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How to Replace Front Exterior Door Handle 2001-12 Toyota RAV4

Created on: 2019-09-21

Watch this video to learn how to replace the front outside door handle on your 01-12 Toyota RAV4. 1A Auto shows you how, so it's easy to DIY!

  1. This video shows the process on the driver side of the vehicle, which is equipped with a lock cylinder. If the passenger side on your vehicle is not equipped with a lock cylinder, the process remains the same.

    step 1 :Removing the Exterior Door Handle
    • Remove the access cap from the side of the door
    • Loosen the T30 screw accessed through the side of the door
    • Pry out the the door handle cover
    • Slide the door handle rearward to remove it
    • Pry the handle trim from the lock cylinder (driver side only)
  2. step 2 :Installing the Exterior Door Handle
    • Insert the door handle and slide it forward
    • Install the handle trim on the lock cylinder (driver side only)
    • Install the door handle cover
    • Tighten the T30 screw to secure the door handle cover
    • Install the access cap

Tools needed

  • Socket Extensions

    Flat Blade Screwdriver

    T30 Socket

    Ratchet

    Trim Tool Set

What's up, guys? I'm Andy from 1A Auto. In this video I'm going to show you how to replace the outside door handle on this 2010 Toyota Rav4. If you need this part or other parts for your vehicle, click the link in the description and head over to 1AAuto.com.

We want to take this little cover off, or little grommet. Just take a trim tool, just get underneath there or even a straight blade screwdriver. Try to get that off. Pull that off, and then inside there there's a screw. Now the screws not going to come out, but you just want to loosen it up. I'm going to use a T30 socket, extension, and a ratchet to loosen that up. That loose, then we should be able to take a trim tool and just get underneath here. Just be careful not to scratch the paint. Just taking the key, just going to wiggle this a little bit.

All right. There we go. Wasn't all the way loose. So take the key out, just grab the trim tool, slide this out. Watch out for the gasket. You can slide it right out. Just a little tip for you. Sometimes it's difficult with this screw, it doesn't really want to come out when you're trying to take this housing off. Just take a little magnet, then you can grab the screw and then it just makes sliding this out a little bit easier. And you can grab the handle, and just slide it towards the outside of the door, and then it pulls right off. Don't forget the gasket. Take this cover off. Just take the pocket screwdriver, get underneath here, and it pops right off.

Here's the old part. Here's the new door handle from 1AAuto.com. This door handle happens to be a paint to match, so you're going to want to paint these to match the vehicle. It comes with the driver's door cover so that you have the key hole, or you can put this on the passenger side, or even any of the back doors with this cover. Get yours at 1AAuto.com, and you'll be ready to rock and roll.

Take the door handle, I'm just going to slide this into position. Make sure you have the gasket for this, so you can actually put the gasket there. All right. So we're going to angle this side in just slightly, get it past a certain point, and then you're going to angle the back part in, and then just slide it in. Oops. You got to push it down and then slide it in like that, then your gasket's all in position and it's working good. Now take the cover. I'm just going to slide this side in first, just like that, and then lock it in place. That's good. You can slide this back in position. Just like that. I'll take the T30 socket and the extension, and just get this screw started. And just snug this up, not too tight. Slide this cover back on. Lock it in place.

Thanks for watching. Visit 1AAuto.com for quality auto parts shipped to your door. The place for DIY auto repair. And if you enjoyed this video, please click the subscribe button.

2001 - 2005  Toyota  Rav4
2012 - 2012  Toyota  Yaris
2007 - 2011  Toyota  Yaris
2004 - 2006  Scion  xA
2001 - 2007  Toyota  Highlander
2003 - 2008  Toyota  Corolla
2009 - 2010  Pontiac  Vibe
2004 - 2008  Toyota  Solara
2005 - 2010  Scion  tC
2008 - 2013  Scion  xB
2009 - 2013  Toyota  Corolla
2003 - 2013  Toyota  Matrix
2004 - 2006  Lexus  ES330
2008 - 2013  Scion  xD
2006 - 2012  Toyota  Rav4
2002 - 2003  Lexus  ES300
2003 - 2008  Pontiac  Vibe
2002 - 2006  Toyota  Camry
2004 - 2009  Toyota  Prius
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