1996 Toyota Camry Left rear handle bezel removal

PAULCL

MEMBER
1996 TOYOTA CAMRY
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
239,562 MILES

The left rear door will no longer lock with the power lock. However, the latch moves as it always does and it still locks by hand by flipping the lock switch. This makes no sense to me because it moves the same distance with the power switch as it does by hand. Anyway, the problem I have is removing the Bezel from the swich/handle mechanism. The haynes manual shows a screwdriver under one side, flipping out the whole bezel. I have tried various width screw drivers and even a scraper blade but it acts as though there is a screw or something holding it in. There is no visible sign of a screw or any hold down mechanism. I do not want to break this Bezel as I am sure it costs more than the job I am trying to fix. Any answer for me? Thank you

Sunday, December 27th, 2009 AT 1:41 PM

1 Reply

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

Hello and thanks for the donation!

If you put a small flat-blade screwdriver directly above the pivot point on the lock lever (between the bezel and the lever) and pry up, you'll release the top part of the bezel. Then you do the same thing just below the pivot point for the door handle and you'll release the bottom half of the bezel. Once that's done, pull out on the rear of the bezel and back to the rear of the car to release the front hook from its metal catch on the inner door structure. Unfortunately this bezel is extremely hard to remove without breaking, but this is the correct way to remove it so you must use caution to avoid breaking it, at the same time you have to pry pretty hard on it to get it to come out. Pretty much a lose-lose situation. It either doesn't come out, or it comes out broken 90% of the time. With luck and some patience, it can be removed without being broken though, goodluck!

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Sunday, December 27th, 2009 AT 3:59 PM