90 Jetta Carat Drivers Door Handle

OK, well as I said I'm only aware of 2 screws. I took them both out and replaced them, they seem fine. I can get a new part on ebay for $18 so I'll probably try that.

Les

A2-chassis Golf has 2 screws holding the outside handle on the door, one from the edge of the door and another screw under the clip-in insert at the front of the handle.

If the lock-end has come adrift, then the screw may have been lost or just very loose.

Perhaps panel corrosion?? It's an M6 screw. 15mm IIIRC. I found some stainless socket-head cap-screws and machine washers to fit the handles to my car.

Door handle is held on with two screws. Pop off the trim strip on the handle with a small screwdriver. One screw is under it. The other screw is on the back side of the door. Open the door and you'll see the screw.

Todd

OK I got a good look at it, I broke it, metal fatigue. Only answer is a new handle with keys and all from ebay, price $18.

Les

You can use the old lock cylinders in the new handles.

If the old cylinder aren't shiny enough at the front, you can swap the lock plates from the old lock cylinders into the new to keep the same old keys. Takes about half anhour to do both locks if you take your time; or 2 hours if you hurry. ;-)

If you reuse the lock cylinder, note that you want to insert the old key in the old lock first. That keeps the "lock plates" in their retracted position and prevents them from flying all over the place when you remove the cylinder. Once the key is in, remove the screw on the end of the lock cylinder and transfer the cylinder to the new handle. Make sure to get the funky round spring and the forked piece in the correct position (note their positions before disassembling).

Todd

I posted a lengthy article on the process of swapping lock plates to new cylinders in 1993. Perhaps it'll be of some use. Message-ID:

Hopefully you can find a copy of it somewhere online. Else I'll have to fetch some coal and stoke the boiler to start an old computer.

Thanks, yes I figure I'll take the old one apart first and if there's no disaster I'll transfer, otherwise I'll have an extra key on my keyring.

Les

If my son gets a VW that will be 4 in the immediate family. None known of in the extended family, but then we don't keep in touch.

Thanks, it's saved here as well, and I enjoyed your site as well.

Les

Thanks, it's saved here as well, and I enjoyed your site as well.

Les

Once you've gone as far as extracting the lock cylinders, it's not a big deal to match the locks to the original keys.

I've discovered that I'd already preserved a copy of my article for "posterity" in my www-trove at