How to Fix a Broken Door Handle?
3 Answers
To fix a broken door handle, the solution is to replace it with a new one. The replacement steps are as follows: 1. Unlock the central control; 2. Use a flathead screwdriver to pry open the screw cover, then use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the screws counterclockwise; 3. Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the handle decorative cover and the screws inside; 4. Remove the door trim panel; 5. Disconnect the small speaker wire and the inner handle cable; 6. Remove the damaged handle, then remove the small speaker, and replace it with a new one. Types of door handles: 1. Solid handle: The main feature of solid car door handles is their thickness, but they are not widely used in modern society; 2. Hollow handle: This type of car door handle is designed with a hollow back, which solves the issue of surface shrinkage in traditional handles and improves the problem of handle deformation and bending; 3. Hollow handle: The middle of the hollow handle is empty. The mold for hollow car door handles is complex, increasing the difficulty in terms of craftsmanship, but the resulting product is more practical.
Last time my car door handle suddenly broke, what a hassle. I was at a gas station in the suburbs when I discovered the entire plastic axle of the passenger side door handle had snapped. Temporarily fixed it by twisting thin wire into a loop to secure the door lock for makeshift use. Later at the repair shop, the technician had to remove the door panel liner to find that the clip connecting the cable had aged and fractured. Replaced it with an OEM door handle assembly costing over 300 yuan, plus readjusted the door lock mechanism. This kind of plastic component aging issue is quite common, especially for 7-8 year old vehicles. When washing your car, avoid yanking the handle forcefully - gently push with wrist strength rather than pulling hard to extend its lifespan. If the internal metal parts break, you'll have to replace the whole unit. Suggest buying quality aftermarket parts to save half the cost.
My old Focus had its door handle break twice, and the first time it happened while I was out on urgent business, it was a nightmare. Later, I figured out a trick: first, remove the door trim panel, and you'll see the broken metal rod connected to the lock mechanism. Using AB glue for a temporary fix works okay in a pinch, but it only lasts a few days. The best solution is to replace the entire door handle assembly—buying the same model part online costs just over a hundred bucks, and it only takes half an hour to DIY. Remember to get a professional door trim panel clip removal tool; plastic pry bars are less likely to damage the paint. Be extra careful if it breaks in winter, as the cold makes plastic more brittle, and yanking the door forcefully is most likely to cause trouble. For routine maintenance, spraying a bit of WD-40 on the door handle pivot can help slow down wear and tear.
