Driver' s side exterior handle. How do you remove interior door panel without breaking anything? Can you replace just the handle or does the entire mechanism need to be replaced? Easy fix or do I need a professional?
This is a problem that you should be able to fix. With the interior door panel there are 3 screws. 2 in the arm rest and 1 on the door handle(opener), take those out. There is a C-clip on the window crank that needs to be removed. They make a cheap little tool to remove those but I've heard people using a shop rag and removing the c clip. To remove it, turn crank to around 9 oclock then slide the tool or rag behind the crank also coming from 9 oclock. Any position will work, my point being the tool must slide in from behind the crank handle. Use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry the edges of the door panel away. There are some little clips that pop loose. It's okay if some break you can buy more. After that you will slide the door handle (opener) forward a little to pop out. Twist and turn the panel to get it over the door handle. There are 2 bolts that hold the handle on from the inside. They are 10 mm. You can reach the most forward one pretty easy but the back one is taken out through a hole in the metal door panel. Mine had a sticker over the hole with a big yellow dot on it. After that it takes some pretty good force to get the handle out of the hole. Don't be afraid to push on it. When it pops out take some wire cutters and cut the little plastic clip that holds the metal rod to the handle. The lock twists out of the hole. Now this is when you need 3 hands. Hold the new handle close to the opening and twist the lock into position. Don't attach the metal rod yet. Now actually put your key in the lock. This helps you hold the lock in the correct position while inserting the handle. Put the top of the handle in first and then the bottom should snap in next. Now from the inside, reach up and slide metal rod in the hole and rotate the plastic clip to secure it. Now the hardest thing is getting that back bolt in. It helps again to leave the key in the lock and rotate it so the bolt can secure the locking mechanism to the handle. Put the front bolt in reinstall the interior door panel and you should be in business. Good Luck
The handle is a easy fix. just remove the inner panel, remove the covers and reach up inside the door to remove the latches and the conectors. two small bolts should be all that holds the handle in place. once the new one is installed just reconnect the the connectors and put your door back together
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