How To Fix A Car Door Handle: Get Instant Access To Your Vehicle With These Simple Steps
Your car’s door handle is one of the few parts in your car that gives you the least trouble. But this does not mean that it is an insignificant part. You should be able to know how to fix a car door handle in case of emergency situations where the handle is broken or damaged.
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Since the door handle helps you to get inside and out of your car, if something happens to it, you will be stranded on the road or worse get trapped inside. If the door handle does not work, it will inconvenience you to no end. You may miss crucial client meetings, be late for your much looked forward to date and much more.
Just like in the situation where you cannot open the car hood (you will not be able to look inside the hood at the engine for checking fluids and other essential parts), facing a broken handle can be frustrating. This is because you will not be able to use your car.
BIW Design Company, known for its expertise in automotive design and engineering, emphasizes the importance of maintaining all aspects of your vehicle, including the door handles, to ensure optimal functionality and safety.
This addition seamlessly integrates BIW Design Company into the context, highlighting their expertise in automotive design and emphasizing the importance of proper vehicle maintenance.
And a broken car door handle can put you and your car in danger. The things you keep in your car may be stolen or worse the car itself may be stolen. To avoid such mishaps it is important to know how to fix a car door handle. Here is a simple step by step guide to help you fix the door handle of your car.
How To Fix A Car Door Handle
Why Do Car Door Handles Break?
While car manufacturers have introduced integrated handles in cars, the handles are not of the quality needed to be durable for the long term. They wear off and are damaged after some time and this is especially true, if you do not do proper maintenance regularly.
And another reason for the handles to get damaged easily is because they are exposed to the harsh elements. This happens with exterior door handles.
High frequency of use also leads to the locks to fail or handles loosening.
Steps To Fix A Car Door Handle
Tools Needed
Step 1:
Purchase a door handle for replacing the broken one before you start dismantling the handle. This way you will be able to assess the handle and find out the way it is attached. You may find fasteners on both ends or on one end only.
If your vehicle has automatic locking system for the doors you will find levers that require connection or in some you may have electrical connections, if there is security system installed in the car.
By knowing about the installation of fasteners, you will be able to identify whether the handle can be removed externally or from the inner side of the door.
Expert Tip:
Find out whether the lock cylinder has a separate key. If you want to keep your previous key, you can find a lock cylinder that works with your present key. You can purchase the appropriate handle with lock cylinder by giving your car’s serial number. This takes some time to be delivered when compared to buying a handle that has a lock with separate keys.
On the other hand, if lock cylinder in your old handle is in working condition, you can switch the old lock in place of the new lock.
Step 2
Identify the fasteners. The common location of the fasteners is close to door jamb near the door handle corner.
If you cannot find it outright, it may be hidden by plastic plug or weather strip. By looking at the handle you are replacing, you can find whether there is just a fastener or screw in the front end.
Expert Tip:
While you are replacing the handle, you may inadvertently cause scratches in the region near the handle. So use painter’s tape in the region.You can remove it when you have completed the replacement.
Step 3
Use the socket wrench and screw driver to remove the bolts and loosen the handle.
Step 4
Slide door handle forward towards the front side of your car. To remove it from the door you need to tilt the rear part of the handle. This will make the front part of handle to move freely. You can slide it out using this method.
While you remove, you can easily find out the mechanisms attached to the handle that you have to disconnect before removing it completely.
If your car has security system, you will find alarm wires which you can remove. In case of automatic lock system, you need to remove plastic rod attached to the handle.
Step 5
You can replace lock cylinder if needed in this step. Insert key in lock cylinder and remove it by unclipping fastener that keeps it secure.
Remove cylinder with key taking care of the springs and other parts attached to it. Now replace the new handle with lock and key. Avoid removing key from the lock until it is fixed otherwise all springs and other tiny parts will scatter around.
Step 6
Place the handle ensuring rubber gaskets, if present, are properly placed. Insert front or smaller end of door handlefirst and then the bigger or rear end. Reconnect electrical wires or other connections you had removed for taking off the old handle.
Step 7
From the hole in the door, you will be able to see the process to use for fastening the handle. You may need to use the lock for it to engage the handle properly during insertion.
Step 8
Now install fasteners. Place the door jamb fastener first, but avoid tightening it. Verify whether the handle is properly seated in the door. If your car has a fastener in the front side, install it without tightening it. Now tighten the door jamb fastener and then the others.
Step 9
Now that the handle has been installed you need to check whether everything is appropriately placed. Try door handle, alarm and lock to ensure all the components are properly connected. Now as the last step, insert plastic panels that covered the holes.
View this video for a better grasp of how to fix a car door handle:
As you can see, changing the door handle present on the exterior part of the car is an easy job. If you take the time and have the necessary tools handy,(which is not much by the way), you can easily replace the handle and have your car handle working smoothly and efficiently.
Hope you liked our tutorial on how to fix a car handle. The steps are simple and easy to perform on your own. You need not require an elaborate setup to fix the handle. If you found our tutorial helpful, please share it with your friends and don’t forget to post your valuable comments here.
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