Driver Side Door Latch

[jetlag44]

This is my first post. Can someone explain how to remove the door lock mechanism on the driver's side of 2001 AvalonXLS. The wire connnection from the inside doorhandle to the latch is broken. I have gotten down to the removal of the side panel but cannot see what is holding the locking mechanism in place .I have removed the three retaining screws from the mechanism on the outer door edge. Any help would be appreciated.. AJ

[Qslim]

This is out of your manual, the latch assembly is at about 8:30.
Did you disconnect the two control rods on the back side? They're tough to see, you almost have to do it by feel.

[jetlag44]

Qslim, Thanks for the blow-up. I have not yet been able to locate the clips that hold the rods to the door latching unit. This will help a lot. Looks as if you spent some time with airplanes. I'm an ex-Navy pilot. Nice to meet you and thanks again for the info...AJ

[jetlag44]

Any secrets to getting that latch out will be appreciated

[Qslim]

Originally Posted by jetlag44

Qslim, Thanks for the blow-up. I have not yet been able to locate the clips that hold the rods to the door latching unit. This will help a lot. Looks as if you spent some time with airplanes. I'm an ex-Navy pilot. Nice to meet you and thanks again for the info...AJ

Good deal, welcome to TN. I was with Toyota, Lexus, & Honda for about a decade out of highschool, now I spend my days maintaining F-16s for the USAF. Which airframe did you pilot?

As far as those clips, they can be a pain. There aren't any tricks to it, just follow those two rods from the unit you're trying to remove up to the lock cylinder and door handle. There is a little clip on the end of each rod with a small tab that when pulled will rotate the clip and free the rod to be pulled out of the plastic housing. Hope this makes sense, and post if you need a hand.

[jetlag44]

[quote=Qslim;2137315]Good deal, welcome to TN. I was with Toyota, Lexus, & Honda for about a decade out of highschool, now I spend my days maintaining F-16s for the USAF. Which airframe did you pilot?

Thanks for those pics .They really helped. Got the lock out and the door back together within a couple of hrs. Should have used a torque wrench on the bolts to the outside door handle. The sheet metal that held one of the three bolts tore but it's still ok.

I'm something of a dinosaur when it comes to my planes. I flew gunships in Viet-nam and was with an outfit called Project Trim(Trail Road Interdiction Mission) with the Navy. It later became Heavy Attack Squadron-21. It was a converted P-2 with multi-sensors that we were testing. Forward/side looking infra-red and low-light TV etc. Had mini-guns and stores on the wings Seven 40mm grenade launchers in the belly and twin 20mm in the tail with waist gunners. Fun plane to fly when everything was working. Went to work for Hawaiian Airlines after I got out and stayed there for my whole career flying DC--9s L-1011's Dc-10's etc.

Awful nice to make to make your acquaintance and thanks again for the help. I think I would have been still at the door otherwise.

Sorry I didn't answer sooner but I did not get an alert to your message on my e-mail. Just happened to check the site today. One last question. Do you happen to know where I can buy a computer disc maintenance manual for the 2001 Avalon? I hear that they are available but have not been able to track them down. Thanks, Andrew

[Qslim]

Hey man, good to hear you got your problem handled. Also good to read that resume, particularly about how the gunships were fun to fly "when everything was working". I can identify with that.
As far as the manual, I haven't coma across a disc version for the avalon. Haynes and Chilton publish the manuals, I'm sure. You can also log on to TIS (Tech Information System) which is the factory system piped into the dealers straight from Toyota. Google it and you'll find the site with the subscription info, I don't know how much it is. Hope it helps, don't hesitate to post or pm if you ever need a hand.

[jetlag44]

I'm sure I'll be talking to you again as soon as I get in a bind.Also I'll google that tech. book you mentioned. Thanks again for your help.

Keep the "shiny side up" and keep 'em in the air...