2001 Toyota Camry Door Handle Replacement

[Reactiv12]

To keep from losing screws, tie a long piece of strong thread around the bolt at the very base of the bolt (against the head). If you drop the bolt into the car, you will be able to fish it out with the thread. This little trick has saved me a lot of agony when working in tight places...

[Danbury210]

@Reactiv12 Good input

[JerryfromMinisoda]

Thanks for the video. I wouldn't have tackled this otherwise. Dealer quoted me $231. and I did it for $25. with a new color matched part I found on amazon.

[Lebbz]

Danbury how much does it cost at a shop to have this done? I recently bought the handle.

[maxxbrown22]

There is a hole, covered by a clear sticker with a white circle in the middle, take that off and you have direct access to the screws

[TheValMaier]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I would not have even begun to attempt this repair without your video. The step-by-step directions really helped!!!

[donaldshade]

Thanks so much for posting this instructional video....I could not have done this without your information and the comments from others who have done the installation. The 6mm x 16mm metric screws worked perfectly. To remove the rod from the yellow plastic, I used a wide blade screwdriver between the plastic and the bend in the rod, twisted the screwdriver to pry them apart and it came off easily.

[kramneg2]

@donaldshade I bought 6mm x 16mm machine screws, but they seemed too long, so I bought shorter 6mm x 10mm machine screws also. Those are the ones I used. 6mm x 8mm or even 6mm x 6mm screws would probably been even better and still long enough.

[hinkamperj]

"That bottom screw was a booger bear"!!!

[mar0364]

Thanks you just saved me a bunch O money.

[KleenThe]

Just got done putting a new handle on my 01 camry, found your video very helpful. I ended up having to buy new bolts for my new handle, they fit 6mm machine fasteners, i found 16mm to be the perfect length

[MiserableOldFart]

It's a great car, but the door handles obviously were made not strong enough, since it appears they break a lot, as mine did.

[CBoneseven]

Thanks Scott! I live in Trinidad and have a right hand drive 1997 Camry (Gracia). Your video really helped me get through what could have been a very hard task. Luckily the original bolts worked on the aftermarket handle I bought. Thanks Again!

[miamishap]

This video was very helpful. I have just two suggestions: In my car their was a small circular piece of plastic covering a rather large hole that will give you easy access to the upper left bolt. With a 5" extension on a socket wrench I was able to get in their easily. Also, there's a black piece of plastic that houses the rods to open the door, and lock/unlock the doors. I found that by removing this (I had to break it off), I was able to get easy access to the lower right bolt. Good luck.

[telebele1]

Thanks so much for posting this. It took me right at two hours to complete as I went from the computer, then out to the car, one step at a time. I know it would've been twice the time, had this video not been available. As "non-mechanical" as I am, info. like this is very valuable to me. And you're right....that bottom bolt was a bugger. :-) Trickiest part of the entire job.

[tonkinsonr]

Very good video. I should have watched it all the way through before starting. I ended up using the same screws and they seemed to work OK on the handle that I bought from Advanced Auto, although I did have a slight problem in that if I tighten the top left screw fully, the handle casing does not sit flush with the door. I have no idea why that is the case.

Again, thanks for taking the time to make the video and make all our lives easier.

[tonkinsonr]

Very good video. I should have watched it all the way through before starting. I ended up using the same screws and they seemed to work OK on the handle that I bought from Advanced Auto, although I did have a slight problem in that if I tighten the top left screw fully, the handle casing does not sit flush with the door. I have no idea why that is the case.

Again, thanks for taking the time to make the video and make all our lives easier.

[supergirlmiyea]

Just got finished with this project. The tip about taking the tape off over the hole over the top left corner screw was valuable on these comments. I also found that you can flip up the restraining clip (green on his, see ~4m30s) on the plastic elbow that attaches the metal connecting rod to the hand assembly. pulling the retraining clip up allows you pull out the brass connecting rod with some force. I also found it easier with the handle fully disconnected.

[rg1082]

Thanks for making this video. I just replaced the door handle on my wife's 2001 Camry and this video was a big help especially with the heads up with the metric bolts that are needed.

