Jim Grant's Tech Tips
91
Cadillac Seville, Reader's Response
Q: Recently
a reader asked for help in dealing with a medical condition that interferes
with using his '91 Cadillac Seville. The following is an excerpt from
the reader's letter. "I love this car and hoped it would outlive
me, and it probably will. The problem is the door opener. In order to
open the door, one must put four fingers behind the handle, push a button
with the thumb, and pull the door open. The problem is me. I have severe
osteoporosis, and pushing this button causes permanent damage to my thumbs.
I then started using my bent 1st finger to open the door. This worked
for a while, but now this finger is in pain. My question is do you have
any suggestions which will allow me to keep this car? Is there another
door handle that can be substituted for the existing one?"
The
call went out to fellow readers for assistance in solving this reader's
problem. Harold Besmanoff e-mailed this helpful solution to share with
our readers.....
"For
many years custom cars with "shaved" door handles have used
push-button operated solenoids to unlatch the door. It isn't too difficult
to interface a remote-control beeper (as used to pop trunks and set car
alarms) with this system to allow the driver to press a button and have
the door open. A good alarm shop could probably fabricate something like
this for the Cadillac owner, but then the question of cost comes into
play. Maybe with a doctor's prescription it could be covered under health
insurance?"
I'd
like to thank Harold and all the readers responding, good job troops!
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