PROBLEM: Chrome Door Handle Mods

[chopper]

I just purchased the chrome inside and outside handle sets for my black 03 AV. I think im a pretty handy guy, but I gotta tell ya, this is no simple mod. At least not for me. I busted one screw/clip taking off the window and door lock portion of the door already. (this was NOT noted on the instructions). Now i have the door panel finally off, and theres one of 3 screws to remove the actual handle that I CANNOT REACH or GET TO! An hour and a half Im out there!!

Anybody put these on yet, or did anybody have someone else put them on yet?

I need pointers!!!!!

 

[02-Z66]

? i put the inside/outside handles on my AV. ?it was not real difficult just time consuming. ?i was able to get the job done without breaking anything.
? as far as what i did, here goes...

1- i used only my fingers to remove the doorlock/window switch panel. ?some of the locking tabs stayed in the dorr panel. ?just remove them and place them back on the switch assembly. ?

2- then you will need to remove the sail panel at the leading top edge of the door panel. ?i also used my fingers for this task as well.

3- next i removed the the screws holding the door panel on. ?if i remember correctly there is a screw at the bottom trailing edge of the panel, one at the back trailing edge of the grab handle, and one inside of the door panel accessible after the window/lock switch is removed.

4- now the panel is ready to take off. ?when you get it away from the door you will have to remove the harness to the light on the door.

5- peel back the plastic liner on the door to gai access to the handle.

6- there are three nuts you have to remove. ?two are accessible from the side where you removed the panel. ?the other one will have to be removed from another place. ?when you open the door look at the trailing edge of the door where the latch is. ?you will see a round black plastic cover. ?it fills a hole in the door. ?pull it out. ?this will give you direct access to the screw. ?

7- be careful not to cut yourself on the metal rod the window rides up and down on.

8- at this point all that is left is to install your handles and do the reverse to install all the parts.

? if you have any other question just ask. ?it has been awhile since i have done this. ?i have did it twice now. ?the inside handles are pretty easy. ?hope this helps.

 

[02-Z66]

i forgot to mention you will have to undo the lock/release mechanism from the handle as well. just before you unbolt them you can undo the two tabs that hold the two rods in place. one has a blue plastic cap, while the other has a red one if i remember correctly. they can be un-snapped using a small screwdriver.

 

[nf-avgirl]

My friend nearly chopped his hand off on that metal bar!!! He has a huge gash because of it!!! It is tough to align the door lock and the rod behind it. One trick that I used was to remove the plastic lock piece from the door panel, then put the panel and its plastic hooks in, and then align the lock pieces with the metal rod. I found this out when on the very last door. Of course!

 

[chopper]

I got them all in finally. Apparently, GM changed the control panels on the 03's slightly since JP made the instructions. I busted 2 panels. I called JP, and told them of the revsions. Lesson learned I guess.

 

[02-Z66]

i wish i would have paid attention to your sig. i now see you have an '03. i knew the panels were different, but did not know they came off in a different manner. go figure. Chevy would do that.

 

[rollie66]

GM made a significant change to the removal of the door panel on an 03. Instead of removing the swithch panel you take out the door lock slider. There is a bolt behind the slider. a bolt behind the door handle. These are the only two bolts that are used. The sail panel pops off. then you slide the entire panel up. Do not pull. It only takes 2 minutes to remove the panel. You also must disconnect all the wires from behind



Problem. I just removed my door and am attempting to get at the three bolts. The one Behind the plastic circle is easy. The one on the bottom right is easy as well. The top left one is behind the window mechanism. I am about to try with an extension and universal joint. does anyone have an easier method. Does unbolting the window reg pose problems. It seems that would open up a can of worms.

 

[rollie66]

10" extension and u joint and bolt behind window reg is out in 30 seconds. easy Mod and looks great.

 

[JUANNYONDUBS+2]

go to www.str8ballerz.com

they have a step by step instructions on the door handle. jsut click on the door handle and you will be there.

 

[TXAVy]

Removal of the inside door panel on the '03 front doors goes as follows.

- Remove 1 screw from behind inside door handle (no cover over it).
- Remove sliding lock mechanism (there's a tab on the front edge which you can release with a small flat screwdriver) and the 2nd screw is behind it.
- Remove 3rd screw from bottom of door, it also has no cover and goes straight up through bottom of storage pocket into door.
- Remove courtesy light. The rear will pull straight out with a little coaxing (flat blade screwdriver again). Unplug wire leading to the light once removed.
- Remove small triangular beauty plate inside mirror attachment by pulling straight away from door. This is attached only by clips which come off quite easily.
- Remove oblong beauty plate from around inside door handle. It has three tabs which can be released with the flat blade screwdriver trick.
- Lift entire door panel straight up and tilt top toward inside of truck. Bottom tabs on door have 2 shoulders to rest on. Panel will still be attached to door by window control panel (Driver Door Module - DDM).
- While door panel is still resting on bottom tabs, reach behind DDM and remove clips which come from door wiring harness. One clip will come from Driver Memory Panel and does not need to be removed.
- Finally, lift door panel the rest of the way up and remove.

Reverse to reinstall.

Do not try to remove DDM before door panel has been removed as there is a screw which can only be accessed from inside the door. It's easier to simply disconnect it and leave it attached to the door panel.

 

[smigdiggler]

hey guys what is the approximate cost of a set of 4 caddie handles and where would you recommend picking them up??

is Dal the guy to see??

Thanks.

 

[colek]

hey guys what is the approximate cost of a set of 4 caddie handles and where would you recommend picking them up??

is Dal the guy to see??

Thanks.

Check out our site sponsor - JP Customs - CLICK HERE! under the Exterior section, he has them at $100/pair

 

[wonder91178]

hey guys what is the approximate cost of a set of 4 caddie handles and where would you recommend picking them up??

eBay is also another option, just depends on where ya go and what you want to pay

Kim

 

[TLwiz]

I just got all four shipped to me for $129.00

Let me know if you want to know where from...

thom

 

[TXAVy]

I just got all four shipped to me for $129.00

Let me know if you want to know where from...

thom

Is that for 4 Chrome handles only, or the entire handle insert. If it's the entire handle insert, do you then have to paint the surround to match your vehicle? Thanks.

 

[TLwiz]

That price of $129 includes four exterior door handles (BLACK Escalade surround with chrome handle), pair for front with keyholes, and pair for rear without key holes.

I understand that you can paint them to match, but I also heard you can pop out a pin and swap just the handle part. I am going to try the latter method in order to cut costs. (The painted set of four is around $245)

 

[rreidAV03]

I paid $130 total for a pair of black Escalade front and rear chrome door handles. I bought them off of Ebay in June.

 

[02-Z66]

That price of $129 includes four exterior door handles (BLACK Escalade surround with chrome handle), pair for front with keyholes, and pair for rear without key holes.

I understand that you can paint them to match, but I also heard you can pop out a pin and swap just the handle part. I am going to try the latter method in order to cut costs. (The painted set of four is around $245)

i swapped the handles from the black Escalade trim ring to my indigo blue AV rings. this cut costs. also i saw a paint job done to a set. not very good. orange peel affect, and over spray on the chrome handles. neither would be acceptable for me.