DIY Front Door Handle Removal

[CameronJr9]

Please read this entire document before you take on this project. In writing this DIY, I'm assuming you have worked on at least one previous car.

This install takes roughly 30 minutes to an hour based on your experience and knowledge of general automotive work. Not only is this knowledge essential, so are the right tools. Things you'll need for this project are as follows.

• Driver's side front or rear door handle (part numbers differ)
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Regular-sized Phillips head screwdriver (or a drill with the proper bit)
• Shop light or flashlight
• Panel removing tool (pictured below)



*Turn off your dome light(s) as this install will require your door to be open for some time.

Step 1: Remove the small cover behind the interior door handle with the small flathead screwdriver. There is a Phillips head screw and a plastic screw behind the cover that need to be removed.


Step 2: Use the panel remover to pry the instrument panel up. Lift from the back as shown. Then pull toward the back of the car to release the last tab.


Here's a decent shot of the instrument panel and the small cover behind the door handle removed.



Step 3: Unplug the connections and place the panel to the side.


Step 4: Remove this screw that was behind the instrument panel.


Step 5: Gently (or aggressively…depending on your doors) pry the door panels off. Use the panel remover to get started.



Note the location of the tabs. They are orange in this picture.


And they are white in this shot.


Watch out for the goop. It is super sticky, super messy, and a super pain in my ass.


Steps 1-5 for the coupe and Si can be found here (refer to steps 1-11):
Front Speaker Install (Thanks to brolewis)

Step 6: From inside the door, pull the plastic clip from the metal actuator. Remove the actuator from the door handle. This does take some work. Don't be too afraid to pull hard. But be careful.

Originally Posted by mmmken

Unfortunately, I had to bring it back to Honda (who replaced and fixed my problem for $100). When you mentioned the metal actuator, I thought you meant the metal rod that's attached to the door latch.. and not the big chunk of metal (that comes with the door). I pulled on that (really hard) and probably bent it out of shape.. causing it to not properly push down on the latch hard enough.

Step 7: Once the actuator is free from the handle, there are two screws you must remove using the Phillips head screwdriver. They are hard to see, and thus, I have no pictures.

Step 8: From the outside, pull the door handle (gently) as you would normally to open the door. It should come free.


Step 9: Pull at an angle. Pull the handle upwards, and watch for the metal lever from inside the car. Carefully pull it free from the door. Use both hands to do this.


Step 10: Bring the front of the handle perpendicular to the door and gently pull free.


This is what your door should look like.


For a simple replacement, stop here and reverse the order of the steps. Replace your damaged handle and have a good day. If your intentions are to remove the keyhole from the front door, please continue.

For the rest of this install, I used a handle I ordered online for the back door. The part fits exactly the same; it just doesn't have a hole for the key.

Step 11: Since I kept the lock in place, you need to Dremel a small section of the new handle.




Be sure to remove enough, or you'll have to repeat step 11. I obviously had to repeat…


Worry not. Just a bit more Dremelling and you're set. Replace the handle, the screws, and the actuator, replace your door panel, etc.

And here's your finished driver's door handle…minus keyhole.


FAQs

Q: What happens when the battery in my key dies, I'm miles away from home, and I have no keyhole?

A: I thought about this for a while. I figured I'd just put the extra key in the trunk. That way I can use my everyday key to unlock the trunk, then grab the extra key and use it. Then I realized that if anyone breaks into my trunk for any reason, they'll have access to my entire car. I can't have that.
Instead, I got a CR1616 watch battery. You can pick this up at anyplace that starts with "Wal" or ends in "Mart." I also found some small screwdrivers lying around my basement. I took the battery and the screwdrivers and put them in the tray that sits on my spare tire. Now, when the battery dies, I unlock the trunk, replace the battery, and I'm on my way.


Q: Isn't this just a waste of time, money, energy, etc?

A: Eh, I don't care. I had fun doing it. I think it makes the car look cool. I work three jobs so I can have fun like this, and no one else has done it yet. I'm a pioneer.
If you don't like it…don't do it. If you do like it, you have $25 lying around and about half an hour to waste, get to it!

Q: Can this be done on a coupe/Si?

A: There's speculation right now, and until someone with an Si or a coupe tries it, I won't know. But, here's some conversation that leads me to believe it can happen (at least for some colors).

Originally Posted by 1st HI 06 Si

I have a question, you said that you put an extra battery in your trunk in case your key dies and you cant open your door. The sedan might be different but in my Si I cant open the trunk with the key. There is a button on the key to pop the trunk and a lever in the car but other than that I cant open the truck so if my door is locked and I don't have a working remote, I cant get into my trunk.

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

Yeah, I've heard that before. If you can't access the trunk without your keyfob, I wouldn't try this mod.

