How to Replace Jeep Wrangler TJ Door Handles (TJ, YJ, CJ)

[@georgetelegadis]

I have to say, that was one of the best how-to videos, bud. It would have been literally impossible to figure out that task without someone showing you, and the detail and pitfalls to look for, and step by step commentary along with really fantastic zooms made this something even a novice could accomplish. Being a novice and a first timer changing out door handles, this took me start to finish 2 hours. For those interested, def. take the doors off, find a flat surface like an outdoor coffee table or something so that you can access it from the side or you will never get this done. A couple of other notes to keep in mind - the cotter pin is much smaller than it appears in the video. I used a screw driver to pop it out but it can get lost easy, so try and use a magnetic screw driver and I found it simply stuck to the end of the flat head when I pushed it slowly out. The other note is that the gator clips are a real pain to get off if rusty (like mine were) and then even more of a pain to get back on. The trick to getting them off was not only to pry up the hinge pin like he showed, but also to jimmy the gator clip left and right with a screwdriver to loosen it up and then use a bit of brute force to push it out the opposite way. The trick to reconnecting them to the new latch is honestly to get your wife or a daughter or someone with tiny hands. If you have mits like I do you will never maneuver them in the small space between the door panel and the latch. Having a second person guiding the gator clip also helps with a flashlight. I found that part took the longest and was the most tedious and annoying. Cotter pin goes back in backwards like he showed pretty easily from there but again use someone with small hands to get in there. I purchased the bent needle nose ones he suggested from harbor freight but they were too big to get in there. Little fingers work the best. For what it's worth, while I have everything apart, refreshed the side mirrors and am taking the door panels to get vinyl wrapped along with the lower panels of the dash to match the exterior paint. anyone can feel free to ping me if you are interested in how that turned out or what I did there. Thanks again to John's Jeep Garage for making this possible - you get extra Kharma for that one brother.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Great adds on the video and I love the small hands comment... I was wishing my daughter was around to reach in there as well.

[@rickyates]

This is by far the BEST video instruction on how to replace the handle. Much, much better than any other video out there. THANK YOU for providing all the necessary details to do the job.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I am very glad it helped. Thank you for the feedback.

[@bryansmith1612]

Fantastic video. Very detail oriented, showing some of the minor aspects of this procedure that make the procedure so much simpler. Every video on KZbin should be as precise as this one is!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful! And thank you for watching! 😎✌🏼

[@SeriouslyAwesome]

Amazing detail. Really appreciate it. I've considered going into my door for some time, but knew what a PITA it would be. This gives me a lot more confidence if I do. One thing I'd consider doing is put some polyfil (or something) in those door panels before putting them back together for added sound deadening or insulation. Your video also made me realize that the body shop that replaced my window years ago didn't put that crank washer back in when they put it back together. That crank never did feel as tight to the door as it used to.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Great idea about the fill for the doors.

[@zukesrubicon1130]

Nice job! I'll be honest... I did skip over the detailed explanation on how the the gator clips work and jumped to the part you were actually working inside the door. That was a helpful demonstration for sure. Thank you!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I appreciate it. Yes, some people may not need the full details. I am glad it helped. I am also struggling with the exact term of the clip - I have heard them called Gator, Saw and Jaw Bone clips. Thank you again!

[@LivingTheSaltLife]

Thank you! This was the best video to show how to t everything done. Now my boy has a handle that works!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching our channel. Let me know how the project comes out. Thank you again!

[@tedwoe]

So I FINALLY got both door handles replaced. I did the smart thing, the thing Jeep engineers should've done when they designed the door frame....I removed that rectangular shaped, indented area behind the door handle. Used a cutting wheel and cut it out. Easy access to door handle. Turned a three and a half hour job into a 10 min. job.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Awesome! Send a pic to my Twitter or IG account if you took any! Great job! I hope my video helped. Thank you for watching. ✌🏼

[@beauellis9608]

@@JohnsJeepGarageGreat video! Did @tedwoe send you a picture of the area he removed? Thanks!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

No he didn't but I understand what he was describing. KZbin comments doesn't give you the option to send pictures.

[@beauellis9608]

Thanks. I asked the question before I even pulled the panel to take a look. Once I got into it the spot was pretty obvious. Made things easier but the job was still a little time consuming.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching. I hope the video helped.

[@Gunmetalbluejeeptjs]

Thank you this video was a big help , just finished the driver side , up next the passenger

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching our channel. I am glad it helped. We should have some more videos uploaded soon!

[@jmass]

Followed this video step by step today and while some tight fittings to get into, this video is a superb tutorial walking you through all the steps, including how much easier it is once the door is off the hinges. Definitely recommend the $6 part to help remove window crank clip! Awesome video if you’re looking to upgrade your door handles!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you very much for your recommendation and watching our channel. I hoped this helps others too.

