Found paint scratch under driver side door handle

[akira3d]

My shiny red 2000 NSX has its first significant blemish, and its not the type caused by someone bashing their door into mine.

Somehow the black door handle/latch made contact with the red paint behind it. I noticed a fairly large chunk of paint had chipped off and that the backside of the handle had a red scratch.

What I don't understand is how the handle could make contact with the paint behind it. It looks as though there's a good inch or so of clearance between them. I'm not even sure it could make contact if I slammed the door hard (which I would never do) as it looks like the door would have to go both in and up for the handle to hit the spot that has been chipped away.

Has anyone else ever had this happen?

Now I'm having fun tracking down the touch up paint for my car. Called two dealers so far and both said they would have to order it.


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--akira3D ('00 NSX-T red/black #113)
"Reality is better than the dream..."

[This message has been edited by akira3d (edited 12 June 2000).]

 

[dollenz]

Akira, I'm so sorry about that scratch, I know what it must have felt like when you first spotted it. I looked at my latch and the paint around it and there is no way that that could happen without some outside intervention. I suspect an object (perhaps a long woman's nail) dugged into the paint at the same time the latch was being opened. My car got its first rock chip on the right fender a couple of weeks ago and it was just mortifying - small chip, but the first one - It sure hurts the most.

 

[akira3d]

Originally posted by dollenz:
I looked at my latch and the paint around it and there is no way that that could happen without some outside intervention.

At first, I thought that was the case, but then why would the backside of the latch have a reddish scratch on it?

 

[Nsxotic]

There is a noted service bulletin on NSX's that states this problem. Believe it or not. Supposedly the three screws holding the handle itself have been known to loosen, thus making it possible for the handle to reach the pillar and chip it. Check these screws. Acura will likely fix the chip correctly if this was the case, however, then there will be 'paintwork', so it may still be better to touch up. SORRY. It does sound a little strange though for a 2000 model, but anything is possible. This definitely sounds like the 'classic case' though.

 

[akira3d]

Here's the latest on this issue.

I first took it to Santa Monica Acura and they simply brushed me off, stating that it looks like something got between the latch and the paint.

My car is now at Acura of Pasadena (the dealership I bought it from) being serviced for this (and for the passenger-side threshold step which had come loose). The service advisor noted that the paint doesn't simply look chipped, but WORN...which was simultaneously encouraging (as it meant he wanted to really study the problem) and discouraging (as it suggested something more serious may be wrong with my shiny new car).

Unfortunately, after spending some time with the car, Acura of Pasadena has been unable to determine what is the actual CAUSE of this problem. The service advisor apparently looked at several other NSXs and did indeed find one that had a similar problem, but only one (should have asked him what year). As he did find one, though, he wants to do further research.

The door alignment and latch spring adjustments are within spec, the latch is solid and cannot possibly be bent anywhere near making contact with the backing...and the latch clearance between the driver's side and unaffected passenger's side only differs by a millimeter.

On the bright side, my car is now in the body shop getting the paint fixed up nice and new just in time for this weekend's NSXCA event--Canyonball Run.

On the downside, the problem could resurface...so much for the NSX being one of the most precision crafted autos on the market.

If anyone else has heard about this problem or has any other ideas as to how it could have happened, PLEASE let me know.

 

[Flying Low]

Eric, I think your case is exceptional and that the dealership does not have the expertise or the the energy the resolve a problem this mysterious. It's still the most precice and refined car I've ever owned. Your chip is not noticable to anyone but you. I'd let it go. : )

Marc

call me re: saturday

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94 Red & Tan NSX 5spd
1999 Cosmos BMW M Coupe 5spd

 

[akira3d]

Okay, just a little more than a week after I had the paint scratch touched up, the scratch is back even though I've been EXTRA careful about how hard I'm shutting the door. I've been checking the area every time I exit the car...so it either happened when I got into the car / driving with the T top off.

I still contend that there is a significant difference in clearance between the passenger side door with the driver's side door. I'm going to have the dealership look at it again when I bring my car in for an oil change (next month or two).

And this is no longer the only paint related issue I've noticed. Last time I washed the car, I noticed that, when the passenger-side headlight is raised, the light housing actually makes contact with the hood! This has worn a significant spot in the paint on the light housing. The dealer will be looking at THAT too.

Finally, the passenger-side door threshold has a little step thingee that came loose a few weeks ago...and I'm still waiting for replacement clips.

So much for buying new to avoid problems!