How to Replace Exterior Door Handle 1998-2002 Toyota Corolla

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Hi. I'm Mike Green. I am one of the owners of 1A Auto. I want to help you save time and money repairing and maintaining your vehicle. I am going to use my 20 plus years experience restoring and repairing cars and trucks like this to show you the correct way to install parts from 1aauto.com. The right parts installed correctly that's going to save you time and money. Thank you and enjoy the video.

In this video we are going to show you how to replace the outside door handle. We do the driver's side front, which is basically the same as the passenger's side front as well on this 98 Corolla same as any 98 to 02. Tools you will need are a Phillips screwdriver, a flat blade screwdriver, a 10mm socket with a ratchet and an extension and a flashlight will help you out too.

Start by removing the front inside door handle. There is a little Phillip's screw right there to remove.
The handle slides forward and it pulls out. Now behind you can see there is a clip right there on a rod. Get the screwdriver, and then take the handle and push it up and off the rod and off.

Now you are going to pry up your switch panel here, forward and disconnect the lead. I am getting the screwdriver right under the armrest pad here. Pry that up and you can also pull off this trim panel here. Now there are two screws holding the armrest right there and then a little clip right here. With the clip just use a Phillips head to kind of turn it. Put your fingernail underneath to pry out. Once it is out like that it is all set and remove these two screws.

Speed up as we do that. This is probably the most physically challenging part. Those screws are in there and a little difficult to get out, but as long as you have good Phillips screwdriver you will be all set. Now just pull. Use your fingernails. Use your fingers and work them in underneath. The door panel is just held in by a series of clips. Whoops, a little surprise as that clip came flying out, now the proper way to do it. Pulling this one with your hand over that. It is going to come out and just lift the door panel right up off. Pull back your water shield.

Now your exterior door handle and look up inside, you will see a yellow clip there. I reach up with my finger, pull that off.

You can either pull that rod out or if you go in right through this hole with a flat blade screwdriver, pull up in between, twist and pull that rod out. Then there is another clip. You see that yellow clip over there. Now that is the lock. What you want to do with this is I can't film it because I am going to stick my whole hand in there, but you basically you can just reach in and flip that clip, and I put my thumb right in like that, and I've got big hands so if I could do it, you'll be able to do it too. I just stick my whole hand in there, my thumb in and flip that clip off and that rod pulls right out.

Now there are two bolts, 10mm right there, and then it is hard to see this one. You can see a 10mm that is right there, and you want to look just up and behind that. You want to get this one back up here, and a little hurry up here as we just remove those two 10mm bolts. Once you have those off, lift up from the door handle. All I was doing was that lower clip was getting in my way, so your handle pulls it out like that.

Here is my original handle. New handle from 1A Auto. You would need to switch over the lock mechanism. Just remove that 10mm bolt and bolt it into there. You can see aside from that everything about the new handle from 1A is the same. I am just going to go in and fix your broken one. Obviously my old handle is in fine shape so I am going to reinstall it.
This handle is a textured black one so you could obviously install it as is and it fixes your problem if you have a broken handle. We also do sell smooth black, which if you wanted to match it to your vehicle, basically what you would want to find is your paint code. Go to an automotive parts store that has a good paint department and they can help you find that code. They can mix you up some paint in an air charged can and you can spray your handle to match, but as I said my original handle is in good shape so I am going to reinstall it.

With the handle still loose, you can look in and reach in with your other hand. Put that little back lock rod, back into place and then clip the clip on. It is probably easiest to do this way because you can put eyes on it. It kind of clips into place, a little bit. This first bolt goes right here, nice and easy. This bolt, kind of look it right in. Tighten them firm but not too tight.
Last but not least, take this rod and pull this and hold the clip up. Put the rod into place and push the clip down. Take your water shield. Put it back up in place.

Speed through putting them back together. Hang the door panel up. Make sure your lock button comes through the top. Then once you get it hung up you kind of look in behind and line up the clips, feel the pin, and then the hole, push it in. Make sure that you have your lock rod and your harness coming through then install the 2 Phillips screws that hold near the armrest base.

Now you can reinstall the armrest. Just push it down and lock it into place. Reconnect your power window switch. Slide the back in first then push the front down into place. Reinstall your door handle. Push it in. Push it back to lock it into place and then put the screw back in. Then the trim panel that goes up top near the mirror and then that little clip in the back to hold it.

We hope this 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 are the company that is here for you on the internet and in person.