Ok, so I havent exactly had the time these days to complete mods (or anything else for that matter. Damn job... :f ) so I finally get a moment to finish my handle mod and Ive hit a snag. How the heck do you install the drivers side?!?!

I had everything apart EXCEPT the plastic arm that holds the keypad wiring in place. Looking at the new handle it seems to be attached by two plastic tabs th at will not release without hacking them off. Is that how everybody did it?

So how do I detach that part from the door without doing any damage? Any help would be great. Is there a certain tool I should use? Already tried my head but thats not working so well these days. Any suggestions would be a big help and very appreciated of course. Im tired of looking at 1 out of 3 handles being unfinished.

Thanks,

Luis S

 

Anybody? Pointers? Tips? Please?....


Later,

Luis S

 

There is no hacking off involved. I only did it once but after removing the clip and the bolts on the latch side it was mostly just getting it to pop loose. Scared me it was so tight. There was instructions in detail somewhere in this forum.

Just looked at my CD manual and it just talks about removing the two bolts, the lock rod and then pulling it out.

Mine was VERY tight.

Good luck
Chris

 

Chris,

See, the problem Im having is that I can get the handle off (bolts, lock ect..) but I cant get it out completely because of the keypad attachment. Its a black plastic arm that holds the wiring in place. It attaches to the metal inside the door with tabs at two points. My question is then, do I just hack off the tabs and go for it? Or do I close my eyes and give the arm a good yank? The tabs are the one-way type , so I just cant figure out how to remove them without doing somthing risky. And its hard for me to get a good grip to yank them out. Also the bottom tab attaches to part of the door unlock mechanism, so that makes me pretty nervous as well. If you got any pointers or pics I would greatly appreciate it. I did a search for install tips but came up with alot of "Yes! I did it! But what a pain!" type posts. Nothing really detailing it step by step.

Again, please guys tell me how you did it. Im stumped.

Thanks,

Luis S

 

I'm sorry, my truck did not come with the pad stock. I did however get two different number pad handles, both take outs and one the harness holder was broken, the other it was not. I suspect that is what you are refering to.
When I put the new one in, it went around the window channel and 'popped' into the hole.
Maybe someone has a picture?
Chris

 

I just used a clip removal tool (looks like a small crow bar) and pulled the tabs out. Then it all just came out. Then when I put it back together I just locked the tabs back in place.

 

Ram,

Any pics of said tool? Is this something that can be found at pep boys or something? Also what about where it attaches to the locking rod at the bottom end of the arm? It connects to another plastic part that I would be afraid of damaging. Any tips to safely disconnect the 2? Thanks for chiming in you guys, I really appreciate it. Keep the info coming!

Thanks again,

Luis S

 

The tool is out in my shop and I dont have any pics but it looks like a small crow bar with a screwdriver handle. I got mine at Advanced Auto and is one of the best tool I own (I think its called a door panel removal tool)..it can be used to remove any of the plastic clips on the dash and so on without messing them up.

As for the locking rod....that was a pain in the *** for me too. I spent 2hrs doing the drivers door and 20 min on the other 3 just because of that rod. If I had to do it again I would undo the lock from the handle housing via the c-clip (just like the one on the tailgate) and leave the rod attached to it. Then just put the new handle in place and put the lock back in it. I hope that makes sense...it does to me but its hard to explain.

 

Ok, Took another look, (after having taken this door apart so many time its easy...) I think I can use the mini pry bar and get the top part out but where it attaches at the bottom still has me stumped. Its stuck to some kind of locking rod (I think...) with a little plastic part on the end. Im going to have to take some pics by the weekend hopefully so you guys can see what Im babbling about.

Its really the only thing keeping me from finishing. If you guys can think of any other tips please share. Im Going to post a step by step write up when I finish. Some of you more mechanically inclined folks just gloss over the details in you instructions. Its brutal for dummies like myself.

Thanks Again,

Luis S

 

Hopefully you finnish the handle this weekend and get started on the detailed instructions being as I should be reciveing my LT handles on Monday the 5th.

 

I asume you are talking about the little rod that connects the manual lock to...well whatever it connects it to. First off it screws into an plastic addustment nut....its split down the side and you can just open it up and pull the little rod out with the handle. If you do that it will be a bitch to get back together....thats what took me so long. If you look how the lock itself attaches to the handle its just held in with a clip...unclip it and leave the lock in the door attached to the rod. Then just put your new handle up there and put the lock in the new handle lock it in with the clip. If I had to do it again thats how I would try to do it.

I was talking about using the crow bar thing to undo the snaps that hold the plastic "J" thing for the key pad in place

 

Im probably not describing it right. Its where the little plastic arm that hold the keypad wiring attaches to. Theres thae part up top where you said to use the mini prybar and then the arm attaches to a plastic thingamabob at the top of some rod. Thats whats kicking my but. I going to try and take those pics this weekend. I gonna do it then or never, no matter how nervous it makes me.

If nothing else Ill be able to provide a how-to for everybody. If all goes well that is. We shall see. If you guys think of anything else let me know.

Thanks Again,

Luis S