'96 SL - rattling handle, turn signal oddity?

Hi, everybody. Two things in the minor-annoyance department today with my
otherwise blissful 1996 SL:

1. The "Jesus handle" above the front-passenger door rattles sporadically.
Sometimes, opening the windows stops its silliness, but that's not always
an option.

I'm trying to come up with something a bit more elegant than stuffing a
tennis ball between the handle and the headliner, such as putting rubber
washers inline with the mounting screws, but don't see an easy way to get
the small covers off of each end of the handle.

This may be related to the dashboard rattle which occurs even more rarely
and only when there's a passenger in the right front seat, and which
occasional attempts at fixing over the years have failed to diagnose and
correct. Suggestions?

2. This morning, my left turn signal blinked rapidly from home to work, but
normally from work to the auto store. When I checked signals before driving
and finding the fix, the left front bulb wasn't lighting, and the back was
fine.

While it's nice that "serviceman syndrome" fixed it this time, I'd prefer
to figure out the problem once and for all, if it is one and not just a
fluke. I've replaced the occasional exterior bulb over the years but I
don't think this one. Electrical contact issue perhaps?

 

1. A small standard screwdriver should get the covers off. They just
pop out. The first thing I would try would be to tighten the screws
that are under the covers.

2. I have seen blown bulbs have the filament weld itself back together
if the broken ends touch just right. Not very often, but I've seen it
happen a couple of times in the last 30 years. Otherwise, I would
look for corrosion in the socket, that the contacts on the bulb are
still in good shape (I've seen them get worn enough so that a good
contact is no longer made), or that stray, sometimes faulty sometimes
OK ground. For the low cost and ease of replacement of the bulb, you
could replace it while examining the socket and see if that takes care
of it. Not really worth the time or effort to take it apart twice.

Ken

 

1. A small standard screwdriver should get the covers off. They ...

Thanks, Ken. Will check into those suggestions and get back to you. USEnet
rocks.

 

Just "fixed" sister in law's Cavalier with the one side signal failing
intermitantly. Loose bulb was all it was... removed and then pushed it back
in firmly and its been fine since. Always go for the easy fixes first!

 

Always go for the easy fixes first!

AMEN!