Drivers door handle replacement tips: sorry, no pics.

[burrpenick]

You can see some pics that MAY help in my earlier post pleading for HELP when my handle broke (they were too late for me). My 2003 model VIBE's drivers door handle snapped last week after what I conservatively estimated at 10,000 openings. I am definitely treating the door handles with kid gloves from now on, as I am not so trusting of these after market replacement handles from EBAY, PLUS the latch/lock/handle mechanism appears to be a fairly weak/vulneable design. I proceeded to remove the door panel and was able to get the handle off after removing the one screw toward the front of the car and sliding it back and forth and pulling the rear end out. I instintively unhooked the ROD that operated the lock and discovered later that I should have left that part of the assembly alone. You will also need to remove the LOCK ASSEMBLY to get better access and view. Its a separate part and is held on with another star headed bolt that is accessed from the outside EDGE of the door after removing the plastic inspection plug. It holds the handle in place on the back end. With the help of my wife, we were finally about to get the new handle in place, but it didnt OPEN THE DOOR! This is where the rod I had taken loose earlier came into play. It should have been LEFT connected to the latch assemble and then getting the new door handle latch BEHIND the latch assembly CAM (a small black plastic tip on the latch assembly) would have been much easier. Even with it connected, its not easy. You need to pull the latch assemble all the way DOWN, have the new handle in place, and then pull/push it FORWARD so that the hook that is built on the back end of the new handle will slide UNDER that plastic tip on the latch assembly. This is where a picture would be very helpful, but I was never able to find one. Most of this must be done by feel as its nearly impossible to see inside the door. I might add that it helps to have an assistant like my wife to help out........she is a great helper!

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