My 2000 Camry LE Passenger Doors has no exterior door handles

[sheri365]

Okay, I have a challenge - I just purchased a 2000 Camry LE and the oddest thing - the passenger doors have NO exterior door handles, just smooth door panels, so I can't open them from the outside only the inside, the inside door panels are normal. I'm trying to figure out what I can do to fix this issue without having to find 2 passenger doors at a salvage yard. Does anyone have any suggestions? I sure appreciate your help.

[Eye8Pussies]

do you have pictures?

in these cases, usually the previous owner has chosen to have them removed for a "smoother" aesthetic look (also known as shaving). Electronic door-poppers are also usually installed then, so that the doors can still be opened with a button.

Did your car come with any extra remotes, or remotes with additional buttons on them?

Also, quite often, "safety" buttons are installed somewhere hidden outside of the car to open the doors in case somebody loses the remote. Feel around the bottom of the car around the door frames, etc. and see if there are any buttons or anything unusual that stands out.

good luck

[sheri365]

Thank you for your quick reply. Unfortunately, I just went thru the entire car up and down and found no extra buttons, wires, remotes, etc. as you suggested. Here are a few pics but I may be SOL...??

http://www.use.com/960c9bd105a674b36d0f

[JimBowNut]

Well that's pretty weird. On just the rear doors too ? I wonder if there is a magnetic catch that will operate the actuator ?

[dave1811]

Definitely is strange! I am thinking your best bet is a salvage yard and have them painted to match...

Weird!!

[Eye8Pussies]

wow...never seen that before...that looks like a really good clean job too

[capnblinski]

Fascinating.

[BMR]

Really strange someone would do that, but only on the back doors?!?!

[hodgoes2001]

me thinks they wanted a coupe style look.....

but still....

also maybe they fitted a system and it didn't work :P

[SirThomas88]

Wow that's really interesting..

But really now... Did you not ask the previous owner? Who did you get the car from?

[Pvt-Public]

Take off the inner door panels, see if there are any wires/actuator to the door latch and if there are follow the wires. If not there is no provision to open the doors from the outside.