My FC is currently door handle-less. I am trying to install two new door handles into the doors, but am not really sure where to start.

I know that you have to take the trim off (possibly the armrest too?), so you can access the door handles. Would I have to take the weatherstrip off?

I don't really work with cars at all, so I know next to nothing about them, and I don't wanna screw this up somehow. I downloaded the Factory Service Manual, is there anything else that can help me with this installation? What do you guys suggest? I also need to move the locks from the old handles to the new ones, but I hear that is easy.

I think I'll just do some trial and error tomorrow morning, but any advice would be helpful, thanks!

 

yeah you have to take the door pull off, along with the window crank "ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN with the **** at its lowest point slide a shop towel up to the spindle move it back and forth to remove the snap clip pull the window crank off" then there are two other screws you will have to remove. then pull around the outside of the panel to pop the clips out. then take out the inside door handle bezel. "remove the screw then pull the handle back, with a screw driver pry the bezel back from the front and slide it off the handle" lift the panel straight up. with the WINDOW DOWN you will have access to the two nuts that hold the handle on. but first there are two plastic tabs that hold the lock guide and opening guide. slide the plastic tabs off the bars and pull the bars out of the holes. now remove the nuts and pull the handle out. thats all there is to it good luck

 

The clips which hold the actuating rods to the lock assembly are very clever, but not immediately intuitive.
They are however, completely generic...the same design is used on many other cars.
This means that a friend, a mechanic...anybody with some automotive experience can show you how they work.
Don't break them trying to experiment, you'll hate yourself when you see how they are supposed to be removed.

 

oh yeah while you have it all apart its a prefect time to grease your window track. and dont lose the gasket for the outside handle

 

you know. speaking of this. i tried to fit a mazda mpv door handle on a fc that happened to be there.

it fit sort of.

im sure with a little modification it could fit and be a good cheap replacement. i didnt get too far with it so i dont know about all the arms inside and the locks n such.

 

I'm stuck on the part where you have to remove/lower the window to get to the door handle. Here are some pics of the disassembly in process

How would I get to exterior door handles?

This door has power windows, so I don't know how to manually move the windows, as the door is not connected to any source of power...

 

to remove the exterior handle raise the window all the way. then take off a plastic black thing and then remove the 10 mm nuts that hold the handle on and take off the little arm things and then you wiggle it out and your done!

 

Yes, but is there a way to manually move the windows up somehow?? The door had power windows =[

 

just hook up the power window leads to a 12v source like a car battery, or a portable car starter
if it goes down then switch the polarity

 

i finally got it hooked up to the car battery, but it didnt work for some reason. Maybe something's wrong with the switch. Oh well..I give up for today

 

Reconnect the switch, turn on the key and voila!...the window moves.
The window doesn't know that the doorpanel isn't there.

 

=S That's what I did. I reconnected the switch on the door trim, and used the switch on the armrest to try and move it but it didn't work. Although maybe I connected the wrong wires...anyways I'll take it apart again and check tomorrow. Thanks.

 

sorry i didnt know they were power windows

 

how in the hell do you install the doorhandle nut towards the outside of the door? It's the one on the right if you are standing outside the car. With all that metal I can't get my fingers back there. It was hard enough to get the nut out during removal, but eventually I did get it. Now I can't even get the nut started on the stud. Any and lall ideas are welcome.

This is an 88 T2, power windows. I am attempting to install a new door handle I bought from Mazda.

Also, I think I may have messed up something with the door lock during this installation attempt. I was trying to lower the power window. Somehow the door lock linkage was dangling and the window collided with it. The linkage separated. I think one end of that rod goes into the outside door handle and the other end meets with the rod from the inside door handle, but I'm not sure. Did I break some necessary but impossible-to-find plastic tab?



How can I repair this, it's so hard to reach back there?? It looks like one end may just hook into the other little arm that's attached to the inside lock. But did I break something that was necessary? This is really frustrating me, I can build an engine and tune a big turbo setup but I am getting my *** kicked by an 80s door.

 

dude i have done this a few times, u need any help and i will stop by. Just let me know. I plan on going to raleigh today anyhow.

 

There is a little plastic cap on the edge of the door you remove to put on the other nut

 

^^ are you going to the ImportsNC meet?

hmm plastic cap? I didn't see anything like that, it's on the inside of the door, right in front of the stud for that nut? Should I have the window up or down when I'm installing it?

Also, any ideas on the door lock linkage? Which end goes to the lock cylinder, and is there a plastic piece needed for what it meets that other rod?

 

right on the very edge of the photo is the cap. If you remove that you can do it with the window up iirc.

 

Hey arghx, are you still struggling with that door handle or did you finally get it in? I live in Fuquay and work in Garner. I could give you a hand. I just replaced mine with little difficulty. I am a mechanic and have worked at a couple dealers, so I have done quite a few door handles and lock cylinders and things of that nature. I could always pop off my door panel and compare to see what might be missing or damaged. Just let me know.

 

^ thanks for the offer but I got it taken care of.

I meant to update this. I didn't notice the access panel before, but once I got it off the door handle nut was easy. Also, it turns out that the lower plastic clip for the door lock rod was still there. The rod had just popped out. I struggled with it for a long time because that plastic clip moves very easily. Then I offered a friend some beer and he installed it in like 5 minutes. The door handle feels like new. That was definitely worth the $80ish I paid.

I was halfway freaking out before because the only installs I still sweat on this car are the ones that involve inaccessible and potentially discontinued interior plastic pieces...