started this and it is a huge job, glass has to come off , door latch, etc etc

so I tried again to connect the parts through the access hole, I managed to get the end to sit in the hole on the handle but it fell off when I moved the door, so need to try again, and hope that rod is not damaged and needing to be replaced

and the metal inside is sharp and jagged where the thief jammed a screwdriver through, that is what is cutting my fingers as I try to work... really frustrated now (


edit: looking at the panel removal instructions, it shows a step where you are supposed to disconnect this part before removing the panel, so I guess that means I don't need to take that panel off ie. step 12 in this: http://oldjeep.com/files/DoorPanel.xps

I guess I'll keep trying, both of those rods are off of the handle assembly, and there is jagged metal all around the area

 

Don't know what to tell you. Its kind of funny that step 12 is showing a picture from the outside of the door - transparently looking through the door. Usually the rods on door handles are held with a plastic clip that you unlock from the rod itself but I don't know if the ram is like that.

 

thanks for your help, it is really appreciated

there seems to be some kind of plastic piece still dangling on one of the rods, they are both disconnected at the top, maybe the plastic got broken, I can't tell

I fear that I will have to remove the whole thing just to assess the damage and try to repair things, what a mess... the hard part is that once I start to go that far, as for unclipping the glass etc, then I am forced to be able to finish the job as it won't be driveable like that, I can see that it won't be easy as things are squeezed in and it is not always an easy matter of removing a bolt and then being able to put it back just as easily

 

Seems like you would be better off just letting the body shop deal with it when they fix the attempted break in damage. If you don't get that fixed, the door is going to rust where they scraped all the paint off.