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Post by gdouaire on Aug 12, 2015 17:28:29 GMT -6
 Always found this amusing... a keyhole missing in action. How many quarters did that design save GM/Oldsmobile...? |
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Aug 12, 2015 22:10:06 GMT -6
Is that the front passenger door handle? My '01 has a keyhole on that door.  |
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RCA1186
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Rob
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Post by RCA1186 on Aug 13, 2015 6:06:29 GMT -6
Maybe they started that in '03? I know that I noticed the same thing on my friend's monte carlo ('10) and other newer cars that still use the same handle design. I actually don't mind it, it reduces an access point for theft. On my last Aurora the stereo thief broke in through the passenger door handle by prying it up and engaging the lever from the lock.
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Post by gdouaire on Aug 13, 2015 6:35:23 GMT -6
Very possible that they started using these passenger handles in 2003 only...
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Post by rorafan on Aug 13, 2015 8:14:49 GMT -6
Decontenting (or call it penny pinching) at its finest! I think most newer cars are like this – or at least those with keyless entry. The keyhole seems to be just a backup. They had to have been thinking bigger scale / long term with changes like that. There’s a book called 'Car' (I know, very creative title) that follows the redesign of the ’96 Taurus. There were arguments within Ford as to whether or not to silk screen the Ford logo on the cassette tape door! They literally fought over something that would have cost a fraction of a cent. That and the size of the coat hooks in the back seat.  |
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Post by sall on Aug 13, 2015 16:46:53 GMT -6
That is interesting. Certainly a cost cutting measure as rorafan pointed out I would assume. I wonder if the rear handles fit the front like the Classics do and if so why they didn't just go that route?
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Aug 13, 2015 19:49:12 GMT -6
Very possible that they started using these passenger handles in 2003 only... After a quick parts search and a look through the MFA archive, looks like it changed in the 2002 model year. The part #s are different for '01 compared to '02-'03. All of these members have 2002s and no passenger side keyhole; oldwino @skiiirt  northofyou |
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Post by Hurricane87 on Aug 20, 2015 15:47:03 GMT -6
It's not just a GM thing. My SO's 99 Mercedes C-Class also lacks a passenger-side keyhole.
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Post by human on Oct 30, 2015 16:41:35 GMT -6
I think it's been a running trend for a while as remote keyless entry becomes more and more ubiquitous. The first car I remember seeing with no keyhole on the passenger door was a Volvo station wagon in about 2002 or 2003. It's very common these days. I guess there will always be a need for at least one external keyhole so one can unlock the car when the battery is dead.
The only external keyhole on my Impala is in the driver's door handle. The trunk lid doesn't even have a keyhole. I got behind an Impala like mine in traffic one day that had a keyhole in the trunk lid. It was about a foot off center to the right. Looked weird. I think it was an unmarked cop car because there was a Panasonic ToughBook or some similar laptop mounted for driver access.
Daily Driver: 2011 Impala LT
Weekend Toy: 1995 Aurora
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Post by aurora98 on Dec 23, 2015 8:57:57 GMT -6
My 98 aurora has a passenger key hole, does anyone even use the key to unlock the door?  |
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Post by sall on Dec 23, 2015 20:06:39 GMT -6
Nope. I just walk up to the car and it unlocks for me  . |
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Post by gdouaire on Dec 23, 2015 20:09:10 GMT -6
I can remember a time -- I had a 1973 Cutlass and walking up to the passenger door and unlocking it with a key was the right thing to do for the ladies. |
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Post by aurora98 on Dec 23, 2015 21:00:29 GMT -6
I asked because I sometimes use my key but I only really keep it on the keychain in case the key fob battery dies:)
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Dec 23, 2015 22:09:30 GMT -6
Nope. I just walk up to the car and it unlocks for me .  I can remember a time -- I had a 1973 Cutlass and walking up to the passenger door and unlocking it with a key was the right thing to do for the ladies. Haha, yeah, I can remember when no one locked their doors... |
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Post by Hurricane87 on Dec 23, 2015 23:10:45 GMT -6
It is indeed a decontenting thing, but it's hardly unique to GM. My wife's 99 Mercedes also has no keyhole on the passenger side. A MERCEDES.
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