How To Replace Exterior Door Handle 1997-2004 Ford F150
Created on: 2017-04-12
How to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken or snapped off exterior door handle on 98 Ford F150
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step 1 :Removing the Door Panel
- Pry off the trim piece behind the door handle with a flat blade screwdriver
- Loosen the 8mm bolt halfway from the handle
- Pry off the sail panel
- Pry off the upper trim panel
- Remove the 8mm bolts from the top corners
- Pry up the window switch panel with a flat blade screwdriver
- Pry out the door panel with a door panel clip tool or putty knife
- Lift the door panel up and off
- Disconnect the light wiring harness
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step 2 :Removing the Exterior Door Handle
- Roll the window up
- Release the lock rod on the door handle rod with a pick
- Remove the 10mm nuts on the handle
- Pull the door handle out of the door
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step 3 :Installing the Exterior Door Handle
- Line up the door handle into the slot on the vehicle
- Slide the door handle into the door
- Tighten the 10mm bolts to the handle
- Connect the latch rod
- Connect the rod mechanism
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step 4 :Installing the Door Panel
- Put the water shield into place
- Connect the light
- Lift the door panel into place
- Push in the door panel clips
- Connect the harnesses to the switch panel
- Push in the switch panel
- Push in the upper door panel trim
Tools needed
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Socket Extensions
7mm Socket
10mm Socket
Ratchet
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In this video we're going to be working with our 1998 Ford F-150. We're going to show you how to remove and replace your vehicle's exterior door handle.
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Here are the items you'll need for this repair: 7 to 10mm socket, ratchet, socket extension
Pop off the cover tab off behind the door handle. You should be able to do this with your fingers. Then inside there is an eight millimeter screw securing the door handle to the latch. We'll get that with an eight millimeter socket ratchet and extension. Now, the trick here is do not remove this bolt all the way. Get it about halfway out until the handle is free and leave it. It will stay in there.
You don't have to worry about losing the bolt. Grab the sail panel, pop that off with your hand. The upper trim at the rear as well just pops off by hand. Now, normally, there is a seven or eight millimeter screw in both of these locations under those panels. Ours are obviously missing. Lift up and remove the window switch, and unplug all four electrical connectors. Then, remove the panel from the truck. You can then lift up, lay your door panel back, unplug the marker light, and remove the panel from your truck. You can then lift up, lay your door panel back, unplug the marker light and remove the panel from your truck.
Make sure your window is in the full up position. Release the lock rod from that red tab on the back side of the door handle. Using a long pick or a flat blade screwdriver, you may even be able to get in there and do that with your finger, undo the latch holding the handle rod in place. Pop that out. Put the handle rod out of the way. You can get at the 10 millimeter nut with the back side of the handle with a 10 millimeter socket and ratchet. You'll want to remove that. You'll also need to remove the 10 millimeter nut at the front side of the handle. While removing this go ahead and put a hand on the outside door handle to make sure that it doesn't fall out. Remove the door handle from the door.
Reinstall the door handle into the truck. Reinstall your two 10 millimeter bolts. Snap the lock rod back into your door handle. Reinstall the exterior handle rod into its retainer and close the clasp.
Normally there's a series of clips that will retain your harness against the door. Ours have been broken or missing, so we'll just feed the wiring for the switch up through the panel and reconnect our courtesy light into its socket, line up the door lock and all the pins in the door and slide it back into place. There are also your two screws or pins in the corner here that you'll need to reinstall. Ours are missing. Reinstall the top panels by lining them up and snapping them into place. Reconnect all the switches in your panel. Line up the tabs and snap it back into place. Reinstall your door handle and line up the bolt with the hole. Reinstall it with your eight millimeter socket and ratchet. Reinstall the little plastic cover and you're good to go.
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Ford F150 F150 Heritage F250 Front Driver Side Exterior Door Handle TRQ DHA43078
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