Whats up with these constantly breaking door handles?

[hooRAH]

Alright, after I ripped the rear passenger exterior door handle off of my girlfriend's camry (Hulk sound while flexing goes here), I've been trying to find one and have had much difficulty.

I've searched both on this board (for solutions or vendors) and found nothing except that they suck, and I've searched all over ebay.

I can find:

Interior door handles in the correct color
Exterior Painted Gen 3 handles (but I have a gen 4), and..
Exterior Gen 4 handles, unpainted.

I cannot find any painted gen 4 rear (or front for that matter) for any grey camry, anywhere.

If the unpainted is the only way to go, has anyone tried painting one to match their car? I can make a pretty good rattle can paint job if I know what colors/clear coats to get.

Anyone buy an unpainted and take it to a body shop?

Anyone have a good source on a painted door handle?

Im really suprised this hasn't been discussed to death on here.

[bigbird]

if all else fails go to the dealership and jsut order one if they dont have them in stock.

[hooRAH]

I try to avoid the dealership at all costs. If thats the only solution, then so be it, but I thought I would ask to see if there awas a better solution first.

[Tarzan]

This dude might have them, as I need to get a painted one too.

http://motors.search.ebay.com/search...fsoo%3D1&fgtp=

Yeah my driver side broke off, then a year later my passenger side. Exactly, what the hell is up with this doorhandle breaking crap? In fact, my inner handles are broke too. I got the driverside one from dealer for $90 but it was painted. Tried the junkyards but doorhandles will be the first to be gone there too.

[kpszar]

My Driver door handle broke off too. I drilled a hole and put a key ring to open it. I might see If any junkyards have any camrys. The handles are made pretty cheaply.

[hooRAH]

Originally Posted by Tarzan

This dude might have them, as I need to get a painted one too.

http://motors.search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10 &mppfqy=camry+door+handle&satitle=camry+door+handl e+outside&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&fmmk=&fmmd=&fylo=&fyhi=&mppfqy=cam ry+door+handle&sadis=200&fpos=28262&sabfmts=1&ftrt =1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&seller=1&sass=abcmarts &fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fgtp=

Yeah my driver side broke off, then a year later my passenger side. Exactly, what the hell is up with this doorhandle breaking crap? In fact, my inner handles are broke too. I got the driverside one from dealer for $90 but it was painted. Tried the junkyards but doorhandles will be the first to be gone there too.

Seems like he has every color but grey.

Now my GF is saying that the key doesn't work in her driver's door. This just keeps getting better.

[GrkBallaG]

Originally Posted by hooRAH

I try to avoid the dealership at all costs. If thats the only solution, then so be it, but I thought I would ask to see if there awas a better solution first.

Dealership is the ONLY way to go on those parts and there not that expensive

[kpszar]

You are right, I was thinking If I get one from a junkyard it is going to snap off sooner than a new one. But man $90.00 is pretty much just for a simple piece of plastic. I might buy on on ebay or go to the dealership to make my wallet lighter.

[DFBonnett]

OP,
In your place I'd go to Ebay for the part then to www.paintscratch.com for the paint and clear coat. I've used them for paint for my Crapillac and my daughter's Mitsu and the color match was dead on. Painting with the spray cans isn't difficult if you take your time. You'll be able to do the handle and have plenty left over to touch up bumpers etc.
FWIW
YMMV

[eddie926]

I'd never heard anyone complain of breaking their door handles until I read this thread. So, I read this thread, and a couple days later, my son comes home and tells me the drivers door interior handle ('95 LE) snapped off when he opened his door at school that day. So now he has to open the window and open the door from the outside, then close the window. Nice.

I got new interior door handles off eBay. Got a whole set because two of the other interior handles had plastic that had cracked and crumbled off, and looked bad though still functional. $50 shipped for all 4 handles.

Installed all the new interior handles on Saturday.

So then yesterday, I'm helping my son with some detailing on the car, and I go to get in the drivers door and the EXTERIOR handle snaps off in my hand.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm convinced that reading this thread jinxed me. So. Whatever you do, don't read this thread or the broken handle curse may come upon you. Ooops. Too late.

And, reports are correct, I was quoted a tad over $80 for the exterior handle pre-painted from the dealer.

[Blackhawk3D]

My interior handle broke right before I read this thread! And I've never heard of this happening before this... weird.

[eddie926]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk3D

My interior handle broke right before I read this thread! And I've never heard of this happening before this... weird.

Well, if you're looking into replacing it, the installation on the interior one is a relatively easy DIY.

Just a few things you have to be gentle with so you don't break trim pieces, etc.

The handles I got from ebay were a good deal, and seem like decent quality, but they had the word "Lock" painted on the lock switch so that it would be visible when the door was locked. Apparently the seller, or someone, took a dremel tool or something and removed it. The lock switch has obviously been hit with something abrasive, and the pattern of the abrasion screams Dremel tool. And you can see the ghost image of the word Lock when you look real close. I asked for a replacement and the guy said all the ones he had were like that. He offered my money back if I wanted to return them. I decided to keep them and polish them up as best I could. I wanted to get it fixed and not have to go in search of another set. Also, these weren't the exact same color as the factory ones, and don't look to be the same color as the ones pictured in the eBay picture. But it turns out they actually match the color of the door panel better than the factory ones.

So, just beware if you buy them off eBay.

[Tarzan]

These door handles seem to only last 10 years. In 10 years, the doors have been opened hundreds of times. It has nothing to do with luck.

On another note, how many different colors of tan, brown interior does the gen 3 have? I was going to get these from a seller on ebay but he said that there were 2 shades of tan so I had to know which tan mine was.