Changing Door Handles On An Lt

Silverado/S10 · April 13, 2009

I am finally getting around to installing my painted door handles and so far everything has been going smoothly, until I hit this little access panel behind the interior door handle. I cannot get it to budge. I've started to tear up the plastic at the bottom where I am prying to get it off. I've had it out almost two millimeters but it will go no farther. Please, enlighten me on how to get this thing off.

Picture bolow is not mine, but it shows what I am talking about.

bubba33 · April 13, 2009

I just put a small blade screw driver in there and it came right off. Are you useing theses directions? http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93769 It looks like the same picture. I hate to tell you this but the trim that covers the bolts is the easy part.

Silverado/S10 · April 13, 2009

I just put a small blade screw driver in there and it came right off. Are you useing theses directions? http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93769 It looks like the same picture. I hate to tell you this but the trim that covers the bolts is the easy part.

yes I am using those directions, I got fed up with the pass side and moved to the driver, that side came off no problem, I'm not retarded, my passenger side piece is just REALLY stuck.

EDIT: Okay, I have the driverside panel off, and the handle loose, now what, the instructions say remove the metal rod. DO you squirm your way up thought the inside to do this?

PhilB · April 13, 2009

EDIT: Okay, I have the driverside panel off, and the handle loose, now what, the instructions say remove the metal rod. DO you squirm your way up thought the inside to do this?

I'm assuming you are talking about the metal rod that is hooked in to the door handle. What I did was remove the screws for the door handle, remove the door handle as far as the rod will let me. Then I removed the rod.

Silverado/S10 · April 13, 2009

EDIT: Okay, I have the driverside panel off, and the handle loose, now what, the instructions say remove the metal rod. DO you squirm your way up thought the inside to do this?

I'm assuming you are talking about the metal rod that is hooked in to the door handle. What I did was remove the screws for the door handle, remove the door handle as far as the rod will let me. Then I removed the rod.

got it in, just had to get the key hole rod off first, that allowed enough room to work on the other one

bubba33 · April 13, 2009

I just put a small blade screw driver in there and it came right off. Are you useing theses directions? http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93769 It looks like the same picture. I hate to tell you this but the trim that covers the bolts is the easy part.

yes I am using those directions, I got fed up with the pass side and moved to the driver, that side came off no problem, I'm not retarded, my passenger side piece is just REALLY stuck.

EDIT: Okay, I have the driverside panel off, and the handle loose, now what, the instructions say remove the metal rod. DO you squirm your way up thought the inside to do this?

I am sorry for calling you retarded. Oh wait a min I didn't call you retarded.

Porter_ · April 13, 2009

^^^ you are not alone, this little plastic piece was my biggest hurdle when i swapped my mirrors. it was a pain in the ass to get off. a pocket knife worked best for me. i used a cheap pocket knife so i wouldn't care if i bent the blade. it's a good thing too cause i bent the shit out of the blade.

sounds like you've already got these pieces off. good luck with the rest of the install

Silverado/S10 · April 14, 2009

I just put a small blade screw driver in there and it came right off. Are you useing theses directions? http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93769 It looks like the same picture. I hate to tell you this but the trim that covers the bolts is the easy part.

yes I am using those directions, I got fed up with the pass side and moved to the driver, that side came off no problem, I'm not retarded, my passenger side piece is just REALLY stuck.

EDIT: Okay, I have the driverside panel off, and the handle loose, now what, the instructions say remove the metal rod. DO you squirm your way up thought the inside to do this?

I am sorry for calling you retarded. Oh wait a min I didn't call you retarded.

I know you didn't, sometimes I have my moments where I am, all I was saying is that this wasn't one of them. The tab holding the piece in place ended up breaking off instead of just coming out like it is supposed to. I was able to get both handles on without issue after this little thing was off. They turned out really nice. Thanks all who helped. Only thing I did wrong was I forgot to re-install the two rubber covers, but meh, they don't seem important enough to open the door up agian.