'97 Tercel very lame embarassing question

[BillHicks]

how in the blue hell do I get the drivers side handle off??!! It's a two door and 90% of the handle snapped right off in my hand when I tried to open the door the other day because of the freezing rain storm. I'm basically opening the door using one finger because there's nothing left to grab. I picked up the new handle this morning before work.

Do I really have to unscrew the entire inside door panel and window crank to do this? I don't have a garage to work in right now, so if anyone knows a shortcut or if I'm just bloody blind, please let me know.

Thanks

I almost miss my old shitbox...almost. LOL

[idavid76]

I have never taken off my inside door handle from my Tercel but if it is anything like an older Civic I had, I am afraid you will have to pull off your entire door panel and uncrew the handle from the bracket on the door's inside shell.

[Donald]

Do I really have to unscrew the entire inside door panel and window crank to do this?


Yes. Sorry but that is the only way.

[BillHicks]

OK, I got the door panel off easily enough (one screw and just a series of tabs?) but still couldn't get what was left of the handle off. It was crazy! In 3 days everything had seized or started to corrode. I actually had to take it to my cousin's garage and it didn't come out until he took a bloody blowtorch to the seized handle bolts

That was absolutely retarded.

[Donald]

Wow! I have taken a few handles out but never had one that bad.

Anyway I suggest that in the future whenever freezing conditions are predicted, spray some silicone lubricant into a rag and wipe around your door seals and the area where the seal contacts the body. That helps a little.