How hard is it to replace the "guts" of a Toyota door? Now that it's open, it looks tight in there. Real tight. I need to replace the door handle, door latch, & power lock. Should I give up and let the dealership do the work? Or can it be done by an amateur who needs to save money?
Details:
1998 Toyota 4Runner, power mirror, locks, & windows. Door panel is (finally) removed & plastic sheeting pulled back. Two things are obviously broken:- Door handle flaps unconnected
- Power unlock unlocks three doors but not this one
I suspect I need to replace three things:
Using your advice, I finally slim jimmed the Toyota driver side door open and was able to access the plastic screws covered by the dashboard so I could pull off the panel (warning: I broke the circular molded "hole" on the panel near where it meets the dash in the closed position because it's not a plastic anchor clip like all the rest. If you remove the door panel, pull the back, top, and bottoms OUT TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK first, by pulling away from the door body and then SLIDE HORIONTALLY FORWARD the very last clip at the front of the door panel so you don't break this molded hole!).
Anyway, I now have the "guts" of the driver-side door bared open. I pulled away the plastic sheeting and I can easily see the first of the two problems.
The small yellow plastic bearing on the top of the up/down door opening lever disintegrated allowing the up/down metal rod to fall down off of the door handle. That was why the door handle was flapping in the breeze.
I can not see why the power lock/unlock isn't working on that one side. It wiggles the driver side lock knob ever so slightly when the button is pressed but there is no real movement. I can see that a white teflon- looking bushing on the door latch itself where the up/down rod pulls up on is mashed up a bit too so maybe that's the culprit.
I suspect I need to replace three things:
- That yellow plastic bushing on the door handle up/down rod
- The door latch itself which has the mushed white bushing
- The power lock/unlock mechanism
I'm hoping I don't have to replace the door handle itself (because of the lock cylinder matching the other doors). I probably can't just get the bushing so I'll just pull the bushing off whatever other parts I get since the door handle itself is fine.
However, my question is: There's precious little space inside that door. The window up/down guides will have to be removed near the door latch to replace the latch and regulator. Am I getting myself too deeply into trouble? Is this an easy R&R or a monster? Have you done this yourself?
Unfortunately, the Chilton "68604 1997-00 Repair Manual" for "Pick-Ups/Land Cruiser/4Runner" does NOT have any R&R instructions for this operation. :(
Have you replaced the door latch and power unlock mechanism? Can it be done by an amateur or should I give up & take it to the dealer?
Stu