Removing outside door handle to fix power window

[Rick K]

My daughter's boyfriend has a 1996 Saturn SL2.
His driver's side power window died, in the fully down position.
He got a Haynes manual, but it doesn't help on exactly how to
remove the outside door handle, so he can complete the removal
of the outside door panel, so he can fix the window.

The handle pivots up, and is attached to two curved black plastic arms
that rotate out and up. The book says to press on some button, but
we've pressed mightily on the little black dots that appear to the releasing
mechanism, to no avail.

Any clues? Any guidance? It would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Lane]

The very small black dots - maybe 3 mm in size - can be seen on the
underside of the door handles when lifted up. Those need to be pressed
upward (if I recall correctly) and they will slide about a quarter inch
until they come out the other side. Don't lose them though. The handle
should then come off when moved to the side.

Lane [ l a n e @ p a i r . c o m ]
"Straights are for fast cars. Turns are for fast drivers."

 

[Rick K]

Thanks, Lane, for the response. Thru some technique and a lot
of brute force, we managed to get the handle off, remove the outside
door panel, and eventually get the window to go up and close.
Better than having a perpetually open window ...

Now, to diagnose the problem (window goes down without too much
trouble apparently, but extemely reluctant to go back up). No binding
evident. Manual says to "lube stuff". Ha. What? Where?

Kind of reminds me off college calculus texts.
"For repairing of spark plugs, open hood, disconnect negative battery cable,
then simply remove engine along with transaxle. Press on tab B to
disconnect pistons, find problem and fix. Replace engine, and other parts
in reverse order."

Also reminds me why I hate power windows. Complexity is not always a
good thing. Kinda hard to farkulate manual crank windows, and I've never
had to "replace the window regulator" (my arm).

Again, thanks for the help.

--
Rick K

The very small black dots - maybe 3 mm in size - can be seen on the
underside of the door handles when lifted up. Those need to be pressed
upward (if I recall correctly) and they will slide about a quarter inch
until they come out the other side. Don't lose them though. The handle
should then come off when moved to the side.

Lane [ l a n e @ p a i r . c o m ]
"Straights are for fast cars. Turns are for fast drivers."

 

[Greg]

The outer door handle is held on by a small black pushpin and slides easily
forward off of the pivots.

"To "lube stuff"." You should get a spray bottle with a liquid soap and
water mixture and spray the rubber tracks/seals with this mixture and see if
it is dragging somewhere.

If you have to work on the inside it may be easier to remove the outer
panel. You only have 3 mirror nuts and 6-8 outer panel screws. Hope this
helps.

Greg

Thanks, Lane, for the response. Thru some technique and a lot
of brute force, we managed to get the handle off, remove the outside
door panel, and eventually get the window to go up and close.
Better than having a perpetually open window ...

Now, to diagnose the problem (window goes down without too much
trouble apparently, but extemely reluctant to go back up). No binding
evident. Manual says to "lube stuff". Ha. What? Where?

Kind of reminds me off college calculus texts.
"For repairing of spark plugs, open hood, disconnect negative battery cable,
then simply remove engine along with transaxle. Press on tab B to
disconnect pistons, find problem and fix. Replace engine, and other parts
in reverse order."

Also reminds me why I hate power windows. Complexity is not always a
good thing. Kinda hard to farkulate manual crank windows, and I've never
had to "replace the window regulator" (my arm).

Again, thanks for the help.

--
Rick K

The very small black dots - maybe 3 mm in size - can be seen on the
underside of the door handles when lifted up. Those need to be pressed
upward (if I recall correctly) and they will slide about a quarter inch
until they come out the other side. Don't lose them though. The handle
should then come off when moved to the side.

Lane [ l a n e @ p a i r . c o m ]
"Straights are for fast cars. Turns are for fast drivers."
---
Visit my Saturn Car Audio and Performance Page at http://www57.pair.com/lane

My daughter's boyfriend has a 1996 Saturn SL2.
His driver's side power window died, in the fully down position.
He got a Haynes manual, but it doesn't help on exactly how to
remove the outside door handle, so he can complete the removal
of the outside door panel, so he can fix the window.

The handle pivots up, and is attached to two curved black plastic arms
that rotate out and up. The book says to press on some button, but
we've pressed mightily on the little black dots that appear to the releasing
mechanism, to no avail.

Any clues? Any guidance? It would be appreciated.

Thanks.