Octavia vRS interior door grab handle removal

[studioman]

Hi - sorry if this post should be elsewhere - bit desperate!

I am trying to remove the front pasengers door interior panel

I've done all visible screws. It seems the grey plastic grab handle is the sticking point.

Despite a general direction over the phone with a dealer I still can't get the persishing grab handle to come free. I have stopped in case I destroy the door card itself.

Has anyone got the technique of removing the grab handle on the passengers side front door of a 2002 Octy vRS please?

Many thanks Chris

ps I need to remove the panel tonight hence the urgent post.:confused:

[VRSPhil]

I've never had the passenger side off but looking at the Haynes manual, it suggests that the handle is in two halves. You need to lever the top half off to reveal retaining screws for the bottom half.

I know the design is different but if it's anything like the drivers side handle it will probably need some persuasion to leaver the cover off.

The Haynes manual actually says...

"With the door open, insert a flat-bladed screwdriver under the trim on the grip handle, and carefully lever the trim off towards the door trim. Undo the retaining screws"

[Ianto]

The front of the handle comes off nos 30 and 33 on diagramand there is two screws(one each end)

Ian

[fordfan]

You need to lever it quite firmly, the two plastic pegs on the handle cover fit quite tightly into the screw recesses. Try to lever it a place which is not visible when it is fitted as the edges burr over and they mark very easily.

[studioman]

OK I'll give it a whirl.......... it just looks like there is no 'cover' as such just one thick grey grab handle (passengers side I'm on about).

Did it! Seems like Skoda do a pretty flush fit on the top part of that solid looking handle. Once you get right underneath the top cover and get the screw driver in the position where the plastic dowling is situated you are perfectly placed to prize it a little and..................... chew big lumps out of the cover edges!!! Doh!

Actually not too bad when you know how. It's taken me longer to do a door card than to dismantle my Brooklands 280 for painting. What a wimp.

Thanks everyone.

[pdhealy]

I feel your pain!

I spent 2 hours one day trying to figure this one out (with a Haynes Manual), and eventually gave up.

I came back to it the following day, and eventually managed it.

[studioman]

I needed a manual to understand Haynes!!

I blame the German /Chech engineering for all this trouble. Perfect tolerances mean we Brits cant tell where 2 pieces meet. Now I recall my first Mini and all subsequent British cars - no problem seeing immediately where 2 pieces met - usually about 3-4mm apart and not consistently 3-4mm either!!