Hey guys,

just recently I have had issues with my driver side exterior door handle. I am looking to replace it and wondering how I go about doing it. I've searched and thought all I needed to do was to loosen the torx screw in the door, pop out the lock and should be easy breezy, but not so much. It's a 03 g35 coupe. Thanks in advance!

 

You will need to get to the inside of the door panel, which is easy just a lot of screws. There is a lock rod on the lock actuator that needs to be undone before removing the actuator, then the handle simply comes out. Do a search on youtube on nissan vehicles. They all basically work the same

 

 

Thanks for that! Just really not wanting to remove the window to get to the handle.

 

You don't have to. Those air bag pumps aren't expensive. Locksmiths use them to unlock vehicles. I've seen people use clamps to hold the window up also. Just don't let the door slam because you will shatter the glass. Don't forget when the door is closed the window rolls up to seal the gap, on coupes

 

I -THINK- it can be done on the coupe without removing the glass, the regulator/motor/etc are all behind that metal panel not mounted to it.

 

But couldnt you wedge the window and remove the bolts to get the glass of its tracks? I guess at that point it is as simple as taking the glass out. Just gotta be careful not to scratch the window tint. Its been a while but I looked into this when I wanted to remove as many parts as I could before dropping my car off for a respray

 

To remove the exterior door handle...

Like you mention, loosen that torx screw. It doesn't actually come out all the way (or it would fall into the door)
Pry up carefully to remove the door lock bezel piece (escutcheon), it should just be clipped onto the door lock. I don't remember completely but you might be able to pull the door lock out with this stilled clipped on or you might have to remove it first. Either way, remove the plastic bezel and door lock one at a time or together. There will be wire rod connected to the back of the door lock so you'll have to maneuver the lock to remove that so don't just pull it harshly from the door. You will be able to get the rod back in for installation easy enough so don't worry.

Lastly, pull the door handle open about half way and give it a solid pull towards the rear of the car. It should unclip, then you pivot the rear side out and then slide the front side out.

 

Thanks for the responses fellas. I loosened the torx bolt today in the door. Removed the bezel and was pulling on the key lock to come out. All I could get the lock to do was wiggle a bit but not pop out so I could remove the handle.

 

It helps if you use a screw driver or bit that is magnetized or any small magnet you can get in there. Like Brad said the screw doesn't come out all the way so it tends to get hung up on the lock, preventing the lock from coming out. The magnet will pull on the screw and prevent the lock from getting hung up on the torx screw. Hold the bit or magnet on the screw(so that it pulls the screw out as far as it will let it) while pulling on the lock and it should come out.