Door handle removal

I have a 02 wrx and the ext. Door handle has paint rubbed off. So I have tryed googling how to remove handle to repaint... no luck so far. Anyone ever remove these that can post instructions?

Thanks

 

I'll be doing it this weekend to do a blend on the front doors, so if nobody posts by then I'll let ya know what I did. Can only assume the door panel comes off first, tho.

 

Pry it off, atleast that is what someone tried to do with what could be a screw driver. Now my door is all messed up right under the door handle with a gap there.
GL though, got a few things that need attention also, just waiting for the damn snow/cold to go away.

 

Is it just held in with clips?

 

I would remove the door panel to get access to the inside. some door handles are bolted in. Plus the rod to the latch and lock need to be removed.

 

There is one bolt on the inside of the door frame. Kind of hard to get to and every time I've swapped those out I drop the bolt into the frame, which can be hard to find/get out

 

Take the interior panel off, there should be 2 bolts one behind the inside latch and under on the armrest. Cant remember exactly on an 02' but on the 05 I just did thetge is a 20tt torx bolt also in the jamb, you'll need to remove that to drop the pin holding the handle in place.

 

I'll be able to post pictures later today if you need them. However, it's pretty easy.

Take the door panel off.
-1 phillips screw in the "pull pocket" underneath that little rubber plug.
-take the window control piece out, 1 more phillips screw underneath that
-try to remove the little plastic trim ring around the interior door handle (if you can't get it, it'll pop itself off when you start pulling the door panel off)
-pull outward on the bottom of the panel, the push pins go straight in
-get the bottom 2/3 popped out, then lift the top of the panel up and off the door

Once off, cut your plastic door liner to open up the area behind the door handle
-roll the window down all the way, you'll have access to the front bolt (10mm)
-then roll window all the way back up, you'll have access to the rear bolt (also 10mm)
-one the bolts are both out, act like you're opening the door handle (it should just pop out)
-the lock cylinder will now slide out of the handle and stay with the car, but you'll have to unhook the rod that actuates the door latch

Might sound like a lot of work, but it's actually really easy. I probably got too detailed.

 

There is no such thing as "too detailed" for instructions.

I find the factory service manuals lacking in details when they state "remove garnish" or "remove bezel". I would like a clue as to what style of fastener I am dealing with so that I don't break something. Interior trim pieces are shockingly expensive. Sometimes I long for the days where the whole interior was put together with Philips head screws and you could see all of them.

 

Thanks everyone , it's always nice to have detailed instructions.

One last question: is I one piece or does the handle disconnect from the larger piece? Sorry not sure what to call it. I'm a noober when it come to the terminology.

 

I didn't pay attention as to whether or not it was possible to separate it, but I can only assume that since it's physically two different pieces, there's gotta be some way some how to do so. Once you get it apart I'm sure you can figure it out.

*Also, if you need pictures of the inside let me know. I did get a couple good ones.

 

I concur. But too often people are given the "search" answer or somebody just doesn't want to take a few extra seconds and actually help a guy out.

 

I think I've got it figured out, it seems simple enough, but if you have some good pics you might as well post them up.

I'm planning on painting this next weekend so I'll add any info and post pics after i finnished
Thanks again

 

Here ya be. Click on each one for full size.

Right side door. Plastic cut away.


Bolt head you see is the front one on the right handle.


Can see the rear bolt through the glass (glass is down here)


Can see the bolt removed here. (Notice the port hole effect on this picture and above, it's through that hole towards the back of the door.


Also, notice on that last pic how the lock cylinder tab is inside of the sheetmetal tab where the handle actually bolts to. I didn't pay attention to that while taking it out, tried to put the cylinder back into the door handle before putting the handle into the door, so that tab on the lock was in between the handle and the door tab. It didn't work out so well.