Car Door Handle Repair

On pretty much every car door there is both an inside and an outside door handle. They are each connected to the door latch by either a rod or a cable.

They can fail in a number of ways. Sometimes the plastic parts of the handle itself will break, or the plastic retainers that hold the lock rods can break, or springs can break. Cables can break as well, and are sometimes replaced only as a part of the door handle assembly.

Replacing an inner door handle usually involves pulling a trim panel that covers the bolt or screw holding it to the door frame, then taking the housing/handle assembly loose. Sometimes the cable or rod that extends to the latch can be detached at the housing, other times the interior door panel needs to be removed to get access.

Replacing an outside door handle involves removing the inner door panel to access the door handle attachments inside the door. The door handle assembly is then unbolted, the connecting rod to the latch unhooked, then the handle can be removed. If there is a lock cylinder in the handle it will usually be transferred to a new handle.