Home Page
Photo Album
Tech Section
Product Reviews
Jeep Tech
Readers Rigs
4x4 Club Links
Links Directory
4x4 Vendors
Cool Products
Shop for Stuff
Centralia PA
Computer Help
Contact
Search
Site Index
Project CJ-7
 

Offroad Reports


Rausch Creek
Off-Road Park


Wheeling in the
Valley of the Ferns

1.jpg (70086 bytes)
Tellico North Carolina


Paragon Adventure Park
◦ Rock Krawl ◦

Thousands more photos here..»

 

Jeep Project CJ-7

An ongoing Budgeted Rebuild/Build up of a Rock
Crawling Machine.

Installing 23,000 Volt Offroad Lights


Lockers, Limited Slips &
other Differentials Explained

 

Ramp Travel Index
RTI / Ramp Travel Index What it is and how to calculate it, with and without the ramp.

Offroaders Guide to Gearing up for Offroad
From Basic Equipment to Well Equipped.  An extensive list guide to help you prepare your vehicle for the offroad.

 
 

 

 

 

 

Project Toyota FJ Cruiser
Swapping the Door Handles
The easiest FJ upgrade ever.

 

Of all the upgrades that you can do to the FJ, this has got to be one of the easiest.  Only one tool is needed and about 10 minutes of your time, or a "one beer job".  The tool you need is a #30 Torx bit and a ratchet or screw bit driver (to turn the torx bit).

My 2010 FJ Cruiser is Sun Fusion and my goal is to give it a Yellow / Black look.  To achieve this look, the silver on the vehicle needs to either be painted black or swapped for black items.  I read a few posts online about people who painted their grill, door handles and mirrors only to be disappointed when the paint chips on the grill and mirrors or wears off door handles.  So ideally, it's better to go with items that are molded black rather than painting them.  The Trail Teams Special Edition Package has several blacked out parts such as the door handles, grill, sideview mirrors and bumper parts.  Also apparently the Tundra door handle is the same as the FJ handle and it is available in black, at a cheaper price than the FJ Trail Teams part, though I've also heard that they are the same part number.  It could be aftermarket jacking up the price, who knows.  Either way, it's a cheap upgrade.  A quick search yielded several dealers who sell these online for about 30 bucks a set.  I've also heard that the Toyota dealer price is pretty cheap, but I haven't verified their price.   Here are the part numbers which might be the same # for both Tundra and the FJ Trail Teams Edition:

Toyota Tundra Door Handles:
Cover with key hole - P/N 69217-0C010
Door handle cover - P/N 69210-0C010

 

Like I said, this job is super easy to do and cheap.

FJ Door Handle Removal & Install:
  1. First, open the door and find the black plastic plug in the door jam and remove that.
     
  1. Look into the hole and you'll see a Torx screw.  The torx screw is held in place by a plastic retainer clip so you don't have to worry about dropping it into the door.  Using a #30 Torx bit, loosen that screw.
  1. Thinking I had to hang onto the Torx screw once it was backed out, I quickly chewed some gum, but of course I didn't have to worry about it.  But a good tip anyway.
  1. Loosening the Torx Screw.
  1. With the Torx screw loosened, you should be able to wiggle out the locking mechanism.
  1. Look at the back of the locking mechanism and locate the small slots in the cover.  Carefully pry the plastic cover off.  The flat side is the easier side to pry away.  Ok, so you need a second tool, a flathead screw driver, or a pocket knife.
  1. This is the new cover.  Line up the tab with the slot on the rounded side of the cover and clip the new cover onto the locking mechanism.
  1. Grab the handle and slide it towards the open hole about a half inch.  Click, and it's disengaged.
  1. Now rotate the handle out of the hole and the other side will come free from the door.
  1. New Handle!
  1. Insert the hinged side of the handle into the hole, followed by the lock side of the handle.  Slide it away from the lock side. Click. It's in.
  1. Next insert the locking mechanism into the door.
  1. Tighten the Torx screw snug, but not too tight.  It's a small screw tapped into aluminum so be gentle but firm.
  1. Put your plug back in and Voilą!  That side is done.  Step back, admire your work and finish half of your beer.  Remember to save half of the beer for the other side.

