[shack]

Hello out there.

I have a 98 carolla and I broke the inside handle on my drivers door.
I have a replacement from a junked carolla.

How do I disconnect the link from the inside handle and remove the handle from the door? And how do I attach the replacement?

Any reply and answer would be helpful and appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[lexusk8]

I broke mine too a while back and ordered a replacement off Ebay for less than $30. To remove the door handle, unscrew the single screw exposed behind the door handle. Use a flathead to pry out the handle assembly. After you do that, you'll see how the handle is attached to the door link and it's pretty easy to remove and replace from there. Took me 15 min to do the job.

 

[JefferMC]

It's amazing to me that this seems to be a fairly common problem with this door.

I haven't been able to find a junkyard around here that still has a door handle. I hadn't thought of e-bay.

 

[shack]

inside door handle

Now I am having trouble removing the plastic doorhandle and link from the thick wire that opens the door?

 

[Flashmn]

You mean the rod? theres a clip you have to turn to get it loose. Dont break it, otherwise you have to buy a new handle.

 

[shack]

Should I take the door panel off first?

I can't get the plastic clip from the rod, or does the plastic part stay on the rod?

Should the plastic clip stay on the rod or door handle?

As you can tell, I've never done this before.

Thank you.

 

[Flashmn]

stays on the doorhandle, look at the clip how its on the rod, then you'll figure out how to twist it so that it releases. and no dont take the door panel off, and I dont think you can either.

 

[JefferMC]

I just found a handle on e-bay (thank you lexusk8 for the idea) for $15 bucks (shipping and all). My handle had broken at the linkage, so I was a bit worried about seeing how it was put together, but it was a snap.

1) Remove the screw.
2) Push the housing towards the door hinge about 3/8", and pull it off.
3) At this point I had to find the linkage hiding in the door padding.
4) I pulled it up and removed the remaining plastic from the broken handle.
5) I decided to leave the original "plug/retaining clip" on the linkage rather than take it off and put the new one on.
6) I then had to pull the linkage up as far as it would go so that I could push it down through the hole in the new handle. This was by far the hardest part of the whole operation. I ended up using needle nose pliers to hold the linkage wire and line it up on the handle hole.
7) Place the new assembly at the edge of the hole, nearest the hinge.
8) Push it in (this was the second hardest part, getting it to go back in).
9) Slide it back away from the hinge about 3/8". (Careful not to let the vinyl at the edge of the hole get pushed back).
10) Replace screw.

Took me about 10-15 minutes.