it, I have been having difficulty with the window regulator and have not yet gotten to the door fix.

Ryan

[hdmike]

I fixed mine by taking a stainless steel hose clamp and cutting it so you just have the solid peice of stainless without the notches to work with. Then bend one end to form a 90 degree angle. This will go to the top where your break is. Next drill a hole big enough for the screw that held the old door handle on. You will have to grind the edges off so it will fit down in the hole where your old screw was that secured your old door handle. After you have got that fit up you will have to measure the distance to bend the stainless so that it runs right along the door handle about an inch or so. I kept it short so when I drilled my next hole at the end of the stainless for my machine screw that runs through the stainlees and the plastic door handle it would be hidden. When you install the outer cover you will have to take a dremel and grind out the plastic that goes in the hole where the stainless secures your top screw for the handle. Very strong fix instead of buying a complete door panel. In all it took about 30 minutes to fabricate. Hope this helps.

[h_2_o]

fiberglass get's a lot stronger when it has something additional to strengthen over. the crack by itself just fiber-glassed over would cause a weak spot there, however if you were able to get a piece of plastic, wood, or metal bent around the area and fiber-glassed over that it would IMHO be crazy strong. as for tutorials hit up youtube there is literally hundreds of them there.

good luck.

[jbremount]

Originally Posted by hdmike

I fixed mine by taking a stainless steel hose clamp and cutting it so you just have the solid peice of stainless without the notches to work with. Then bend one end to form a 90 degree angle. This will go to the top where your break is. Next drill a hole big enough for the screw that held the old door handle on. You will have to grind the edges off so it will fit down in the hole where your old screw was that secured your old door handle. After you have got that fit up you will have to measure the distance to bend the stainless so that it runs right along the door handle about an inch or so. I kept it short so when I drilled my next hole at the end of the stainless for my machine screw that runs through the stainlees and the plastic door handle it would be hidden. When you install the outer cover you will have to take a dremel and grind out the plastic that goes in the hole where the stainless secures your top screw for the handle. Very strong fix instead of buying a complete door panel. In all it took about 30 minutes to fabricate. Hope this helps.

This looks like a good fix. Do you have a picture?

[rmi]

Originally Posted by jbremount

This looks like a good fix. Do you have a picture?

Cheap and simple is what I like too! Unfortunately I am really a visual learner and would love a picture if you have one.

Going to hopefully finalize my regulator repair this weekend and will be left with my door handle repair!

Ryan

[hdmike]

No pic sorry...

[riverratmike]

the plastic is a joke in the new beetle. Very brittle and cheap! My wife has a 2004 and both interior door handles have broke. The passenger has completely ripped off. Am I correct but to have this replaced you'd have to purchase part of the door panel? Has anyone just come up with a simple replacement part for these door handles?

[newton27]

This was my fix, using some small chain and a solder iron to make way for chain to lay, works like steel!!

Originally Posted by rmi

Hey everyone:

The interior door handle of my 2001 2.0L gas recently broke (see pics below). I am not positive that the two are related, but my window regulator cables also got messed up. I have a regulator fix kit on its way.

Any DIY ideas for this handle? ABS cement? Epoxy? Plastic reinforcement strips? Wire?

My ears are totally open to any and all suggestions!

Thanks- Ryan

[IndyTom]

WOW, that's thinking outside the box! Great job Michael!