Everything About Car Door Handle You Need To Know

The interior door handle, as the name suggests, allows the passengers to open the car door and get out of the vehicle. The number of handles on the car is exactly the same as the number of doors present on the vehicle for passengers to enter the car. Apart from the front and rear door handles, there can be another handle if the vehicle has a liftgate or rear hatch.

Car door handles are usually made from steel. If you drive an expensive vehicle, the door handles can also be made from chrome.

Door handles must be replaced rather than repaired, if found faulty or damaged. Apart from providing functionality, door handles can also enhance the look of the car interiors.

Door handles are installed on both the interior and exterior of the car door and are used to open the car doors. Although the functionality is the same, the handle is different according to different panels.

Door handles have a rotor as a toothed wheel at the side panel of the door that does the job.

Car door handle is the part that is most rigorously used as it enables the driver to enter and exit the vehicle. If the interior door handle doesn’t work, you will not be able to exit the car and can cause many problems. But the sad part is that the door handles are the most neglected part and will only be treated when they completely stop working. If the door handles are not maintained properly, the handle can get stuck or won’t budge to open due to wear and tear. If you want to save your door handle for prolonged operations, one must keep them lubricated and do frequent check-ups for maintenance.

Some of the classic signs of a faulty interior door handle is when the door doesn’t open or close, feels loose, or when it takes more effort to pull the door open. In all these cases, the door handle needs to be replaced.

Imagine a situation where you enter the car, start the engine, drive, and reach at your destination only to notice that you can’t open your car door to get out. This was a simple example. Now, imagine a situation where there’s a safety hazard like a fire or an accident, and you need to get out of the car immediately, but you can’t as the door handle has malfunctioned.

To ensure safety under the above-mentioned circumstances, governments of many nations have made it mandatory to install interior door handles, even if the vehicle has automatic doors. The interior door handles experience a lot of wear and tear over prolonged usage, that can eventually make them loose or result in complete breakdown. Thus, get them checked properly from a professional and replace them, if needed.

Below mentioned are the warning signs indicating a problematic car interior door. If you see these signs, it is advisable to replace the door handle in time to avoid any other electrical or mechanical damage to the various components present inside the car door panel.

1. Door Handle Loose - Most car door handles are made up of plastic or a metallic coated polymer. A car door handle is attached to the door panel, connected to a cable that operates the door lock mechanism or an electric relay that opens the door electronically. However, most of the door handles are connected via manual cable, which can get loosened over a certain period of time. If the cable gets loose, the door handle will get loose, resulting in the door lock malfunctioning. If this issue is left untreated, the cable can break and the door latch mechanism can become useless. An experienced mechanic can handle this problem efficiently and early repairs can avoid costly repair later.
2. Door Not Opening Smoothly - The perfectly mounted door handle must open the door effortlessly. However, with periodic usage the car door handle hinges can become loose, which can lead to increased efforts for opening the car door. This added pressure is usually caused by a kink in the linkage that can cause the door handle to snap out of the inner door panel. Thus, as soon as you notice this problem, replace the handle.
3. Door Not Opening - If the door handle has broken from the inside, the main reason can be of a broken door handle latch, leading to door not opening. Most of the mechanical components inside the door panel need timely lubrication. If not done, the moving parts can get stuck in one place and the door can get stuck. Thus, check the door components for malfunction and get them treated by a professional mechanic only to avoid any further damage.

Are you thinking of repairing your Door Handle on your own? Then there is one thing which you must have, that is the right tools needed for repairing your Door Handle. It is essential to make sure that you are outfitted with the right tools to get the work done properly. Have a look at some tools which you might need to get started with your repair work:

• Interior trim removal tools
• Pliers - regular/needle-nose
• Ratchet
• Screwdrivers - flathead/Phillips/Torx
• Sockets

When it comes to vehicle owner’s choice, the brands really matter a lot. You might pay a premium for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability as well as trust. There are some leading car parts brands which are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related with the quality. So have a look at some of the top brands for Door Handle.

All Sales Interior Door Handle

It is very important to arm yourself with information before you shop any auto part. We are here to help you dive deep into the names of the Door Handle related parts.

• Billet Interior Door Trim Insert

Door Handle replacement cost can differ wildly depending on application, the brand of the Door Handle as well as who does the work. All you have to do is to replace your faulty Door Handle with us online and then you can leave your car to the mechanic and pick it up a few days later. Just be sure that the car mechanic is highly skilled and has a good reputation. Sometimes the additional service level might cost you more than what you have expected. We also recommend you to take pictures of your car before you leave it with them so that you are sure that later on it is returned back to you in an unharmed condition.

Have you been rolling down your car window and opening the car door by pulling the door handle from outside? Is your car’s interior door handle not working for a long time and you have been dreading to replace it? In many older model cars, the handle bards were made from heavy metals like steel and were prone to early damages and rusting. With time, these handles became lighter and started getting made from plastic or mix polymer.

Earlier the door handles were made from heavy metals and could have survived a lifetime, despite all physical hindrances. But today, the door handles have become cheaper and lighter and might need an early replacement under different circumstances.

Replacing Inner Door Handle

1. Door Panel Screw Removal - Locate all the screws on the door panel to remove the panel safely and properly. Sometimes they are easily visible, but sometimes are covered by small trims. Some can hide behind grab handle and outer edge of door panel.
2. Separate Door Panel Form Fasteners/Clips - After removing the screws, check for the corners of the door panels. This is because the door panel is also held in place using fasteners around the front and lower edge and also around the back of the door opening. Using a trim panel removal tool, remove all the fasteners and gently pry the door panel loose from the clips. Don’t break the clips while removing the panel.
3. Door Trim Panel Removal - Once the fasteners and clips are removed, separate the door panel by giving a slight upwards push from the bottom of the panel. The top edge of the door panel pops up and the next step is to remove the various electrical connectors in association with many components like the window/door/fuel door release buttons. To remove the panel and door handle assembly, tilt the panel and pull it back to completely take it off.
4. Removing Plastic Vapor Barrier - This step is one of the most critical one, if the vehicle has airbags installed in the doors. This is because even a slight change in pressure can deploy the airbags. Thus, remember not to damage or cut the vapor barrier and if done by mistake, should be replaced immediately.
5. Removing Door Handle Mechanism - Unscrew all the bolts and screws holding the door handle in place. This includes a small rod running from the inner door handle to the latch mechanism, held by the plastic clips. Remove the broken handle and replace it with the new handle.
6. Reinstall Inner Door Panel - After installing the new door handle, check for its functionality. Also check the outer door handle for its proper operation. Reconnect all the connectors left to connect and snap the door panel using the fasteners and clips. This is also the time to replace any broken fasteners and clips.
7. Reinstall Screws & Trims - After securing the door panel in place, reinstall all the screws and trim pieces in place. Tighten the screws properly and check for loose ends, if any.