Originally Posted by BLACKFG

Can this be done on a coupe usingrear door handle of a sedan or are they different.

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

I haven't tried it. Several people have said they are different. I honestly don't know. You may want to go to your local dealer and just do a side-by-side compare.

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

FYI, this mod has to be done with a back driver's side door handle. Anyone with a coupe, I'd check part numbers on any Honda site first. Those of you with Si specific colors won't be able to do this mod, unless you paint the handle yourself...which I guess could be an option.

Originally Posted by 1zach4

si specific colors and rallye red (which also comes on the ex) are not available with rear handles, and it is a little more of risk for ex coupe owners in the us because there is no trunk keyhole

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

I think I just made a huge discovery that'll make a couple online Honda Parts dealers happy!

From my research, your passenger side handle is the EXACT same part number as the rear handle from a sedan.

So, there's really no reason the driver's side would be any different. The only difference (aside from the part number) is that yours has the lock and the rear one doesn't. They should match up perfectly. Kel from CHH is on it and he'll e-mail me.

Plus, the driver's side rear handle from a sedan is cheaper than an Si passenger side handle.

Originally Posted by Kel Kear

I measured the door handles and they are both 11 ¼” in length. They appear the same design (except for the obvious keyhole). You are correct that the 4dr passenger side rear part # is identical to the coupes passenger side, so it seems quite logical that the sedan’s driver side rear would fit the coupe’s driver side. Please call me if you need to order today.
Thanks,
Kel Kear
Honda Accessories - Genuine Honda Accessories at Discount Prices
toll free (888)244-6632

[Silver8th]

WOW, thats awesome Cameron, thank you very much for taking the time to share this. I just might have to give it a try. + rep

[Silver8th]

Awesome job with the DIY turn signal mirrors and the door handle, both of them look great. Thanks for taking the time to share that with the rest of us. +rep.

[MR_06_SiR]

awesome job on both posts!

[skittleslegend]

I'm going to do this to the coupe. That's clean.

[k20z3Vo]

GOOD GOOD POST! VERY COOL. You help me do away with bondo... SHIZNITZ! I didn't think of ordering a read door handle. DAmmmit I'm soo narrow-minded.

MAD POINTS TO YA!

[1zach4]

haha you are an installer at circuit city!!

(so am I)

do you hate those new shirts or what?

i'll be doing this to my rallye red coupe when it comes in (probably @ work since business is FINALLY slowing down from christmas)

[Celcius]

How did I not see this earlier? Bitchin' DIY!

[CameronJr9]

Originally Posted by 1zach4

haha you are an installer at circuit city!!

(so am I)

do you hate those new shirts or what?

i'll be doing this to my rallye red coupe when it comes in (probably @ work since business is FINALLY slowing down from christmas)

That's my roomie. He helped me out (quite a bit). I was the one holding the camera, so unless there's a reflection somewhere, you won't see me in any of those pics. And the guys in the road shop were joking about the new shirts. I didn't think they were all that great myself.

[CameronJr9]

Thanks. It's a clean mod. No bondo or anything involved. It's definitely worth a try, imo.

[webby]

added it to the DIY area - excellent work. +rep

[2fast4u2]

Awesome DIY and pics!!! Thanks!

[CameronJr9]

FYI, this mod has to be done with a back driver's side door handle. Anyone with a coupe, I'd check part numbers on any Honda site first. Those of you with Si specific colors won't be able to do this mod, unless you paint the handle yourself...which I guess could be an option.

[acetech808]

Wow thats cool. I think I'll do that to my car too. Where did you get your door handles from? Thanks

[CameronJr9]

Originally Posted by acetech808

Wow thats cool. I think I'll do that to my car too. Where did you get your door handles from? Thanks

www.hondapartsdeals.com They've got competitive pricing and great customer service (even an online forum).

[acetech808]

Thanks for the link to the web address for the door handle. Just figured out something though. The Si doesn't have a trunk key hole, neither does the 2 dr coupe. But it's a neat and fast mod. Car completely keyholeless.

[Silver8th]

Originally Posted by CameronJr9

FYI, this mod has to be done with a back driver's side door handle. Anyone with a coupe, I'd check part numbers on any Honda site first. Those of you with Si specific colors won't be able to do this mod, unless you paint the handle yourself...which I guess could be an option.

I guess for me it'd be the same part # as you used.

[CameronJr9]

Originally Posted by silver8th

I guess for me it'd be the same part # as you used.

Yeah. Assuming a sedan handle will fit the coupe. A couple of people around the forums are saying they aren't compatible.

[Silver8th]

It's the same friggin door handle people. Why would it not fit? btw..what was your part # its saves me the time not to look it up.














j/k