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This morning the driver side door handle broke on my 93 Camry. The plastic door handle (on the outside of the car) is just loose, it does not pull the lock. I am assuming that because of the cold some hook broke inside.
Does anybody know how to fix this? What parts do i need? How hard is it to fix?
Doesn't the repair manual show how to remove and replace this? Not sure cause I haven't checked it out yet, but I know my repair manual for my trooper show it.
Same thing with my 92 and neighbors also. New part at dealer is $75, but I can't get my inside panel off. All done but the inside door handle???? Help!
The same thing happened to me. A piece on the inside of the handle that connects the outer handle to the inside part which moves the rods broke off so that it would swing from the outside but still work from inside. You will need a new handle and they do cost around $70 or so from the dealer.
You have to remove the window handle if you don't have power windows. I have power so not certain on how to, but i think there is a snap ring that you can push up and out of the way. After that you take the armrest part of the door off (not sure if I could do this part until I was ready to remove the whole panel), and pull the door light out. The hardest part for me was removing the bezel around the inside door handle. You have to pull it out towards the back of the car, there is a few tabs that lock it in. There is a pin shaped tab towards the top of the lock/unlock part, one directly below it on the bottom of where the inner handle connects and another behind the open space towards the front of the handle. The last one didn't give me too much problems but be careful, not sure how strong the part is since I took it easy although it was frustrating. I covered a flathead so I didn't mess up the material. From there you can take the speaker cover, storage bin and armrest arm off completely. Then the door panel itself. Hard to work in there, you have to figure out how to push these locking pins that connect to the rods out of the way, but once you figure which way they go it isn't too bad. Then there is 2 screws holding the actual outer handle on, but you need to get the pieces that connect the rod to the open/close and lock mechanism off. From there I think I switched the key lock itself over by undoing a screw.
That's the best I can remember, maybe look it up in a repair book. Sorry if my explanation sucks.
None of mines have broken yet, and I'm hoping they don't eaither. I always get mad at people who pull and pull on the handle when the door is locked. That and slamming my door pisses me off.
Thanks for guidance on mine. It is important, however, that you wedge between the bezel and the lock rocker and not between the bezel and the panel. likewise on the bottom side, beween the bezel and the handle. Then it comes back 1/4 in. to unlock center tab and then forward to come off. Working in -20 wind chill in Iowa - not fun.........Carl
The same thing happened to me. A piece on the inside of the handle that connects the outer handle to the inside part which moves the rods broke off so that it would swing from the outside but still work from inside. You will need a new handle and they do cost around $70 or so from the dealer.
You have to remove the window handle if you don't have power windows. I have power so not certain on how to, but i think there is a snap ring that you can push up and out of the way. After that you take the armrest part of the door off (not sure if I could do this part until I was ready to remove the whole panel), and pull the door light out. The hardest part for me was removing the bezel around the inside door handle. You have to pull it out towards the back of the car, there is a few tabs that lock it in. There is a pin shaped tab towards the top of the lock/unlock part, one directly below it on the bottom of where the inner handle connects and another behind the open space towards the front of the handle. The last one didn't give me too much problems but be careful, not sure how strong the part is since I took it easy although it was frustrating. I covered a flathead so I didn't mess up the material. From there you can take the speaker cover, storage bin and armrest arm off completely. Then the door panel itself. Hard to work in there, you have to figure out how to push these locking pins that connect to the rods out of the way, but once you figure which way they go it isn't too bad. Then there is 2 screws holding the actual outer handle on, but you need to get the pieces that connect the rod to the open/close and lock mechanism off. From there I think I switched the key lock itself over by undoing a screw.
That's the best I can remember, maybe look it up in a repair book. Sorry if my explanation sucks.
Nice write up. Your instructions are accurate. I can't stess how hard it is to remove the bezel around the inside door handle. It will test you patience. Once you have your insode door panel off, just check to see what needs to be replaced. Just buy the parts you need. You might be able to even find the items at your local junk yard.
I don't wanna spend the money for a new part, period: 75 is too expensive, I was thinking about exchanging the broken part with the rear door unit and just glueing that one back together... they have a 2-part epoxy especially for plastic and I have used it before, I was thinking about using that and polycarbonate plate from cds or scrap lexan.
I think that the 6M1(metallic green) from my car's year is different from the 6M1s from other years
that plastic piece are you talking about...is it yellow??? when i went to the dealership, i didn't even have to say a word...the guy saw it in my hand and hes like "ouside door handle clasp" or something, then hes like "now i can really impress you and say its for the driver's side door." i think they are universal cause i didn't even say what car i have and it matched my old one perfect (celica by the way). it cost me like $1 or something real cheap like that.
now all i need to do is figure out if my rod is bent or what. this thread here i talk more about it with pics:
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