am I better off replacing the door?

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W.D. - 16 Dec 2004 02:49 GMT

I'm a proud owner of an '86 Chevy Astro van that still runs great. But the
driver's side outside door handle no longer functions (it got brittle,
cracked and basically fell off). I'm not sure whether the latch mechanism
inside the door is working properly (though I can open the door from the
inside). Am getting sick of entering the van from the passenger side door.
Any idea on whether the handle/latch mechanism can be repaired and, if so,
about how much this would run? (I'm not mechanical at all, and have no
tools) What about replacing the whole door? Would that be cheaper? The
Kelley Blue Book value on the vehicle is less than $500 so I'm looking for a
cheap fix. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks,

W.D.

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Bob Truck - 16 Dec 2004 03:26 GMT

I would find the proper door handle on E-bay (i found the one for my truck)
and buy it. While you are waiting for UPS to drop it off at your door, I
would visit your local Auto Body Repair shop and ask them if they would
install it for you and for how much. They will have much more experience
with installing door handles than your local auto repair shop. It is not
the easiest part to replace, unless, of course, all of your fingers have
double joints!

> I'm a proud owner of an '86 Chevy Astro van that still runs great. But the
> driver's side outside door handle no longer functions (it got brittle,
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> W.D.

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Mike McAuley - 16 Dec 2004 04:02 GMT

...or he might call around to the local recycling yards in his area...
might be easier than eBay

> I would find the proper door handle on E-bay (i found the one for my truck)
> and buy it. While you are waiting for UPS to drop it off at your door, I
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> >
> > W.D.

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Big Chris - 16 Dec 2004 04:40 GMT

Replaced a similar handle on my 88 S-10 today. Took 25 minutes, and that is
in the Minnesota cold slowing down my dexterity. Granted, this is the 6th
or 7th I have replaced, so I am getting pretty good at it. Piss poor
design. I've replaced my drivers handle twice in 2004. Go to your local
parts store and get the handle. It'll cost $10-15 tops. If you don't have
one, get the window crank removal tool ($4-5 tops). The only other tools
you need are a phillips screwdriver and a ratchet, extention, and socket
set. I think it's a 7/16 socket you need, but I didn't pay much attention
when doing it today. It is also handy to have a tool that helps remove the
door panel, it is basically a glorified screwdriver with a "U" shaped end
that you stick in behind the door panel to pop the plastic tabs out. You
can buy new tabs, $4-5 tops. Take off window crank, take off arm rest,
remove door panel. If you have a plastic trim piece above the door panel,
remove that too (prior to trying to get the door panel off). Pull down the
padding and remove the old handle, then put the new one in. The only tricky
part is that you have to fish your hand in the door to get the metal rod out
and then back in the new one. There is a plastic tab that wraps around the
metal rod that needs to be pried up if it is still there. The new handle
will have a new plastic piece so don't worry about it. Note, depending on
the new handle, you do have to take that plastic piece off the handle and
reverse it to make it work (they are universal, some need it on one side,
some on the other side). This is elementary stuff, nothing to be threatened
by.

Big Chris

> I'm a proud owner of an '86 Chevy Astro van that still runs great.
> But the driver's side outside door handle no longer functions (it got
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> help will be appreciated. Thanks,
> W.D.

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W.D. - 16 Dec 2004 12:40 GMT

Thanks for the detailed instructions, Chris, and thanks to everyone else for
their suggestions. There are tons of these handles on ebay for around $7 a
pop (plus shipping). I'm just not sure if that's all that's broken. I think
the local body shop route is my best bet -- I don't mind paying someone to
save me the time, frustration and scraped knuckles. Like I say, I'm not the
mechanical type ;-)

W.D.

ps - Chris, if you were in Atlanta I'd pay you a case of good beer (or your
drink of choice) to do it for me!

> Replaced a similar handle on my 88 S-10 today. Took 25 minutes, and that
> is in the Minnesota cold slowing down my dexterity. Granted, this is the
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>> help will be appreciated. Thanks,
>> W.D.

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