Outer door handle replacement?

[BriLit]

Hello,

Has anyone ever replaced an outer door handle? I took the door panel off yesterday to inspect it and it looks impossible. I can not even get my hand up in there to touch the bolts. I did get all the way down to removing the "rust" colored plate behind the panel, but that is as far as I could get. The reason I have to is the door will not open from the outside.

It is a 97, I am working on the passanger side. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[BriLit]

Originally Posted by BriLit

Hello,

Has anyone ever replaced an outer door handle? I took the door panel off yesterday to inspect it and it looks impossible. I can not even get my hand up in there to touch the bolts. I did get all the way down to removing the "rust" colored plate behind the panel, but that is as far as I could get. The reason I have to is the door will not open from the outside.

It is a 97, I am working on the passanger side. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am starting to worry that it's not a DIY job. Can anyone post the shop manual steps, or steer me in the direction to get the right steps?

[serick04]

I have never had a classic Aurora door taken apart but most cars require the removal of the door glass to get any kind of access to these parts. Removing door glass in a classic Aurora is relatively easy though.

[BriLit]

Well.

Now the other side front outer door handle will not open. I have been inside there three times (ran out of time), and still can not see how to get the handles off. I have removed one of the bolts that holds one side of the handle, but that's as far as I got.

Has anyone had any experience removing the outer door handles, or does anyone know where to find the procedure? I am willing to pay some fee, since the dealer wants $240.00 for the labor to do both.

Thanks.

Brian

[vamc]

I guess you could go to the dealership and they can print off how to get to it, but if you dont want to go that way, you could get a cheltons(sp) book. the book may tell you how to get to it. i hope this helps. If anybody has a different idea, please help me out or help back up my answer.

[ckpaas]

I did it. My drivers side handle broke the nub part off that trips the latch. I broke it trying to open a frozen door. They wanted an ungodly amount for a new handle and to paint it. I took the nub and drilled through it the put a screw and some glue on it. It won't last forever but i'll be more gentle with it now. You can do it.

[BriLit]

Originally Posted by ckpaas

I did it. My drivers side handle broke the nub part off that trips the latch. I broke it trying to open a frozen door. They wanted an ungodly amount for a new handle and to paint it. I took the nub and drilled through it the put a screw and some glue on it. It won't last forever but i'll be more gentle with it now. You can do it.

Soooooo.....how did you get it out?

[ckpaas]

Originally Posted by BriLit

Soooooo.....how did you get it out?

Well, I remeber 2 screws that I used a long extension to get at. After I losened up the handle assy. I worked it out of the socket as far as I could then pushed the pin that holds the handle part out and that's about it.

[steck]

i ordered a door handle from GM,,,it actually wasnt that expensive. I painted it myself properly. and took it to garage...and they charged me an hour labour to replace it. total : around $125.00 Canadian.