So I'm cruising home from the store today and a few seconds before I take a left hand turn at a very busy intersection I hear a bing, bing, bing and the DIC tells me the passenger door is ajar.

At this point I have no choice but to continue my turn and the door slowly swings open all the way and needless to say I was like ohhh $$$hit! Luckily there wasn't anyone next to me making a turn so my door didn't get hit, but man what a moment. I was able to pull over right after the turn to try to see what was going on. Every time I shut the door, it would just pop right back open. The latch would hold for a few seconds and then it would release. I moved the passenger seat forward and wrapped the seat belt around the interior door handle and latched it to keep the door secure to get it home... just glad one of my kids wasn't in the car with me like they usually are.

A couple of times recently my passengers have had to use the lever to get out since the interior door switch wouldn't actuate the door, I'm wondering if this is related. Never the less, this has me very worried... it could have turned out a lot worse!

Anyone else that's run into this that might know what the fix would be? I'm leaning towards the door latch mechanism on the door frame, but not certain. The only thread I've found on it was from back in '06. I did notice when I got it back in the garage that the window will index up and down on it's own every now and then.




D

 

In all likelihood you need a new passenger door switch pad (outside door switch).

 

Hmmm... I've got one of those on hand, I'll go give it a shot. That sure would be an easy fix for what could have been a disaster.


Thanks for the suggestion Talon...



D

 

Well, looks promising. The interior switch not working seemed to be a hard fault after the door came open on it's own... after changing the exterior door switch the interior switch works fine. It's odd that the exterior switch would allow the door to open while driving though.


Thanks again Talon , I'm actually a little embarassed that I didn't try that already...





D

 

that one would of had me fooled. you just cant beat this forum, love it!

 

The key for me was the fact that your windows would index on their own in the garage. That is a sympton of the door switch pad failing. With the exterior switch failing it in contact could have/would have been overriding the interior switch. It could also have made momentary contact asking the door latch to release.

 

U betcha!

 

Why would you have one of those "on hand"? I had to replace one of those door pads shortly after getting my 08. And, just the other day, the other one went bad. I couldn't get out without using the manual lever and the window went up and down, up and down. Is there a problem with these pads/switches. I moved the pad over to the passenger side so my wife gets locked in....she's a blonde, won't figure out about the manual lever.

 

I didn't know that you could open up the doors while the car was running without unlocking first.

Everytime I try to do it from the drivers seat while the engine is running, it doesn't work. I have to hit the unlock button then open.

It's different on the passenger side? Or is it a DIC programmable thing?

TomZ

 

I am almost certain I have read on the forum at least of one other incident of the passenger door coming open, however with a quick search I could not find it.

I did find discussion of the indexing and door switch problem with the mention of a TSB for it.

I sense a recall coming!

 

ALERT!
Seriously? A passenger door flying open? Needing to replace a door switch in your lifetime? I've never seen anything like that in my lifetime.

The longer I am a C6 Corvette owner, the more weird stuff like this seems to show up. If it isn't the coupe tops delaminating, it is the convertible tops ripping apart at speed or not going up or down all the way. If it isn't the driver door flying open, it's the passenger door flying open. If it isn't the batteries dying prematurely, it's the car just not starting. If it isn't the Active Handling system hitting one or more of the brakes unexpectedly at speed, it's Column Lock rearing it's ugly head. Now we are already hearing of major issues with the GS!

Thank God for CF (and especially talon90!) because if it weren't for this oasis of information, C6 owners would be spending far more for their Corvette maintenance! All you have to do is go back and read all the threads on the last 3 of the Forum's pages to see what I mean.

The Corvette is a very troubled car but it is also a very great car which makes it a real love/hate relationship for many. I've been very happy (and very lucky evidently) with my '05 so far and haven't had the issues most have had but I'm starting to get very concerned for the safety/reliability of these things. Starting to feel like it is just a matter of time before something major happens that could cause a very unsafe situation at a bad time.