[@jillhummel359]

This is such a very helpful video. I have a 1999 TJ-very similar to your daughter’s Jeep. My door handles are starting to fail. You made the project understandable & I feel like I might be able to do it on my own if necessary. Thank you!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Awesome! Thank you. Remember when ordering there is a driver side and passenger side handle. Thank you for watching. We will have more videos posted we are working on as well.

[@ewanspewan]

Great video! Didnt realise how much of a frustrating job i was undertaking when i ordered new handles haha. Thanks again, I would never had known those gator clips were effectively loose in there! thanks

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Yes... it was a pain. But I didn't see anything with the detail online so I wanted to try to get the close ups as much as possible. Thank you for watching!

[@armandogonzalez376]

EXCELLENT VIDEO. NOW I I WILL DO IT BY MS. THANKS A LOT!!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching! I am glad it helped!

[@janskifamily1442]

This was incredibly helpful! So well done and easy to follow. Made replacing my door handles so easy! Thank you!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Awesome! ✌🏼😎 I am so glad it helped. Thank you for watching our channel!

[@pete673]

Really good demonstration of how to replace TJ door handles. Thank you.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you, I hope it helped you!

[@pete673]

@@JohnsJeepGarage It helped a lot. I watched a few different videos and this one helped most. I changed the handles a few days ago and all went well.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Awesome! Great to hear! Thank you again for watching.

[@greg1268]

John, thank you for the best video on how to tackle this job! I also want to thank you for all the effort and time you put into the video, it was very appreciated!! The efforts you have to put into explaining and videoing really do make the job a lot longer and that effort is very appreciated!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for the feedback. That is awesome. I am glad it helped. I wanted to provide answers to questions I couldn't find when I first did this job. Thank you for visiting.

[@billallen1860]

Nice detailed explanations. In my past experience I check the operation prior to putting the panel and hardware back on. I also position the window crank so when the window is full up or down it’s in the forward position out of the way. Look forward to more of your videos for help. Thank you.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for visiting and Great tip!

[@rzrpap]

Great video, wish I would have watched before I started the job. I was going to be cheap and remove the handle and paint it. After removing the panel and looking at how it was in there I knew removing it without breaking the retainers was a long shot. Thank you for posting this very helpful video.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I am glad it helped. Thank you for watching our channel.

[@Bearairboatrides]

Very detailed. Thank you. I am gonna tackle this job next week and now I think it is very doable. Never had my doors off so this might be the best excuse to do it! Thanks again!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I have to admit it is not a simple fix but the video should definitely help.

[@dremyofit6719]

Definitely going to pay my mechanic to do this$$$

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

It is a lot of work, but hopefully the video gave you some insight to what needs to be done. Thank you for watching!

[@donngrimes6179]

Well done!! Thank you.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching our channel. I’m glad that it helped you. 😎✌🏼

[@spymaine89]

that door handle mechanism is the same as my 87 Leredo .so thanks. .

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

That is great! Thank you for watching!

[@Drifter-be6oj]

Great video. Love the detail. Something that may help out in tight places like this. The inside of the door isn't really doing anything or holding anything. Use a hole saw on a drill and cut a hole that will give you better access to the pin and clips. Then use a non-hardening gasket sealant and a piece of plastic to cover the hole/holes. In this case, two 1" holes would be all you need. The inside door panel will cover any hole that you have made. Make sure the window is up when you do this. Don't go crazy on the size of the hole and make sure that you are not cutting out any screws or clip mounts. Just an idea. It's your Jeep.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching. Your comments are posted for everyone to read. Great idea for those who know how to do it safely. Thank you for sharing.

[@DrHughWegwerth]

Great video

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching! I am glad it helped.

[@patsasso9020]

Great job. Very helpful

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching. I am glad it helped. I hope our other videos and new ones will help you in the future. Thank you again.

[@Whiteandsonsgarage]

Awesome video mate. Massive difference to the look of the Jeep

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you. The video is longer than I wanted but definitely wanted to show more details on the parts and how they function.

[@ericcollins9921]

This is an incredibly helpful video, but one question I'm hoping someone can answer. How do you get the gator clips to go further down on the new handle once installed? They bite on the first tooth, but I can't push them down any further with just my fingers and its such a tight space to get any leverage. Help!!!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching our video, one of the things that I show in the video is actually pulling the clip towards you using a needle nose pliers. I did not show a specific highlight pulling it but I did talk about it start reviewing the video at the 1800 mark.

[@michaelcampbell2775]

Excellent

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching.