[bhpnbr4444]

Good video ... right on money on all aspects.. a suggestion, a small adjustable wrench on the hard to reach bolt will do the trick. another thing, had to break the plastic yellow thing holding the bent rod on the old handle with a hammer and screwdriver to remove it...if someone has a better way lemme know. besides that, try to have plenty of time on hand before you attempt this,,, certainly not easy but doable of course. and dont forget the metric threaded bolts.

[middlefloor]

@bhpnbr4444 I used a soldering iron to melt the plastic piece from the door handle holding the rod in place. The solution is a little "brute force", but I wasn't having any luck with pliers or hammer.

[geeayevette]

Get a drill bit that's larger than the socket needed to tighten the bolt, and drill a hole in the sheet-metal directly over where the nut would be. What you are accomplishing is making an 'access hole' so a socket wrench can get down to the nut. No fuss, no muss.

[Danbury210]

@geeayevette

I agree, mine did not have the tape covering the access hole, I did not have near the trouble with the passenger side door handle for what ever reason.

[xoGTAox]

Thanks for posting. You helped me.

[danmatty1]

Thanks for posting, but please mentoin things like needng news BEFORE you start taking things apart. How did you get old handle out?

[jayboyinsc]

Thanks for posting this. It helped me get through replacing the handle pretty quickly. As arichardson32 noted, the last screw is much more easily accessible by removing the tape covering a hole. It's still kind of a pain, and you need a decently long extender. Also, for anyone else that hasn't done this yet, you may want a slightly longer screw for that hole in the top left.

[tbrulet45]

Hey Scott. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. My wife had decided she was stronger than the ice in the last storm we had in Dallas and was determined to get her door open. Ripped the handle off. Door still didn't open. Hurt herself in the process. Having you mention the size of the socket helped save me time. Called my son, he came over with the right size, and he helped me take out the old and wiggle the new one back in. You were right on with two people making it easier. Thanks again.

[andersoncity]

anybody know ant tricks for getting the rod back thru the retaining clip I can't get it pushed thru I tried lowering the hardware by opening the door handle also I can't seem to get the retainer in place. taking the old one off was a big pain I had to do like Danbury and slug it with a screw driver. I thought about tapping the bend in the rod with a hammer but I'm afraid I will brake the retainer hold its soft metal. any help is appreciated

[bhpnbr4444]

@andersoncity go ahead with the hammer .. a few sharp taps on the bedn will do the job.. just did that today..

[arichardson32]

Very Easy.... But there is some tape covering over a opening for the screw hole in the far top. If you remove it you easy get to that bolt you said was a booger lol

[7591421]

Im really glad you made this video, all of the tips made it a breeze thanks alot!

[mrbigtravg]

Thank you very much! I'm getting ready to replace my door handle on my 01 Camry. Very Very Helpful! I would have torn the whole door apart and not realized that the screws were different. By the way, ebay has the door handle for around $10 including shipping. You can go to autozone and buy touch up paint for your exact car and sand and paint to match your color. THANK YOU AGAIN!!! Great video!

[OrangeChickenist]

Hey, how can u pop the door handle from the other side if the whole handle broke off? or it doesn't matter?

[timt2tinsley]

Offered valuable info, thank you.

My problem is only the $8 retaining rod clip; what a pain......  Tins '97 Camry LE

[timt2tinsley]

Offered valuable info, thank you.

My problem is only the $8 retaining rod clip; what a pain......  Tins

[Danbury210]

not sure but it should be very similar

[jdphil07]

i have a 1998 Toyota Camry. Will this same process work with my car? Everything looks the same. Thanks for the video as it gives many tips that i will follow.

[Danbury210]

i enjoyed sharing glad it helped someone

[LTF85199]

Scott, you saved me a bunch or time and hassle buddy, I truly admire your kindness of going thorough the hard work of recording this and sharing it with us, you were right, that linkage separation was the hardest part, i had to saw the plastic hole to remove it (on the old one). Thank you so very much & may God bless you, Merry Christmas and happy Holidays!

[irish89055]

you'd think the Japs would make a stronger door handle, my sister's broke off in cold weather...

[lokeshnaicker]

Scott - Thank you

The video was awesome.

[smoenbook]

thanks for sharing video. It has been helpful.

[kyldgrf]

Good tips - thanks for the video.