My 2003 Fabia has the typical faded door handles from wear so I was looking to replace them - to discover they are about £23 pop a corner!

Seems a bit ridiculous!

I know a lot of people on here however take them off and get them sprayed. Do you do this yourself with a can of handy black spray paint? Or do you send it off somewhere fancy?

Any help appreciated! Cheers!

Depends what your budget is really dont it. Obviously getting it done professionally would be better, but if your good with this sort of thing then give it a go yourself.

I sprayed mine! Now one doesn't work - ****!

Spraying is easy enough, key the plastic, then plastic primer and paint, add lacquer for a nice shine.

Easy to take them off, there is a guide on here n

What do you mean by 'key the plastic'? One of my handles has some scratches in it where in a past life it has been rubbed against something - so didn't know if I could sand it down?

Found the guide - very useful!

What do you mean by 'key the plastic'? One of my handles has some scratches in it where in a past life it has been rubbed against something - so didn't know if I could sand it down?

Found the guide - very useful!

Key the plastic means sand it down mate. Think I used 400 grit.

I have a set of standard handles. I replaced them with a set of Octavia handles that are colour coded...

Can have the set of 4, in decent condition for £15 + post.

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Thanks Maverick - will PM you an email for some pictures if that's alright?

Advice needed!

Had a go at popping them off this afternoon. Followed the guide in the technical section, however:

- When I remove the handle by sliding backwards, the spring loaded runner it is on springs itself to its most distal position - and the handle then doesn't slow back onto it when refitting. I worked around this by using a cable tie, pulling the spring towards me when refitting then pulling the cable tie through with pliers... Doesn't seem ideal though?! I did this on 3 corners all the same!

- Cannot get the drivers side lock barrel to budge! Unscrewed the bottom screw (the top one has gone walkabouts in a previous life...) until it was at its very limit. I can slide it maybe 2 mm outwards until it stops. Is there anything connected to the back of this?

Did you hold the handle out whilst unscrewing the T20 torx?

This rotates the inner lock ring and locks that sprung lever into the loaded position so it stays where it is.

A small illustration of what goes on inside the door when your removing the handle.

This is the normal operation position, you can see the torx screw is wond in which rotates the gold ring, this ring is when holds the lock in place. The lever that connects to the handle is vertical at the moment as there is no handle to connect it to but in this state it is free to move.

Now if you hold out the handle when undoing the T20 the gold ring as it rotates locks the handle lever into the open position, this allows you to hook the handle in behind it with ease. Then as you do the T20 up the ring rotates and the lever snaps back into position and pulls the handle in.

It is most important when you connect the cable to the handle before fitting the lock (or blank) into place you don't pull it to tight. If its pulled to far out the lever it connects to cant drop back all the way and as soon as the dead lock engages (if fitted) it can't release. This is the most common cause of doors that won't open, usually after a handle has been out, be it for paintwork or repair.

Interesting - I will try all of that. When I was doing it, particularly on the back doors, there was only the 1 screw and the handle didn't get stiffer in operation or hold itself out. I will try holding it with one hand whilst undoing it.

I managed to deadlock one, I think... - but just reopened it from the inside - wasn't a big issue...

Those two pictures are the same right? So it is the big gold ring on the left that rotates? The ring that locks in the barrel/blank?

If all else fails, atleast I know using wire works...

Edited with the two different pics, sorry my bad.

If you can open from the inside the car isn't deadlocked, that's the point of dead locked, it cant be opened from inside.

If you hold the handle out with one hand and undo the T20 providing something isn't broken if will lock the lever as in the second picture making getting the handle in and out much easier.