1999 Avalon - Front Driver External Door Handle

[Jim Y]

1999 Avalon - Front Driver External Door Handle broke and cnnot open door.

Questions:
* Can I replce this myself or do I need to take to a body shop?

* If I handle where can I get instructions including how to remove the door panel.

* Where can I find the part? I have serached on-line with no success for a matching color (dark green).

Thanks - Need help as I am tired of entering passenger side to open drivers door.

Jim Y

[Joe W]

In many cases, a piece of linkage has fallen off, or broken. I would suggest that you reomve the inner door panel to assess the problem, but if it is the handle, the procedure is fairly straightforward. I have a 97 Avalon and removal of the door panel is probably close...remove any plastic plugs and remove the screws behind them. There are plastic clips that hold the panel to the door that just pop out...most of the time, but there are 3 or 4 circular clips that attach the panel to the door that require pushing the center of the clip in, with a small screwdriver. Once the center part pushes in you can remove the entire clip!