How to Replace Exterior Door Handle 2001-06 Dodge Stratus
Created on: 2011-11-05
How to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken or snapped off exterior door handleon 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus models.
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step 1 :Removing the Door Panel
- Pry off the trim piece inside the door pull with a flat blade screwdriver
- Pry off the trim piece inside the door handle with a flat blade screwdriver
- Remove the Phillips head screw inside the door pull
- Remove the Phillips head screw inside the door handle
- Remove the two Phillips screws at the bottom of the door panel
- Pry out the door panel with a door panel clip tool or putty knife
- Lift the door panel up and off
- Disconnect the latch cables from the door handle
- Disconnect the wiring harness
- Remove any remaining clips with a pair of bent-nose pliers
- Carefully peel off the water shield
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step 2 :Removing the Outside Door Handle
- Remove the rubber plug on the door
- Remove the two 8mm bolts from the door handle
- Pull the handle back and out
- Disconnect the rod from the door handle
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step 3 :Installing the New Outside Door Handle
- Connect the rod to the door handle
- Push the door handle into place
- Tighten the two 8mm bolts to the door handle
- Push the rubber plug into the door
- Put the water shield into place
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step 4 :Reinstalling the Door Panel
- Push any remaining clips into the door
- Connect the wiring harness
- Connect the latch cables to the door handle
- Lift the door panel into place
- Push in the door panel clips
- Insert the Phillips head screw inside the door pull
- Insert the Phillips head screw inside the door handle
- Insert the two Phillips screws to the bottom of the door panel
- Pry on the trim piece inside the door pull with a flat blade screwdriver
- Pry on the trim piece inside the door handle with a flat blade screwdriver
Tools needed
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Socket Extensions
Flat Blade Screwdriver
Phillips Head Screwdriver
Putty Knife
8mm Socket
Door Panel Removal Tool
Ratchet
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Hi, I'm Mike 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 remove and reinstall a rear door handle on this 2004 Dodge Stratus. The same as any '01 to '06. On this vehicle the handle is actually not broken, but we do just remove it and put it back just to show you how it's done. Tools you'll need are a small flat blade screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, putty knife or a door panel clip tool, and an 8mm socket and ratchet with an extension.
To remove the rear door panel we're going to look inside the cup here, and you'll see a little trapdoor. Use a small flat blade screwdriver, pull that up and you can see there's a Phillips screw in there. Same thing here, another Phillips screw and then there are two Phillips screws on the bottom: one there, one there. Once the screws are out put your hand underneath, and then you want to go around the edge of the door panel. You'll get towards the clips and pull them out. Sometimes they can be very difficult to release. There's also a couple up top here.
Lift the door panel up. Behind there's a little clip here. Use your thumb, pull that off. Your harness for your windows is down here. There's a little tab. Push that tab and disconnect it. You may find a couple of your clips don't come with the door panel. Just pull them out and then reinstall them back into their spots on the door panel, and they're ready to go.
Next, you want to carefully peel back the water shield. It's a little difficult on these vehicles. I don't know what in the world they used for adhesive, but it sticks on there good. Carefully peel it back. Try to avoid ripping it as much as you can. Remove this little plug here. You just have to push it and pry it out. Now inside through each hole there is an 8mm bolt, a little difficult to see; a little difficult to film. Here the red arrow is pointing to that from 8mm bolt. We've got an 8mm socket, ratchet, and extension, kind of peek in there. A little tip here, if you put some glue on your socket so it'll stick to the head of the bolt, you'll prevent dropping them. If you do drop them, it's pretty easy to reach down into the door to retrieve them. On this one you want to go up and back some finding the bolt. Take your handle pull it out. Go back, bring the front out and slide it forward and out. Disconnect this rod. A lot of times what happens is they break right here or this rod gives out. Obviously mine's fine.
To reinstall, put it down there like that. Push it in. Then go back, up and in and clip it in place. If you do drop your bolts like you heard me do on the second one, with the handle out is the best time to look down and find them. Taking this one and starting it by hand correct. To get this rear one, what I did was I actually put a little bit of glue and put it in my socket, so that way my bolt doesn't fall out. This is pretty much the most challenging part here. I'm providing some light on this side. Feeding my socket in. Start the bolt. Tighten it up. Finish it up. Put our plug back in.
Fast-forward as I put the water shield back on. I did take this all the way off because, I dropped a bolt, but if you follow my tip of using a little bit of glue in the socket, you won't have to do that. To reinstall the door panel, take your power window harness and plug it in. Take your rod, put it into the door handle, flip the clip around. Put your panel up over your lock knob there. There's a large pin here that lines it up. We can cheat and look back here and make sure the pins are going in. Reinstall your screws. We'll fast-forward here as we reinstall the four screws: one in the door pull cup, one behind the door handle, and then the two at the bottom. Make sure you put the little trim pieces back in the one for the pull cup and the one for the door handle.
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.
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