The inside door panel will need to be removed. Despite the fact that this panel is mostly held in place by a series of plastic “snaps,” you will need to remove a few screws. In addition to the snaps, the Toyota Corolla door panel from 1998 is held in place by three screws: one in the handle casing and two hidden beneath the rubber arm pad in the centre of the panel. I advise following this order.
- Prop the door open after opening it. Hand-lock the door.
- Remove the damaged door handle. Discard screw. Remove the entire broken piece if you can. Don’t panic if it is still attached to the opening mechanism and won’t release. I’ll take care of this later.
- In the center of the door panel, remove the rubber arm pad. This part easily separates. To get leverage, you might need to ram a flat-head screwdriver under the panel. It will come off straight up if you pull firmly and steadily.
- Two screws are visible when the rubber arm pad is removed. Screw them out. Separate the screws.
- The door panel can now be removed. If the door panel is on the driver’s side, a tiny plastic screw can be found there. Turn the screw a little. (This component is not required. Most likely, you’ll have to push it out. Great if it goes back in; if not, no big deal.)
- Start at the bottom of the door panel on the left or right. Put your fingers under the plastic and pull outward while applying even, solid pressure in your direction. That part will come loose with a snap that you will hear.
- Work your way around the door panel’s edges, releasing each section individually.
- Lift the entire panel up and over the locking mechanism as soon as it is loose. It is supported by your legs. Keep it from touching the ground. There will be some power cords and wires running from the entrance into the panel if your windows and locks are powered. You won’t be able to move the panel past the door too far because of this. These wires must not be touched or otherwise interfered with.
- A metal arm with an L-shaped end sticking out in the direction of the door handle will be seen. The receiving hole on the replacement door handle must receive the tip of the metal arm. The metal piece may still be attached to a piece of plastic that serves as a buffer. This plastic item will already be in the hole in your new door knobs. Use the option that works the best.
- Attach the metal arm to the door handle after it has been properly installed in the door panel. (The metal arm inside the door handle may need to be snapped into position. (To do this, use the pliers.)
- The door handle, which is now inside the door panel, can now be attached to the door itself. The back of the door handle has three arms that protrude from it. One of them is a pole or cylinder, while the top and bottom two are L-shaped. The door frame has matching receiving parts that you can see. As you readjust the door panel, line these up.
- Remember to lift the door panel up and over the locking mechanism before lowering it into place when realigning it.
- The door handle will slide into the door and need to be moved to one side after that (to bring the screw hole into alignment with the screwhole in the door). See the advice below if the handle simply won’t slide into position (as if something is obstructing it) (after list).
- After lining up everything, start snapping the door back into position. Simply pressing firmly against the panel accomplishes this. It will lock into position.
- Close the door when you’ve snapped everything back into position and check the handle. It ought to function flawlessly! Reinstall the three screws you previously removed, then position the rubber arm pad back where it belonged (it snaps back into place).
- You’ve finished.
Although the list appears vast, the process is actually quite rapid. For the advantage of those who might like a more full explanation, I went a bit further than was probably necessary in my explanation.
In This Article...
How much does it cost to repair a Toyota door handle?
Oh no! Although a car door handle is a crucial component, happily, replacing one won’t set you back a fortune. Depending on which handle broke, the price varies, but you should budget between $80-$500 to repair it.
The average cost to replace the interior handle, including labor, is between $80 and $200. It will likely cost between $150 and $500 for the external handle. Having said that, these figures could vary greatly depending on the car you drive and the service facility you go to.
Ask for quotations from a few body shops to get an idea of the price for your specific car. You can then choose what is best for you.
It never hurts to have additional protection on your automobile with a roadside assistance subscription from Jerry, even though mishaps and broken door handles do happen. You receive industry-leading roadside assistance from Jerrys membership, featuring advantages like towing, lockout service, and a mechanics hotline. You can check the app or contact one of our helpful agents to see whether you qualify. A special deal of $50 for your first year might be available to you!
How is a Toyota automobile door handle changed?
First and foremost, you must purchase an OEM replacement outside door handle. For the reasons listed here, we do not advise purchasing an aftermarket replacement handle.
A Toyota dealer may sell you an OEM replacement door handle, but be prepared to pay a premium. On our website, however, you can get a genuine OEM Toyota door handle at a discount. To see every door handle we have available for your Toyota, search for it in our catalog.
Lubricating:
One approach to fix doors that won’t open from the inside or the outside is to lubricate the door latch. Start by looking for obstruction in the keyway. Open the door and examine the lock assembly to see what is stuck after that. After lubricating the assembly, reposition it. Keep doing this until the obstruction is cleared completely.
Remove The Door Panel:
The door panel can be detached using your tools. It will be simpler to pinpoint the problem once the screws holding the door panel in place have been removed. The electrical connections that are attached to the door panel should then be disconnected. You will discover a plastic cover inside the panel after removing it.
If the door won’t open, take off this cover and check for problems. Now determine if the problem is with the internal shafts or the mechanisms. To make the grip tighter and enable the door to open from the outside, attach a nut to the shaft’s end.
Look for problems with the power locking mechanism to fix the issue of not being open from the inside. It could need to be fixed or replaced.
Finally, double check the door lock motor and inspect the lock assembly for any broken parts. The door panel can be removed to make the entire operation simple.
Get A Locksmith:
If the doors to your car won’t open from the inside or the outside, your lock assembly may be broken. Once we can get the automobile door to open, these problems are simpler to identify and fix.
So, hiring a reputable vehicle locksmith is a straightforward answer to this problem. They can assist in opening the car while minimizing damage to the door. Upon opening the door, lock components can be examined and, if necessary, fixed or replaced.
Are new automobile door handles simple to install?
If you’ve had your car for a while, you probably don’t give the door handle much thought until you need to use it one day and it feels “odd.” Even if you can’t quite place it, something doesn’t feel right. The door appears to be locked even though the handle appears to work.
You obviously try using the key or the remote a few times, but it doesn’t seem to be workingit appears you are locked out of your own automobile. It works when you try the other door or even the back door. Great! The center console or even the back seat must be climbed over in order to enter and start your car. At least you can get in the car and drive home, even though it is at best undignified and at worst nearly impossible.
It’s possible that the inside door handle will fail first instead of the driver’s door handle; however, since the driver’s door is the one that gets the most use, this is typically the case. The business end, which is the part you cannot see, gradually cracks and then snaps off because the majority of these handles are composed of plastic or a cheap cast metal.
Although the process for changing the handle varies from car to automobile and in some cases necessitates disassembling the inside of the door, many may be replaced quickly and easily from outside the door with just a few simple steps.
How much time is required to repair a car door handle?
Hello and thank you for your letter. Depending on the car and whether or not the door can be opened from the inside. It takes about 1.5 hours to complete the work. On some makes and models, it might be more. For a more specific response the next time, I’d advise including information about your car. Consider YourMechanic if you require help replacing a door latch since one of our mobile technicians can visit your house or place of business to complete the task.
What is the cost of repairing a car door that won’t open?
Oh my, that needs to be rectified immediately! Depending on the issue and the kind of vehicle you drive, a car door lock repair will often cost between $200 and $600.
The internal panel of your car door must often be removed in order to replace door locks. Because replacing electronic door locks requires technical components, it’s usually simpler if a mechanic changes them if you’re unclear how to continue.
Car door locks and the appropriate auto insurance are both crucial for keeping your vehicle and the items inside of it secure. The Jerry app can be useful if you’re looking for a new policy.
The Jerry app, a registered broker that provides end-to-end support, compiles reasonable rates, assists you in switching plans, and even assists you in terminating your old policy.