1997 Toyota Camry Exterior Driver-Side Door Handle Replacement

ID: 213599

Description: Have you ever tried to open your Toyota Camry’s...

Steps:

1. Get all your tools ready!

2. Make sure the window is all the way up.

3. Use a pick tool to remove the two plastic plugs and the plastic trim inside the door release lever.

4. Use a flat blade screwdriver to pop out the trim panel.
5. Remove the switch housing from the door by holding the button and disconnecting it.

6. Use a flat blade screwdriver to pry the small triangular plastic cover on the right side of the window interior.

7. Use a no. 2 Phillips head screwdriver to remove the 5 Phillips head screws from the door panel.

8. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to remove the bezel by placing it between the handle and the bezel, starting from the bottom, then the top.

9. Pop out the bottom of the door panel, then lift and remove the panel.

10. Use a 10mm socket with ratchet and extension to remove the bolt from the back of the door handle.
11. Rotate the interior door handle the opposite way to release the metal latch rods from the handle and the lock.
12. Remember that the upper is for the lock and the lower is for the handle

13. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the 3 Phillips head screws from the metal plate.

14. Carefully remove the weather shielding inside the door panel.
15. Pull the wiring harness through the shielding before finishing removing it.
16. Place the shielding off to the side where it won’t get wrinkled or torn.

17. Disconnect the latch rod from the back of the door handle by flipping up on the plastic lock rod retainer clip.
18. Use a flat blade screwdriver to pry the latch rod out of the handle.
19. For the plastic lock rod retainer clip and rod repeat the same step.
20. The Plastic Lock Rod Retainer Clip is supposed to stay in the hole, but mine is broken, and the new door handle came with a new one.

21. Use a 10mm socket with ratchet and extension to remove the 2 bolts.
22. Lift up on the door handle and pull out to remove it.

23. Use a 10mm socket with ratchet and extension to remove the bolt.
24. Remove the lock from handle and reinstall it into your new handle.

25. Install your new door handle the same way you took out the old one.
26. Use a 10mm socket with ratchet and extension to reinstall the 10mm bolts.

27. Reconnect the lock rod into the hole on the bottom of the lock cylinder and snap the yellow lock rod retainer clip into place.
28. Reconnect the latch rod into the back of the door handle and snap the white lock rod retainer clip into place.

29. Reinstall the weather shielding to the inside of the door making sure you put through the wiring
30. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to reinstall the 3 Phillips head screws in the lower metal cover.

31. Reinstall the lock rod into the top and the handle latch rod into the bottom.
32. Connect the hooks from the back of the latch into the door, and slide back to engage them.
33. Use a 10mm socket with ratchet and extension to reinstall the 10mm bolt thats in the back of the handle.

34. Reinstall the door panel and make sure your door lock and window switch wires are pulled through so they don't get stuck behind it.
35. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to reinstall your 5 Phillips head screwdriver on your door panel.

36. Reconnect the electrical connectors on your lock and window switch and place back onto the arm rest.
37. Reconnect the bezel around the interior door handle and reinstall your Phillips head screw.
38. Plug back in all three screw covers and snap back on the black triangular plastic cover.

39. Finished!