Removing 98 Corolla Door Lock Actuator

[Microman]

Have the door panel off. Removed 3 Screws that hold the latch.

The problem I am having is that there are two rods that go to the outside door handle.

They both have the plastic clip that snaps over the rod., I popped one off the rod, but the ROD itself wont come out of the hole.

I assume that they swing off and the RODs are suppose to come out of the hole., Maybe I will search for a youtube video of how to replace the door handle, and see how those come off, without pressuring them the wrong direction, and getting a break somewhere.

[cbelt3]

Usually there is a dog leg and you have to have one end completely loose to make it work, or slide it forward through the hole because there is a nib at the end that keeps you from pulling it out backwards. Remember that assemblies are often built as one unit and then installed in the factory that way. Taking them apart means removing the whole assembly and THEN you can take the assembly apart.

Manufacturers use "Design for Assembly". Sometimes the forget "design for repair".

[GGD]

I've had that clip break on two 98 Camry's (front passenger side on both), and I recall that it was a very tight working space (find a kid with small hands to help). Here's are two videos that I had from my notes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVpPfZOKSiY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr0GnXghaS0

My guess is that the way it is originally assembled is that the empty clip is first inserted into the hole in the door handle. The lever on the clip is rotated to the "up" position, then the rod is inserted into the clip, which causes it to expand for a snug fit in the hole, then the clip is rotated "down" and snaps/locks onto the downward section of the rod.

You need to do the reverse, rotate the clip up, get the pointy end of the rod out of the clip, it's a snug fit but can pull out. The remnants of the clip might come with it and pull out together from the hole in the door handle. And it might drop into the bottom of the door while you're doing this.

You can just the replacement clip from your Toyota dealer for a few bucks, the left and right sides are different part numbers, so you need to specify.

[Microman]

2nd video confirms my thoughts that I might take the 3 bolts holding the door handle on out, and work with the rods that way to force them out., Thanks, That might be a winner!!!

[GGD]

Microman wrote:
2nd video confirms my thoughts that I might take the 3 bolts holding the door handle on out, and work with the rods that way to force them out., Thanks, That might be a winner!!!

From my experience I'd try to avoid that, at least on the Camry it looked a lot more difficult to remove the handle bolts (and reinstall them) than it did to remove the clip and rod.

I think the first video uses a large screw driver to separate the rod from the clip.

[Racer X]

I just lean over and pull the knob up, or push it down.