Replacing a Broken Car Door Handle Yourself
It's been one of those days at work. Nothing seemed to go right. Now you finally get to go home, but when you get to your car, you jerk up a little too hard on your door handle and the stupid thing just breaks off in your hand. Great. So what to do?
Yeah, you have to get in on the passenger side and squirm over the center console to get to your seat. But do you have to take your car back to the dealership for repairs? You know that every little part of a car costs so much to fix these days. Fortunately, you can replace a broken car door handle yourself, and aftermarket parts are readily available.
Once you've cooled down, it's time to purchase a new door handle. If you have a keyed lock, you can usually keep the same key cylinder, but remember to put the key in the lock before removing it to keep it together. You can also purchase a new cylinder and key if needed. You may need to paint the handle to match the rest of your vehicle before replacement. Your parts store should have the paint to match.
Take a look at the broken door handle connections. Look at how the handle is attached. Some, fortunately, have the screws visible from the outside, but if not, all is not lost. It usually only takes prying off a panel that looks like part of the interior door panel to access the screws. The attachment screws will usually be small Phillips head or Torx screws. If you don't have Torx screw bits, they are readily purchased, either at hardware or auto parts stores.
If you do end up having to remove the whole interior door panel, you'll need a bit of hunting to find the attachments, as they are usually hidden. Look and feel around for screws and clips. Sometimes these fasteners are hidden by small plastic covers that you'll have to remove. Once the fasteners are all off, slowly pry off the panel starting at one corner and working your way around. You may need a pry bar for this part. There are plastic pry bars available to help keep from damaging any plastic parts.
If your screws are exterior, look for any levers or rods attached to the door handle. They are usually attached with easily removed plastic clips. It's a good idea to take photos before you remove the connections or at least make detailed drawings so you don't have to try to remember how everything goes. It's also good to put painter's tape around the door handle area to avoid scratching the finish while you're working.
If the screws are inside, once the door panel is off, you can usually see them with a flashlight. A magnetic screwdriver or small cloth is handy to avoid dropping them inside the door. Take your photos and remove the handle connections. Using a deep spray can lid or yogurt carton to hold your screws and small parts will keep them together and won't easily spill them as a jar lid would.
Once everything is off, it's time to install the new handle. This process will be just the reverse of the removal process. Now you'll be glad that you took photos with your phone or drew diagrams. There will always be some part that escapes your memory as to just how it fits in.
Once you have the new handle attached, check it out to see if it works correctly before replacing any cover panels. This is to make sure all the rods and levers are connected properly before you go through all the trouble of possibly replacing an interior door panel and then having to remove it again. If it all works, it's time to finish up and pat yourself on the back.
If you have a broken car door handle or need any other parts, you can easily order them from www.partsmax.co. If you live in South Florida, you can visit our retail store. Partsmax Auto Parts and Accessories is the largest auto parts warehouse in Florida, offering all sorts of aftermarket parts and quality auto accessories. We'll be happy to see that you get just what you need, and we can help you with tips for your project.