It is time for GM to rethink the Corvette electrical system as they redesign the Corvette for the C7 generation. How much of this do we really need vs how much is just cool? How much complication do we need in an age where fewer and fewer dealers can effectively service them?

Most of the cars I have owned in the last 30 years haven't had ONE of these kind of things happen. The exception was the horrible 2003 Ford Explorer I owned that had to have the timing chain replaced at 20,000 miles, among 20 other major issues like bad axles, gas tanks, body panels cracking, etc, etc.

Rant off!

 

That happened in my 2006 C6. One time. Freaked me out. Never happened in my Z06.

 

I would suggest everyone that has had this problem contact NHTSA about this. If enough complain, there will be a recall. If NHTSA never hears about it, then they don't know there is an issue. Also, keep your failed door handle as evidence.

 

Like vettedoogie, I have an 05 coupe and also have had no problems other than the TSB/recall stuff. Really, I think you'd hear about just as many problems with many cars if they had active forums. Like maybe T-O-Y-O-T-A?

The Corvette has a lot of parts that aren't used on other GM cars or are used first on the Vette so it is really not surprising that issues arise. Those cool features are part of the enjoyment of the car.

What is unacceptable is the lack of fixes when the same car is sold for many years. Shame on GM for not doing continuous improvements. Delaminating roofs, differential noises, shorting out door buttons and steering column connections, etc. should have been corrected long long ago.

 

There is no way anybody is going to convince me that push button start and electronic doors are more reliable than the old way. There just gimmicks to give you that ooh and aah factor for the new model. I'll bet there was a lot of oohs and aahs going on when that door came flying open ! Change should come because of a GENUINE improvement in the design and not because some engineer thought " it would be cool" to have. Unfortunately GM's motto is exactly like every other large companies..IF SOMETHING IS WORKING...SCREW WITH IT !

 

...waiting for someone to rush to the defense, saying, "it's advanced technology, stop living in the past", or some other brainwashed response along those lines. Don't get me wrong, advanced technology is great...if it works reliably and poses no unreasonable safety issues. Why GM decided an electrical engineer should do the job of a mechanical engineer is beyond me. Simpler is usually better.

I'll add one more thing. The "exit button" on the door is in the perfect location for your left knee to smack it during an aggressive right-hand turn. Little things like this make me wonder how much seat time GM actually spends in the test mules before approving a design feature.

 

I'm currently in my 43rd year of Corvette ownership and have four sitting in the garage. Electronics notwithstanding, the newest C6, a 2007, may be the best of the bunch. My only gripe was when the engine starter switch fell into the dash...it was quickly replaced and nothing like that has happened ever since. My wise father told me that anything built by man will have the possibility that someone screwed it up. If you want to know the joy of electrons gone mad, own a new BMW or Mercedes as I have. And they've had issues like this ever since Lucas went out of the car business in England for producing similar troubled items (now they do aviation items!). I'd be concerned about getting a defective or worn door switch, too. Thankfully, your posting and those of some others will make me tend to it right away, should it happen to mine. Thanks for the warning and I'll keep a roll of door duct tape in the rear cubbyhole, just in case. I had a similar roll ready for roof delamination, but the recall took care of it.

 

These gimmicks are cheaper to manufacture and install. Compare the mechanics in an old key lock installed in the steering column or the door to a simple push button. Just the costs of not having to issue keys with each car likely pays for it. Sure it costs more to develop the technology but it quickly pays for itself from the ongoing manufacturing costs.

 

BTW...Corvettes come with 2 keys AND 2 fobs. You telling me that a set of keys costs more than a set of fobs?

 

Finally a voice of reason. One reason I don't own a C6 is that I think Rube Goldberg was one of the chief engineers. I have always loved Corvettes and will own another but the gee-whiz, gizmo technology that the C6 incorporates has gone too far. When there has to be multiple backup systems (in the case of the keyless entry/push button start) built into the car in case of the primary system failure it wasn't engineered correctly.