A few people have asked me how to remove a door handle so they can paint them etc. It is very simple to do providing you take care. If you go too mad it gets complicated and the whole door will have to be stripped down to retrieve the bits that fall out.

Step 1.

Your common garden exterior door handle in all its glory.

Step2.

On the edge of the door you have two grommets (Fabia) or one (Octavia). Take the top one out and loosen the T20 torx screw inside a few turns (dont take out).

Step3.

Now take the bottom one out. Inside here is another T20 screw. Its fairly recessed so you will need a fairly long narrow screwdriver. Take the handle in and and hold it in the open position slightly. Now undo the screw gently until you feel a small resistance, stop there. If you have wound it out the handle should hold in the open position.

Now with the handle in its locked position lever the lock cylinder out with a suitable trim lever so as not to damage the paint work. They are usually quite welll seated but it its not moving at all undo the top T20 screw a little bit more.

With the cylinder out you can no see the bowden cable that connects the handle to the lock mech inside the door. Make a mental note of the position of the cable in its channel or even better dob a little bit of paint or tippex on the end.

Pop the cable off

Now slide the whole handle backwards a touch

And the handle swings out

Withdraw the handle and your done. The lock cover just pops off.

To rebuild just reverse these instructions. Bear in mind however the bowden cable must go back in the same position. A good check to make is when its back in place before you refit the lock cylinder just make sure there is a small amount of slack in the cable. If its too tight the door will deadlock shut and your stuffed. Leave the handle in its outer postion until you tighten the lower T20 torx screw, when it is wound in the handle will pop in on its own.

Thats it. Just be carefull, take your time and its pretty easy.

I do get the feeling though I'll be coming to you to get my 4 handles fitted once they're painted.

1- love your avatar pic

2- will try tightening those bolts as I have a nasty rattle coming from one of the rear doors.

3- love the guide

Bas