DesertMistTL

iTrader: (2)

I know there's a helms manual but that thing leaves a lot of things out.



Tools needed

1. #3 Philips screwdriver
2. 8mm
3. 10mm
4. 6" extension
5. Thin flat head or pick​
6. Extra door actuator screws 90103-S7S-003
7. New door seals in case you break yours..
   1. Driver side 72188-SEP-A02
   2. Passenger side 72148-SEP-A02
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Passenger Side

1. Remove door panel using this guide
   1. https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g.../?ref=esp-link
2. Peel back the vapor seal just a little
3. Remove the window rail with this 10mm
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4. Now take your 10mm and poke it through the hole like this while holding on to the outer cap outside
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5. Hold the outside because the cap will fall after this nut comes off
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6. Now go back to where you unbolted this cap, you need to pry here to pop off the metal tab with the bolt hole
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7. Now unhook the connecting rod either from the handle or the actuator, doesnt really matter but it has to come off, I did actuator, just flip that brown clip off the rod and it'll pull free
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8. Now pinch this pin form the bottom, it has a bottom that you squeeze to push up and out
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9. Now pull the handle towards the back of the car and then pull out like this
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10. Now to remove the gaskets, they actually hold the white part on the inside to the door pretty good, just pinch this one off
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11. Now for the larger clip, you need a pick or flat head, it actually clips from top on bottom here. If you just pull it off it'll break and its $5 each from dealer. Its hard to see in the door so here are pictures outside
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12. Now to take off the last 10mm, we saved this last because if you took it off first the whole thing would fall down when you pulled off the handle, just unscrew and done!
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13. Now pull free the plastic piece and look at all the stuff that was connected to it
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Driver side front door handle

1. Same process as front but you need to remove the actual lock/key hole
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Rear Door Handles
Almost same exact steps as front but slightly different and harder. This is actually the same steps to do the rear door actuators almost

1. Remove door panel as usual
2. Peel back vapor layer
3. Unbolt the window rail but dont remove it, it doesnt come off easy, just take out the bolt and hold it while you unbolt otherwise itll fall into the panel
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4. Undo the bolt holding the lock button
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5. Reach in and try to unclip the door lock rod, going to suck if you have big arms
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6. Now take your #3 screw driver, you will need a #3 or you'll strip them and have to drill them out. I recommend buying spare screws because I always strip them, even with a #3 screwdriver and using new bolts. Unscrew the three philips in the door jam
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7. Peel back this child lock, this is where we'll be working with a lot
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8. Unplug the actuator, and wiggle it loose, you dont have to take it off, but you can if you're replacing your door lock actuator.
9. Look through the hole of the child proof lock cover we just removed, and you'll be able to see the bolt for the cap
   1. Going to be hard to reach but with a 6" extension and 8mm it'll come off
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10. Now from here on, all the steps are the same as the fronts
11. Remove the bracket on inside on step 6 for the fronts

Congrats, you removed both door handles.
Reassembly is the same but only one special detail

1. When you reinsert the door handle, the white part will block the handle from going in
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2. Just pull up on the door rod or lever and it'll raise the white part and then you can fully push the door handle forward towards the car
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3. Going to take some trial and error and wiggling but this is how it should look with the door handle ON TOP of the white part
   

All done! It's not too hard, but kinda sucks not seeing and its a definitely a tight space.

LoveMyTL-S

Nice write-up. Thanks for sharing.

ruthlxssb

Thank you for this.

I found this by googling “removing 3g Acura TL door handles”

now after seeing how extensive it is I’m going to google “how to wrap a car with the door handles on”

and pick my poison. Lol

DesertMistTL

iTrader: (2)

the fronts are pretty easy, i'd prob wouldnt try the rear because the rear screws strip so easy. good luck.