[@hammerfist970561]

Great video sir! Thank you!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you, and thank you for watching

[@goodboots2567]

i used a close hanger cut with a sharp bend--i use it to remove that clip so i would not loose is worked great---my problem is putting those gator clips back on..dang

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Those gator clips are a pain. I posted your comments so others can see what you tried. Thank you for watching our channel.

[@tedwoe]

I wish I would've watched your video first before installing my new handle. (I watched a shorter video and it didn't explain everything, kind of breezed over some important details) It ended up being a 3 1/2 hr. job and still isn't right because the key won't unlock the lock now. So I'm gonna have to take the whole thing apart again....GRRRRR!!! But at least after watching this vid., I have a better understanding of what to do.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I’m glad you found that my video is helpful. I hope the next time you go into the door to fix the handle you are able to get the lock to work. There are some additional linkages you may need to look at to ensure nothing is missing or disconnected. I know this method may be more of a pain, but sometimes looking at one door helps you understand the connections of the other. Thank you for watching.

[@jenniferschriber9443]

Thank you this was really helpful. I was able to replace the handle but now my unlock lock is stuck in the lock position Evernote when I try to use the key on the outside it basically does not allow me to unlock my door from the inside or out. Any suggestions?

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I don't know if you have Facebook or Instagram or Twitter... I have message access to all of these through John's Jeep Garage. It may be easier to use this to try to message and help. I believe it is a connection that is loose or not correctly connected. Did this happen on both doors or just on one?

[@jenniferschriber9443]

@@JohnsJeepGarage just one

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

So this definitely makes me feel if you changed out both but one has a lock problem, something changed. The easy way for me to help you now is to go back and look at the good one and then the one with the issue, look for the difference in connections.

[@jenniferschriber9443]

@@JohnsJeepGarage thank you fir responding. Sorry I should of been more clear. I only replaced one of the door handles. It was open and unopened the first day and now it seems the door won’t stay in the unlock position thus can not open the door. I would see if it’s because the caudal pin I secured all the way done. Is it possible to remove the door off with it still unable to unlock. It’s a 2000 jeep Sahara with manual

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

It is hard to say remotely, but these are a few things I would do, but it may take some time to do this. First remove the "good door" and inspect the connections and lock mechanism and compare it to the other door. It would be a comparison how it has been connected for something that is working versus the one that is not. If everything is the same, then there may be some mechanical issue. I know you realize there is a passenger door handle and a driver door handle so it will be connected similarly but symmetrical views.

[@goodboots2567]

but i find taking right side of door paddle gator clip out first the paddle will come out and that clip is easier to take off and put on..

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Thank you for watching, I posted your comment so others can see what you learned. Thank you for sharing.

[@wr70beh]

Ok. The video helped me big time to get to the door handle, and I got it off. My hangup is getting the gator clips up there in such a way to slide then down. There's got to be a better way to do this.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I made this video because I didn't see any others that clearly showed how to do this any other way. I had to use those longer needle nose pliers (I got from Harbor Freight). The way I show it in the video is the way it worked best for me. I had to pull it back towards the front along the side with the longer pliers. This is the only way that worked for me.

[@mrtop_1013]

I know this video is a year old but do you remember where you bought those replacement handles? How are they working for you so far?

[@mrtop_1013]

Also a great video and vary good detail! I repainted the doors so I took them apart and this video helped out a ton!

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

There is a passenger side and a driver side handle. There are other brands as well. Look at carparts.com (I am not saying this is the cheaper option or brand, just as an example) and look at part number ARBJ462103 (driver side) and ARBJ462104 (passenger side). This is an example.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

I need to repaint mine. I am glad it helped.

[@jeromemainmanmanne7496]

Did you use silicone to re-attach the plastic to the door?

[@jeromemainmanmanne7496]

We just installed the passenger side and were able to use the original silicone

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

No I did not. I don't know if that would be a good option. I just used the same material which was already on the Jeep plastic material which was tacky and could be pulled away and re-attached easily. Quite honesty, I don't know what the existing material is because it doesn't cure and is more of a tacky putty? If you use silicone, realizes it cures and could rip the plastic if you try to pull it apart again. Many Jeep owners remove the plastic and never re-attach it. Thank you for your question.

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Perfect! I did the same. It must be a silicone that doesn't cure and only stays tacky. I will follow up on what specific material it is for future reference.

[@salborreggine886]

John when u order the part does it have to be specific to drivers side or passengers side? And by the way your video was awesome

[@JohnsJeepGarage]

Yes. There is a passenger side and a driver side handle. There are other brands as well. Look at carparts.com (I am not saying this is the cheaper option or brand, just as an example) and look at part number ARBJ462103 (driver side) and ARBJ462104 (passenger side). This is an example.