To replace the interior door handle on a Toyota Corolla, follow these steps:
- Pull the rod into the opening with needle nose pliers.
- Slide the vertical portion of the rod into the hole on the clip.
- Snap the clip onto the horizontal portion of the rod.
- Position the handle in the door.
- Slide left and re-install the screw.
- Remove the old clip from the old handle.
- Locate the rod inside the door.
- Use a flathead to wedge out the door handle assembly.
- Remove the interior door panel from the door.
The driver’s side door handle may not open the door, but it is difficult to determine if the handle mechanism itself is broken or if there is a problem with the connec…
📹 How to Replace Interior Door Handle 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla
This video shows you how to install a new interior door handle in your 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla. Interior door handles can take a …
📹 How to Replace Interior Door Handle 98-02 Toyota Corolla
1A Auto shows you how to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken or snapped off interior door handle. This video is …
Important note to anyone trying this for themselves: you’re going to get stuck on the second to last step reconnecting the window control panel because the white block with the wires won’t fit. Here’s the trick: When you reconnect the electrical connector to the window switch panel, it will not fit as long as the collapsible white connector port is closed. It will not be visually obvious that it is closed. To open it, grip the whole white block from each end and it will extend outward (it has two pieces interlocked that slide along each other). When open, you can then insert the white block into the window switch panel and the part will fit into place. As you push it in, the white extender will collapse, tightening the connection between the connector and the electrical leads. It’s likely this is the state it was in when you first disconnected them.
I had gotten as far as to the wire clip & decided to check YouTube for guidance. My sister happen to come by just in time. I thought she was going to help me, but ended up doing it by herself due to your helpful article. Within 5 mins I had a new door handle! Could not have done it without you. Thank you. 😉
I just did this job and the trick to slide the handle casing away from the little clip mechanism is VERY important in order to remove it. My original (broken) handle was actually fused to the plastic of the interior door so I had to work hard to break it apart. It is tricky getting the new clip attached to the metal rod. Also, I thought it wasn’t going to work at first, because when you pull the handle, there is no “click” or anything letting you know the thing works. But it does. Thanks for this article! Really helped.
Dude, thank you so much for posting this article. Mine recently finally came apart and I was under the impression the handle was connected to some long rod attached to the door and replacing it would be some giant undertaking. What a relief, you honestly saved me beaucoup dollars on a mechanic job thanks again!! 😀
Thanks for the article. My wife timed me from out the door to back in the door – took me 7 minutes and 17 seconds. We were both stunned – didn’t think I’d be anywhere under 15 minutes. Longest part was removing the clip. Also needed to get a thicker screwdriver for putting the screw back in. My wife had indicated being quoted 60 bucks for this job. Thanks again for the article.
Agreed, my broke twice, but the second time it broke I never changed it, it is still on there but it still open the door without a problem. Just have to be gentle with it and it doesn’t snap back because the spring fell in to the door along with the broken tab. So next time I am going to change it I have to take off the entire door panel to get the broken parts out.
Great vid, easy fix. Most difficult part was getting the old clip separated from the rod. Had two handles that needed replacing, one was so broken the clip was already apart from the rod (driver handle). The rear passenger (behind the driver) still had this attached and finally freed the clip with a lot of effort and the right sized flat head screw driver. The rest of the job: 2 minutes or less per handle.
Thanks! In case anybody is wondering, this is just as easy as it looks on the article! My front driver’s side door handle broke and I was going to bring it in to get it fixed and I was just curious and googled how much it might cost and came across this article. Following other comments, I simply removed it, then moved the one from the rear up to the front and then ordered a new one to replace the rear one. It came in a day and I put that one in just as easy.
We currently do not carry just the cable. We do carry the replacement door handles on our website for your 98-02 Toyota Corolla if you need one. Here’s a link to them on our website. Just copy and paste this URL into your browser 1aauto.com/1A/-/Toyota/Corolla/-/-/1998?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=1ATony
Did it today and worked a treat! Never truly considered a door handle’s orientation but, of course, they must differ, being from the opposite sides of the car. A simple and obvious error on my part, and simply resolved. Thank you for posting this. ‘Twas short, detailed, and to the point. Excellent work.
Big Big thank you from the holly-land of Israel. I have tried to remove the broken handle BEFORE perusal your article, and couldn’t make it. I almost gave it up, then I have seen your article. When you know what to do, it so easy to replace it. It took me 3 minutes to remove the old part, and 2 minutes to install the new part. The only problem I had is that for 1.6L models, as the models sold in Israel, you need a different part, not as seen in the article. I think that for 1.6L you need to buy the part from model years 1993-1997. If you have a 1.6L car, pay attention and buy the exact replacement part.
I just tried this and my driver door still won’t open right. The other 3 doors also had replaced handles (decided to swap all the colors) and they open just fine, it is just the driver door that is the issue (the most commonly used door). The rod is bent, is it supposed to be? I can’t tell in your article if the rod is bent or not (not the end 90degree, but a few inches back)
Just did it. 😓 The hardest part for me was getting the rod inside the hole. I doubted whether the hole was actually the right fit, so I took a small screwdriver and shoved it through multiple times to see if that would smooth out any rough edges inside making it difficult to fit the rod all the way in. Then when I tried putting the rod in again, I used a thick screwdriver handle without the head attached, and applied pressure downward on top of the rod, and after several failed attempts, it finally snapped down into the hole. After that, snapping the clip on the horizontal part, and fitting the handle into the doorway, were easy.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I was trying to figure this out on my own, knowing next to nothing about fixing even minor things on cars. Went to AutoZone to ask for advice, only to be told to take it to a shop. I was super frustrated, found your article, and was able to replace my handle in just a few minutes. A simple fix! You guys are awesome!!!
Thanks for your articles, they are great. I have several Corollas. It seems that it is not just the handle getting old and brittle, it seems that it takes more effort to open– you have to pull harder and further to get the door to unlatch, causing more stress on the door handle. I have replaced several interior door handles. Has anyone determined what the extra ‘friction’/binding may be coming from? Seems like some WD-40 might help if you could find the right spot to spray it. +