Removing and replacing...

[jusris]

Does anyone have any information on how to remove the outside door handles of the XE and replacing them with the chrome looking ones. I just received the replacements and want to try and do them myself.

I also have the chrome looking rear caps for the side mirrors and am also looking for instructions to remove the old ones.

[pciley]

Originally Posted by jusris

Does anyone have any information on how to remove the outside door handles of the XE and replacing them with the chrome looking ones. I just received the replacements and want to try and do them myself.

I also have the chrome looking rear caps for the side mirrors and am also looking for instructions to remove the old ones.

Sounds like you have an XE like me. About the handles, you will probably see how to remove them when you pull the door panel off. There's probably going to be fasteners/bolts behind the handle, not to mention the cable attachment that pops the door latch when you lift the handle.

As far as the chrome mirror caps, I hope you bought the WHOLE new mirror. It is an absolute ***** to get those caps off without damaging them. I was trying forever, bending fingernails trying to pry it off by hand. If you adjust your mirror positions to all the extremes, you can look inside the housing and see little plastic prongs holding the cap on. Very carefuly use a flathead screwdriver or something better to try to release those plastic clips to get the caps off. WARNING it is very easy to break these prongs so pry slowly and if it is not giving, just stop otherwise, with a broken clip, your mirror cover will be loose.

My solution: I bought BIG TOW mirrors and I love them. I even bought the door harnesses to make wiring the power mirrors, windows, locks a cinch. The mirrors were less than $300 for the pair, and both door harnesses ran $60 together. Now I can see my trailer

[rrumaner]

I just had to replace the entire passenger side mirror (big tow) and know from experience that there is no way to remove just the outside housing without breaking the actual mirror loose from it's mounts. The housing snaps in on 4 pins that expand after they are pushed through their mounting points.

[jusris]

OK, just removed the XE mirror caps and replaced them with the chrome looking ones. Pretty easy job, just like pciley described. Just had to find the 4 clips and lift them off the holding clips, covers just popped off.

Now on to the door handles.

[jusris]

UGHHHHH!!!

Has anyone actually changed or replaced the door handles on their TITAN?

[jusris]

Changed the stock XE door handles and put on the Chrome SE/LE ones.

Well, actually had someone install them for me.

Popped out that rubber plug on the inside of the doors and used a screwdriver to undo the old handles and replace them with the new ones. No need to enter throught the door panels for this.

One note if anyone is thinking of doing this, make sure you get both pieces for each door handle, I just ordered the handle part and not the little lock pieces for the rest of the handles. Ordered them but right now I just got these (4) 3/4 chrome and 1/4 black handles on my truck.

[pciley]

great jusris, glad to be of atleast some help. Were the handles pretty easy? I have been thinking of getting the chrome ones ONLY because they are smooth and can be painted to match the truck. The XE ones have a texture that makes it alot more work to smooth before they can be painted.

[cali-titan]

Originally Posted by jusris

Changed the stock XE door handles and put on the Chrome SE/LE ones.

Well, actually had someone install them for me.

Popped out that rubber plug on the inside of the doors and used a screwdriver to undo the old handles and replace them with the new ones. No need to enter throught the door panels for this.

One note if anyone is thinking of doing this, make sure you get both pieces for each door handle, I just ordered the handle part and not the little lock pieces for the rest of the handles. Ordered them but right now I just got these (4) 3/4 chrome and 1/4 black handles on my truck.

Jusris, can you please elavorate a little more, I realy like the handles but my ex ... well.
So how much is per handle, any pictures on the process to change the chrome handle?.. are the back doors different than the front... any details would be really appreciated.
Thanks

[titan907]

how much did those handles cost?

[DTEK]

Hey Pciley,

How ya been? On your door wire harness did you have power mirrors before? If you did not once you changed the door harness then the new tow mirrors worked fine without any other additions? I have been wanting to do this