2002-06 Nissan Altima with Lock Provision Front Driver Side Exterior Door Handle TRQ DHA48602

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Hi, I'm Don from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.

In this video, we're going to show you how to replace a front exterior door handle on this 2003 Nissan Altima, it's the same process on the Altimas from '02 to 2006. The items you'll need for this are a new exterior door handle from 1AAuto.com, flat blade screwdriver, 10mm socket and ratchet and a Philips screwdriver.

Start off by removing this screw cap right here. Underneath that there's a Philips screw. You want to go ahead and remove that. Pry up the switch panel, starting at the top here. Now disconnect the harnesses from the switch panel, just push down on the tabs and pull the harness out. Now pry out this triangular panel at the top of the door panel and remove the screw cap from behind the door handle. Now you just want to remove these two Philips screws. Down here is your courtesy light. It just pulls out and you can just pull out the harness and then pull out around the door to release the clips and the door panel just lifts up and off. Now in the back side of the door panel, there's these two cables, they disconnect the same. Pull them out, lift it up and it's free.

Then you just want to push on the tab on this harness and pull it out. Now you just want to disconnect these harness clips, just push on the tab and pull the harness free and you want to remove this harness from this inner door panel here so just grab either side of the clips and pull out until it comes free.You may need flat blade screwdriver to help you out on some of these and we're just going to fast forward as Don does the rest of them. Right here you can see there are these two covers, you just want to use a razor blade and pull those off. Now you just want to connect your switch panel, just plug the harnesses into it. Then, just move your window regulator up until you can see those two 10mm bolts, right there. Just go ahead and remove those. Now that those bolts are removed, you can just pull your window up and out. Disconnect your switch panel. Lining your inner door panel there are nine 10mm bolts, you just want to remove these. Once those are removed, the inner door panel will just pull right off.

Now, on the back of your exterior door handle, there's these two rods here held on with clips. There's this one right here and there's one with the orange clip back there and to disconnect these you just push up on that clip and it may take a little bit of effort. Then you just pull that rod out and you want to do the same thing to the other one. Now as you can see both rods are disconnected. Remove this plastic cover and then right here on the back of your exterior door handle there's a 10mm bolt right there and another one right there, just remove those. Now, pull that harness right out of the clip there and you just want to push from one side and pull from the other and your door handle will come right out. There's a 10mm bolt right here, remove that to disconnect your lock.

The new door handle is on the left, the old one on the right. You can see the one from 1A Auto is black but if you want it to paint it to match your vehicle, you could buy some spray paint that's close and paint it with that or you could take it to an auto parts store with a paint department and get an air-charged can of the paint that actually matches your vehicle. We're just going to reinstall our old door handle because it's in good condition. You just want to put the lock in place and replace that 10mm bolt. Feed the door handle back into the door. Reclip the rods on the back of the door handle. We're going to fast forward here as Don replaces those two 10mm bolts.

Put your inner door panel back into place and make sure you're not pinching any harnesses. Then replace the nine 10mm bolts. Feed the window back down into place and into that window regulator. Replace the plastic cover. Now put the bolt into the socket and feed it into the door and replace those two 10mm bolts to hold the window in place. Place those two covers. Now you want to reconnect you harnesses and push them back into that inner door panel. Now to reinstall your door panel, it's pretty much a reverse of the procedure. You just push your harness into place and slide your door handle and lock cable down into that slot, push it forward and clip it into the door panel. Push the harnesses through the door panel. Then just line it up on the windowsill and push it down into place and make sure that the harness for your courtesy light comes through. Then, line up the clips on the back of the door panel and just hit them into place. Reconnect your courtesy light and push it into place. Replace the two Philips screws, the one behind the door handle and the one in the pull cup. Reconnect your switch panel, just plug the harnesses in and push the switch panel down into place. Replace the Philips screw in the switch panel. Now just replace that triangular panel and you're all set.

We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.