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How to Replace Exterior Door Handles 2002-08 Dodge Ram

Created on: 2011-04-11

How to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken or ripped off door handleon 2002-2008 Dodge Ram models.

  1. step 1 :Removing the Door Panel
    • Remove the bolt behind the door handle with a T40 Torx bit or a 10mm socket and a ratchet
    • Remove the Phillips screw from the door panel
    • Lift the door panel up and off
    • Disconnect the window switch wiring harness
    • Pull off the door panel
    • Peel back the water shield
  2. step 2 :Removing the Outside Door Handle
    • Remove the rubber plug from the door with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Remove the two 8mm nuts from the back of the door handle
    • Pull the door handle off from the outside of the door
    • Unclip the latch rod from the door handle with a flat blade screwdriver
  3. step 3 :Installing the New Outside Door Handle
    • Clip the latch rod onto the new outside door handle
    • Push the door handle into the door
    • Fasten the two 8mm nuts onto the door handle
    • Push the rubber plug into the door
  4. step 4 :Reinstalling the Door Panel
    • Put on the water shield
    • Push the door lock bezel out of the door panel
    • Connect the window switch wiring harness
    • Lift the door panel into place, using the locating tabs
    • Push the door panel in
    • Push the door handle into place
    • Tighten the bolt into the door handle
    • Insert the Phillips screw into the door panel
    • Push the door lock bezel into place

Tools needed

  • Socket Extensions

    Flat Blade Screwdriver

    T40 Socket

    8mm Socket

    10mm Socket

    Ratchet

Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.

Hi, I'm Mike Green. I'm one of the owners of 1A Auto. I want to help you save time and money repairing or maintaining your vehicle. I'm 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're going to show how to remove and replace the rear door handle on this 2004 Dodge Ram quad cab, same as any '02 to '08, plus any '09 2500 or 3500. Tools you'll need are 8mm and 10mm sockets with ratchet and extension and a Phillips screwdriver.

First, you're going to remove two fasteners. There is either a T40 Torx Bit or a 10mm socket bolt there holding your door handle on and then a Phillips screw right there. Here's the T40 Torx Bit or the 10mm socket with an extension. You'll need the extension with the Torx Bit as well. I'm going to use the 10mm socket. Pull your door handle up a little bit. As I'm turning, I'm just pulling out on the handle a little bit. Here's the 10mm screw. Then your door panel just comes up. Walk your door like that, and pull that out. Behind, there is a connector, here, for your power window. You just push down here and disconnect and then the door panel comes right off.

To remove the outside door handle, pull back your water shield some and then there are two 8mm bolts: one there, and then, using a screwdriver, push down and pry off this little plug and that exposes another 8mm nut there. Here's our plug. Then use an 8mm socket with a ratchet and extension. I'm just speeding it up here as I just remove those nuts and you just want to make sure to be careful not to drop those down under your door. It's hard to find. Now what you're going to want to do is to pull the handle out, pull it to the open position just a little bit, pull it down, and now, there's a little clip right here you need to push. You need to push with a pair of pliers or a screwdriver or something or just use your finger and then the handle comes off and you can see my handle here is fine.

Just to show you how to re-install it, reverse the procedure. Put the rod in, pull the clip down, lock it on, force that down just a little bit, get that counterweight up and in, slide it back some and it's on. I'll take our 8mm nuts. If you like . actually these are already sticky, so, at the factory, they may have put just a little glue on to help them hold on. Put a little glue just so they hold in to your socket, and turn. We'll speed it up as just turn those in by hand. Again, just be very careful not to drop them down in the door. Now, I'll tighten them up. They don't have to be incredibly tight.

To put it back on, first what you're going to want to do is pop this bezel around your door lock off, which just requires you to push on the little teeth from the bottom here and then unsnap it. Now there are two teeth down here. Just hook those in a little bit. Pull your plug lead for your power window out a little bit and plug that in. Then push it in. You may have to lift up just a little bit, make sure that the lock comes through. Push down. Make sure all your edges are nice and tight against the door. Put our screw in. Take your door handle, put the socket or the Torx bit right on it. Loop it in there. Pretty much you'll start turning and it finds its way. Then, for your lock bezel, put that over and it snaps on.

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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2003 - 2009  Dodge  Ram 2500 Truck
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