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How To Replace Interior Door Handle 1997-2004 Ford F-150

Created on: 2017-04-12

How to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken or snapped off interior door handle on 98 Ford F-150

  1. 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
  2. step 2 :Removing the Interior Door Handle
    • Lift up the door handle rod mechanism
    • Remove the door handle rod from the mechanism
    • Remove the 8mm bolt from the handle
    • Pull the door handle out of the door
  3. step 3 :Installing the Interior Door Handle
    • Line up the door handle into the slot on the vehicle
    • Slide the door handle into the door
    • Tighten the 8mm bolt to the handle
    • Connect the latch rod
    • Connect the rod mechanism
  4. 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
    • Push in the sail panel
    • Insert the door handle into the door
    • Tighten the 8mm socket and ratchet to the door handle
    • Press on the trim button behind the handle

Tools needed

  • Socket Extensions

    Flat Blade Screwdriver

    8mm Socket

    10mm Socket

    Ratchet

Hi, I'm Mike from 1AAuto. We've been selling auto parts for over 30 years! We're dedicated to delivering quality auto parts, expert customer service, and fast and free shipping, all backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. So visit us at 1AAuto.com, your trusted source for quality auto parts.

In this video, we're going to be working with our 1998 Ford F-150. We're going to be showing you how to remove and replace your interior door handle.

If you like this video, please click 'subscribe.' We have a ton more information on this and many other vehicles. If you need this part for your truck, you can follow the link down in the description over to 1AAuto.com.

Here are the items you'll need for this repair: 8mm to 10mm socket, ratchet, socket extensions, flat head screwdriver

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.

Pop up the clasp holding the rod onto the handle mechanism and lift it out. We'll then remove this 8 millimeter bolt with an 8 millimeter socket and ratchet. Slide it forward and remove it from the truck. Line up the tab in the back with its slot and slide it into place until the bolt hole lines up; at which point we'll reinstall our 8 millimeter bolt.

Now this does have a little bit of wiggle to it, so make sure you hold it in place while you tighten this down, just to keep it straight and in line. When reinstalling the latch rod, you'll see there's some play on this. You want to push it toward the open side of the door and watch that it doesn't actually move the mechanism, then set it in place and put the clasp down. This should now mean your handle has the minimum amount of throw needed in order to open the door, making it quick and easy.

Normally, there's this series of clips that will retain your harness against the door. Ours have been broken or are 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 into 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. 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, and reinstall it with your eight millimeter socket and ratchet. Reinstall the little plastic cover, and you're good to go.

Thanks for watching. Visit us at 1AAuto.com for quality auto parts, fast and free shipping, and the best customer service in the industry.


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