I have a 2000 Dakota Quad Cab.
The drivers side back interior door handle broke where the rod goes in.
I noticed it isn't held in with screws. It is melted in with plastic.
How can I replace this door handle? I haven't found any sites that sell this handle. And even if I do, how can I install it?
Thanks

 

You could try a junk yard and if you are able to remove the old one you can use a soldering gun to re-melt the plastic to attach it to your door panel. This probably would not be a very reliable repair. You will probably have to replace your entire door panel.

Jimmy

 

JB weld might hold, i'm not sure what you're talking about.

 

pics might help.....

 

yeah for sure i want to see exactly what you are talking bout.

 

What he's talking about is how the handle on the door panel is made into a small plastic panel that is part of the plastic surface of the door panel. If you look at the back side of the door panel where the panel/latch is located there are some holes in the door panel surface that a corresponding plastic tab on the door release handle panel is inserted into. Then the plastic tabs are melted down to attach the release handle panel piece to back side of the door panel. What he wants to do is buy the door latch piece to replace on his door panel. I don't think it's available to buy. It is an integral part of the door panel and it comes already melted in place when the parts supplier who makes the door panels ships the door panel to Dodge.

He might find it in a junk yard panel but chances are if the door panel is in good shape the junk yard won't sell just the handle off of it. He might get the whole door panel for a good price, hopefully less than from the dealer and hopefully the junk yard panel will be in good shape and match the interior on his truck.

Jimmy

 

This is my opposite side door panel. The circled part is what is broken on the other panel. Notice how it is installed....Not the best option if you ask me.
I guess they thought this plastic handle assembly would last forever.
handle.jpg

 

thats the plastic clip that connect the operating rod to the handle. im pretty sure those little guys just pop into the handle, then they click over and brace the operating rod. that's most likely a dealer or junkyard part.

 

My bad. I probably wasn't clear enough on my last post.
The "bad" door handle(not shown, still on truck) has the tab broken off on it. The tab has a hole in it which holds the white plastic locking clip.

 

ooo... yeah you can either A) super glue the tab back onto the handle, B) get a new handle off a donor if you can and fab it into the existing panel or C) get the entire door panel with the handle already on it. you're better off calling a few junkyards cause the panel isnt exactly cheap.