That's what I do also. I put the screwdriver behind the lever.
Interior Door Handle Replacement - HELP!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Interior Door Handle Replacement - HELP!!!
I need some ideas here on how to get my interior door handle on. Here is some history . . . door handle has never been easy to get installed on the driver's side door; never had issues with passenger side. I replaced the door control mechanism because the "tangs" had snapped off the old unit. I understand how the handle secures to the door control, you slip the handle into the groove made by the tangs and then secure the handle with a screw. Looks simple enough, right? However, with the door panel on, the handle does not have enough clearance to slide it onto the groove and I'm not sure I will have enough room to get the screw in. I have even tried to get the handle on first, then slide through the door panel, but then not enough wiggle room to get the door panel secured correctly.
I'm afraid that if I try and pry the door control lever out and then slide handle on that I will break off the tangs and be in the same boat as I started. Anyone ever run into this problem with theirs? Door panels are new (had same issue with old panels) and door control is new. How can I get this dang handle back on?
I'm afraid that if I try and pry the door control lever out and then slide handle on that I will break off the tangs and be in the same boat as I started. Anyone ever run into this problem with theirs? Door panels are new (had same issue with old panels) and door control is new. How can I get this dang handle back on?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,170
Likes: 4,245
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi r76,
I use the same method as MW but employ a very small flat bladed screwdriver to hold the lever out. When I try a large screwdriver the chrome inside door handle hits the blade before it's far enough on the lever so the blade can be released.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I use the same method as MW but employ a very small flat bladed screwdriver to hold the lever out. When I try a large screwdriver the chrome inside door handle hits the blade before it's far enough on the lever so the blade can be released.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Are you putting the screwdriver into the grove or behind the lever? I'll play with it some more tonight when I get home. I just didn't want to break it while in the process of replacing. I think you guys have me on the right track and it helps just knowing how others do it. I'll let you know how it goes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Last night I put the door panel on and got it secured. I was having issues getting the door lock **** locked into place. After a closer inspection, I noticed that the door panel (or the bezel that the lock shaft sticks through) was not allowing enough clearance for the **** clip to slip down into place properly on the shaft. I compared to the other door panel and noticed that the bezel was slightly out about 1/8-3/16". I pulled the panel and it looks like when I transferred the old bezel parts to the new panel that I may not have trimmed enough to allow the bezel to fully seat on the panel surface. I'll have to remove and do some trimming to get it to lay correctly and I'm hoping that this will give me enough clearance to get the lock **** and door handle installed. Thanks for all the suggestions . . . time to do some tweaking.
If anyone has suggestions on how/where to properly trim the panel, that would be helpful.
If anyone has suggestions on how/where to properly trim the panel, that would be helpful.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Finally got it. Thought I'd post a follow up in case someone else has the same problem sometime in the future. Turned out the problem was with an improperly adjusted rod that runs from the latch assembly to the door release mechanisms. When you pulled the door handle, there was no slack, it just immediately put pressure on the whole mechanism which made it impossible to get enough leverage on the latch to get it out and slide the handle on. I figured it out after thoroughly studing the passenger side which I had no issues with. Once I finally got the rod adjusted shorter, there was enough slack to easily pry the latch out to get the handle on. Whew . . . glad I finally figured that out -- it's been a pain having to reach out the window to the outter door handle to get myself out. 
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