Door handle broke! OHNOES!

[dakmor]

So I was out right, in a parking light at a motorcycle dealerhsip, waiting for a third party, and the driver was opening the driver side door to get something.

The handle breaks off.

I know, right!

So, It looks like it is going to either be replaced, junkyard, or the temporary fix of glue will stick, well, like glue.

I was hoping if anybody here had any experience taking off an interior door panel (driver side) of a 1995 Base Corolla, 7th gen AE101.

Like, can I take off the panel without damaging any retaining clips or is there some trick to it.

Thanks for any help.

[Puffie40]

No real trick to it. Make sure you get the screws that are on the arm rest and door handle first, then side a rag under the window winder to push out the clip (Careful, it does have a tendancy to ping away!)

Push a flatblade screwdriver under and gently pry. they should come up no ploblem.

[dakmor]

I got the part about the interior trim peices, but what do you mean by slide a rag under the window winder?

[Puffie40]

Take a cloth rag and slide it edge-wise under where the winder winder goes into the door. with a little working, the rag will push off a spring clip used to hold the handle on.

[costadragon220]

I just put in a passenger side door handle....*pfft* what a pain.. and I thought it be a simple 10 minute thing but nooooooooo, it took me like 45 minutes!! Follow Puffie's advice sounds similar to what I ended up doing, just watch your fingers!

[whatproblems]

yea, replacing interior door handles suck

i have an 01 prizm and last week the GF pulled the handle really hard as the door was locked WTF!!! and cracked it right off and bent the metal piece inside apparently....

basically just had to watch all those screws and clips putting the new one on...

but then i realized after taking the panel completely off that the metal bar was bent horribly inside of th edoor... fun

[motu 56]

The door handle can be purchased at a chevy/Geo dealership for less than 1/2 at the toyota dealership.

[knarf]

I went to the local bone yard and purchased every interior door handle they had to keep my '92 Prizm supplied.I learned that it was better to remove the handles myself as the yard owner broke too many.When the exterior handle failed, I hot glued it back on from the inside with many sticks. It stayed there and worked fine for many years. While the door panel is off, check the bolts on the window mechanism, sometimes they get loose and the window won't go up and down correctly. Inspect the bottom of the door where the skin and the frame are folded together too, as this is where old Mr. rot likes to linger.A stitch in time...
Frank

[dakmor]

I went to a u-pull-it today, $4 entrance, and $25 in parts that was needed to "refurbish" the car.
Got a new cup holder, exterior driver door handle, tiny clips for AC/heater controls, window winder knobs x3 and I now know what you mean by the clip pinging away, interior dome light, broken interior dome light bulb.

I am still worried that after taking off the interior panel, it won't go on right. But, we'll see.

I still need a new fuel door and some more clips, as well as the little box that sits between the driver and passenger.

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

[Puffie40]

For me, the interior panels were easy to put back on. Make sure the clips are in position, and they should snap right in.

If you are going to check the window mechanism (Might as well lubericate the slides - "Fluid Film" or simular lubercant is a good choice), you will have to peel the plastic dust cover off. Duct tape make a good fastener when you are ready to put it back on (That black sticky stuff does not like dust!)

[dakmor]

UPDATe!

Worked on it today, finally. I did a few things wrong, and a few things right.

Wrong-
did not leave the arm rest on the panel, why-because it has 2 screws in it that can only be accessed witht he panel off. there are now 2 more holes in the panel, that can't be seen, but they don't make much of a difference anyway.

did not own a 10millimeter socket! japanese version, was able to borrow a german 10 and continue working(apparently they're different.)

did not inspect window slides, it was not of a concern to me, so i skipped it.

Right-put in the new handle unit after fiddling for a while with the lock and got everything put back on correctly, including my new window cranks.

So my car is back together and working fine thanks to a schrader valve 10milli socket on a elbow and red 94 corolla.

[SlowRolla37]

my door handle just broke off 2 days ago. so i ordered a new one off ebay. i didnt feel like going to a junk yard to get one.