My father mistakenly chipped some plastic off of the inner door handle assembly for the front passenger door of my household's 2000 Ford Contour. To understand what has upset me, check out the first of several photos on this page. When he chipped the plastic, the screw he really need to unscrew to remove the assembly was hidden under a cover. It seems to me that possible replacements for the inner door handle assembly in question aren't too readily available. The official base price for this inner door handle assembly on eBay is $55.
I've been really upset about this situation. Is there a lifehack that can at least quasi-rectify the situation? I can't say I'm not worried about someone cutting his or her finger on the inner door handle assembly in question. People should keep in mind that my father is pushing 80 and has eyesight issues as well as hearing issues. Also keep in mind that I was stressed about other stuff on the day that this particular incident happened. Can someone console me about this situation?
For the record, the 2000 Ford Contour in question has an automatic transmission. Last I checked, it had less than 108,000 miles on it.
Take a look at a junkyard if they have anything
I don't understand the problem. You won't see or feel any of that. It's a 25yo car. Just put it back together and move on with life.
@imperator Well, MountainMainJoe, can you possibly tell me the exact screw that's supposed to go in the bezel screw hole seen in the latter two photos on the one page that I previously linked to? No offense, but I'd rather not rely on trial and error to determine the proper screw size. I have the two volumes of the car's workshop manual in my house, but I couldn't find information in the volumes on what exact screw to use.
is the screw still in the door somewhere? Have you tried the bone yard?
@imperator It's my understanding that the inside door handle bezels for both of the front doors have the wrong screws, but the inside doors for both of the rear doors have the right screws. The correct screws are both covered by hard plastic stuff at the present time. If me and my father remove one of the rear screws, should we bother showing it to someone at a Ford dealer, or should be trying comparing it to available screws at, say, The Home Depot instead? Sorry, but going to the junkyard isn't really much of an option for me and my elderly father these days. I'm disabled, and my father has arthritis in both of his knees.
it's worth a shot. But if someone used the wrong screw then the threads are stripped out anyway
Chances are the no one has detailed information for the inner door handle on a 25-year-old Contour, a car that even Ford dealers probably don't remember at this point. A junkyard is your best bet. Or, if available on ebay, just buy it there.
@chucktobias You mean it's not worth traveling to a Ford dealer just to determine the appropriate screw size for the one screw hole?
You can check but I'd be surprised if they're able to help you.
@chucktobias I have already told MountainManJoe the following:
It's my understanding that the inside door handle bezels for both of the front doors have the wrong screws, but the inside doors for both of the rear doors have the right screws. The correct screws are both covered by hard plastic stuff at the present time. If me and my father remove one of the rear screws, should we bother showing it to someone at a Ford dealer, or should be trying comparing it to available screws at, say, The Home Depot instead? Sorry, but going to the junkyard isn't really much of an option for me and my elderly father these days. I'm disabled, and my father has arthritis in both of his knees.
If me and my father remove one of the rear screws, should we bother showing it to someone at a Ford dealer, or should be trying comparing it to available screws at, say, The Home Depot instead
Go to any Ace Hardware store and ask for bolts and screws and mention what you're using it for. Ace has all of the hardware to determine unknown screw/bolt sizes. If you're lucky, the clerk will do it himself or herself.
I bought a new Hencho en China grille assembly off of eBay Motors around a month ago and the nuts and bolts weren't compatible with each other, not surprisingly. I didn't have anything to go by, other than a bolt length
Usually, front and back doors are similarly sized as far as screws for a door handle.
Good luck.
