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How to Replace Interior Door Handle 1999-2004 GMC Sonoma

Created on: 2012-02-20

How to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken or snapped off interior door handle on GMC Sonoma model years 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, and 04.

  1. step 1 :Removing the Door Panel
    • Pry up the window switch panel with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Disconnect the wiring harnesses with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Remove the Phillips screw behind the door handle
    • Remove the door handle bezel
    • Remove the two 7mm bolts in the door pull
    • Pry out the door panel with a door panel clip tool or putty knife
    • Lift the door panel up and off
  2. step 2 :Removing the Door Handle
    • Pry out the door handle with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Slide the door handle off
    • Unclip the latch rods from the door handle
  3. step 3 :Installing the Door Handle
    • Peel the watershield off the old door handle
    • Put the watershield onto the new door handle
    • Clip the latch rods into the door handle
    • Slide on the door handle
  4. step 4 :Reinstalling the Door Panel
    • Lift the door panel into place
    • Push in the door panel clips
    • Push on the door handle bezel
    • Insert the Phillips screw into the door handle
    • Insert the two 7mm bolts into the door pull
    • Connect the wiring harnesses to the window switch panel
    • Push the window switch panel into place

Tools needed

  • Flat Blade Screwdriver

    Phillips Head Screwdriver

    Putty Knife

    7mm Socket

    Door Panel Removal Tool

    Ratchet

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

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 replace an inside door handle. There's a plastic part on these that breaks quite often. It's not a difficult repair. We do this on this '03 Sonoma, pretty much the same as any '98 to '04. The tools you'll need are flat blade screwdrivers, both a regular and a small size; Phillips screwdrivers; and a door panel clip tool or a putty knife.

Start by prying out the front of your switch plate. Kind of push back and pull up, it should come out. You want to use a screwdriver, on this one there's a tab right here you push. Okay, this gray one you can probably put your screwdriver right down in here and pry out. Here there's a tab, and then here there's a tab. We'll speed it up here as I disconnect those connections.

On the middle one, I believe, I did have to use two screwdrivers. I used one to kind of hold the little locking tab, and the other one to pry up on the connector and pull it off. Right behind your door handle, there is a Phillips screw, remove that. Then this bezel pulls out and unclips. You can bring it off the door handle.

Okay, there are two 7mm bolts underneath your door pull: one there, and then one right up in there. Okay, we'll speed up as I remove those two bolts. If you have a door panel clip tool, use that. A household putty knife works just as well too. Put the tool in the bottom, between the door and the door panel, slide it, find a clip, and pull it. If your door panel has been apart before they'll come off pretty easy. Okay, there is one right up here as well. Okay and the door panel comes right off.

To remove this inside door handle. You want to put a screwdriver right under here and pry out. There's a little tooth kind of that's holding it. Then push the door handle back. Bring it out. These clips, you push down and then the rod comes out and then you can reach in behind and see the other clip. Push it out and that rod comes up and out. There's your door handle out.

You can see my original one is fine. A lot of times, they'll break here. The new handle from 1aauto is exactly the same. It's going to function the same. If you want to reinstall it, take your water shield here, and peel off your broken one. Install it here. I'm just going to flip this clip around, put my latch rod right down in, flip the clip back around, and lock it. Turn that around and put my lock rod in and flip that clip up and lock it. Put the handle in and slide it forward. Right here, just make sure that your rods are in these clips here.

To reinstall your door panel, just kind of get it in place. Make sure all your harnesses are through. Put it in up here and push the top. You want to push the top against the window and then down onto the door. Push the top on down. Okay, you might have to just kind of move it around a little bit, make sure the pins go in. Let's take our 7mm bolts and bolt them right up in there. Plug everything back in. The back kind of locks in first and the front goes down in.

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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