Door Handle broke!

[eyeball96]

Ok I did a search, and couldn't find the answer. The Haynes manual was of no help!

The inside door handle broke yesterday on the passenger side of my 3.5 coupe. I've already ordered a replacement off ebay. My question is do I have to remove the door panel to remove and replace the handle? I'd hate to remove the door panel then find that it wasn't necessary!

I usually have my mechanic repair things like this, but I'm pretty sure I can do this myself and save a few bucks.(with your help of course) In my younger days, I wouldn't ask and just tear into it and figure it out, but I sure have broken a lot of stuff "fixin it!"

Also when I was looking for the handle on ebay, alot of the replacement handles stated that "does not fit Camrys with leather interior"(I have leather) WTF is that? Whats the difference?

Thanks in advance for the help!...Here's a pic,...strange how it broke, must have been old age

[Rdizzle]

Common problem, if I was less lazy i would take a pic of mine and you couldn't tell them apart. That area is a main fatigue point and is usually the first to break just like that on most gen 3's (that i have seen)

You will probably have to remove the door handle, since the latch mechanism is inside. And i have no clue why this won't work with leather, either its a load of bull or i am missing something.

[eyeball96]

Thanks for the reply! I've kept searching and found threads that say the bezel around the handle is the hardest to remove. You ever done that?

[213solider]

how strange i have the same problem with the passenger side....and the lock is broken the same way.......mine is a 96 camry v6...and i heard it is common problem in the camry to brake the handle.

[eyeball96]

I hope to take pics when I attempt this repair, between the cussing and throwing tools, (when shit don't do right!) LOL...J/K...Should receive the handle this week sometime, so I'll probably do it next weekend! Wish someone would give me some tips, thats done this before, so I could learn from their "vast experence".
I thought I saw a thread that explained the door panel removal in detail, but I can't seem to find it!....maybe it was a dream I had..LOL

[Rdizzle]

You will have to pry out some clips, which i recomend doing with a screw driver. Wrap the tip in a rag or tape so you don't scratch or tear anything. Pry the bezel out by inserting the tip between the BOTTOM of the handle and the bezel and press down. There is a clip in there. Work the bezel off with your finger slowly so it doesn't crack. That will at least expose the handle and if you have to take the door off you at least finished one of the steps.

[Dave's]

Somewhere there is a thread with pics and markups of just where to pry. The bezel just pops out and slides but it is tricky. You probably don't need to remove the door panel. (I didn't.)

[eyeball96]

Rdizzle
Thanks, "between the bottom of the handle and the bezel, is that like in the middle, below the handle or the edge of the bezel?

Dave
Thanks, I wish I could find that thread! So you didn't remove the panel when you replaced your handle?...so on a 1-10 scale, how hard was it!

[eyeball96]

I was just checking out the bezel, and got it off, kinda freaked me out tho, thought I'd broke it, didn't!! I see where it clips now so next time it'll be easier.

Did see that theres one screw that I can't get to so the panel is going to have to be removed!....so any tips on that is appreciated!!...Thanks Joe

Dave how did you get to that 3rd screw??

[djarno]

wow..i had the same problem in my 95 camry....i guess it is a common problem for us gen3 owners.

[camryelaine]

Originally Posted by eyeball96

I was just checking out the bezel, and got it off, kinda freaked me out tho, thought I'd broke it, didn't!! I see where it clips now so next time it'll be easier.

Did see that theres one screw that I can't get to so the panel is going to have to be removed!....so any tips on that is appreciated!!...Thanks Joe

Dave how did you get to that 3rd screw??

hey eyeball96, can you post a picture on where to pry. I need to fix my door window but too chicken to pry around the bezel and handle area since they are notorious for being frigile. Thanks a lot.

[nodrogkam]

it really isnt THAT hard to remove. ive taken it off my car millions of times and my friend's supra and corolla as well. Just put a flat head screw driver between the lock switch and the bezel on top. You need to push in, lift up and pull back. Then once the top is just loosened, do the same procedure at the bottom between the door handle joint and the bezel. Push in pry downward and pull back towards yourself. It pops right out. Do this after unscrewing the middle screw in the bezel.

edit...if you have a gen 3, apprantly there is no screw.

[eyeball96]

Heres pics, I'll try to explain! Hope this helps!

Here's the empty hole with the bezel out..note the square hole between the two screws, and the black square piece to the right of the bottom screw



Here a pic of the back side of the bezel, see the tab, that tab goes in the square hole in a right to left when you put it back together



OK in this pic of the bezel, look at the tab in the opening, the horzional one with the square hole near the end. That hooks it in. So with flat head screwdriver push up on the tab, while pulling out and to the right!



This is were you insert the screwdriver..

[eyeball96]

Well I did it, and yea it wasn't that hard to remove the door panel..now I know. The aftermarket handle from ebay fit like a glove, everything went smoothly. I did have to replace a few trim panel retainers on the bottom part of the door. But other than that "piece of freaking cake"

The stock # on those retainers are 665-2342 Balkamp, should anyone need to know that.
Thanks for your help guys. I appreciate it.
"Jeeves" helped a bunch too. I asked for "Door panel removal 96 camry" and found detailed instructions, with pics!