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4 door handles
Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 5:20 pm
by dennis
hi guys i know you will be able to answer this one.
what is the easiest way to change the front exterior door handles on a 4 door car.
thanks in advance
dennis
Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 2:31 am
by fweddy
"easiest way" you say - hmmm
Unless I'm mistaken - you will need to take most of the door apart to change the door handle.
The handle is part of the latch so that also needs to come out - and that is held in there by the window frame so that needs to come out and to get at that you need to take the inside panel off and to get that off you need to take the interior door handle off - so in short why not change your interior door handles instead?

- ok that's not what you are asking
The manual I have does explain how to do this and I can check it out in there in detail - and that's down in the shed with my morrie - and I'm at work - so if someone else can answer off hand go ahead.
I'm not much help am I - rather depressing.

Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 11:33 am
by Cam
I have done this job a while ago on a 4-door, but I can't remember all the details...........
basically you have to remove the window winder handle and the interior door handle, as well as the interior door trim and door pull.
I seem to remember removing the locking mechanism, but I was not just changing the handle.
have a look see when you have stripped all the trim off, I think it is quite self explanatory then, just a few bolts to undo from inside the door.
Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 2:11 am
by fweddy
OK now I have my manual (Haynes)
It says to remove the interior door and window winding handles, prise away the the door trim, unbolt and take out the door glass and surrounding frame. Undo the remote leaver action (for the interior door handle) then undo the three screws and lift out the whole lock assembly. Replace your handle from there.
"Replacement is a straight reversal of the removal sequence."
Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 6:42 pm
by Gareth
"Replacement is a straight reversal of the removal sequence."
Hahahahahahahaha!!!
Seriously, that's all there is to it, really. Don't forget, of course, that Haynes worked on cars that were only a few months old!

Apart from that, those instructions are pretty much spot-on from what I can remember of when I had my door gear apart.
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2003 11:02 pm
by winger300
I found that you dont actually have to do all that.
If you unscrew the top of the window frame, undo the screws holding the latch mechanism, and slide this back, then by just tilting the window frame back slightly it allows enough room to get the door handle out.
It just saves removing all the glass etc