I do think the black looks better.  Much better.

  

 

 
 

Project FJ Cruiser

Toyota FJ Cruiser Related Articles

Toyota FJ Cruiser Articles Directory

Toyota Mud Tire Reviews

FJ Cruiser Product Reviews

About the Toyota FJ Cruiser

FJ Cruiser Product Reviews

Toyota FJ Cruiser Video Gallery

FJ Cruiser Engine and Drivetrain Specifications

Tuffy Security Console Install

Building an FJ 28"x42" Cargo Box with a
Collapsible 72"x42" Sleeping Platform

Body Mount CHOP in front wheelwells

Mud Flap Mod after the Body Mount Chop

Team Trails Black Door Handles Swap

Team Trails Black Grill Swap

FJ Cruisers Winter Offroading Pics

Toyota FJ Cruiser Photo Gallery

FJ Cruiser Press Release & Specifications

FJ Cruiser Reviews

FJ Cruiser Tires

FJ Cruiser Overview

FJ Cruiser Capacities

FJ Cruiser Dimensions

FJ Cruiser Suspension Lifts

ALL-PRO OFFROAD Suspension Lifts

Rough Country Suspension Lifts

Donahoe FJ Cruiser Suspension Lift

Revtek FJ Cruiser Suspension Lift

 

Offroad Tire Info
P-Metric Tire Sizes Conversion to Inches
Tire Terminology
Wheel Terminology
How to Pick the Right
Tires for your Truck
Truck Tire Info
Tires - What Hits What Fits
  
All Terrain  Mud Terrain
Tire Reviews & Info
Mud Terrain MT Tire Reviews
All Terrain AT Tire Reviews
Super Swamper Bogger
Super Swamper SSR
Super Swamper SX
Super Swamper Vortrac
Interco IROK TSL
Super Swamper LTB
Super Swamper TSL
Super Swamper TSL Radial
Super Swamper Narrow
Interco SS-M16 Swamper
Thornbird TSl Radial
Thornbird TSl Bias
Thornbird TSL
Parnelli Jone Dirt Grip
BFGoodrich Krawler
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM2
BFGoodrich AT TA KO
BFGoodrich Mud King XT
Bridgestone Dueler MT
Cooper Discoverer ST
Cooper Discoverer STT
Cooper Discoverer ST/C
Federal Couragia MT
Firestone Destination AT
Firestone Destination MT
General Grabber MT
General Grabber AT2
Green Diamond Icelander
Ground Hawg Mud Tire
Hankook Dynapro MT
Hankook Dynamic MT RT01
Hercules Terra Trac MT
Hercules Trail Digger MT
Kelly-Springfield Safari DTR
Kelly-Springfield Safari MSR
Kumho Road Venture MT
Kumho Road Venture KL71
Kumho Road Venture AT
Dick Cepek Mud Country
Dick Cepek F-C II
Dick Cepek Fun Country II
Dick Cepek Fun Country Nylon
Dick Cepek Fun Country Kevlar
Mastercraft Courser MT
Mastercraft Courser HTR
Mastercraft Courser HTR Plus
Maxxis BigHorn Radial
Maxxis Creepy Crawler
Maxxis Trepador
Maxxis Buckshot Mudder
Maxxis MA-SW
Maxxis M-8080 Mudzilla
Maxxis MT-754 Buckshot
Maxxis MT-753 Bravo
Maxxis MA-751 Bravo
Maxxis MA-S2 Marauder II
Maxxis MA-S1 Marauder
Maxxis MT-762 BigHorn
Nitto Mud Grappler
Nitto Terra Grappler
Nitto Dura Grappler
Nitto Dune Grappler
Nokian Vatiiva MT
Pit Bull Rocker Extreme
Pit Bull Maddog
Pit Bull Growler
Goodyear Wrangler MT/R
Pro Comp Xterrain
Pro Comp All Terrain
Pro Comp Mud Terrain
Pro Comp Xtreme AT
Pro Comp Xtreme MT
Toyo Open Country AT
Toyo Open Country MT
TrXus Mud Terrain
TrXus STS All Terrain
Michelin LTX A/T²
Michelin LTX AT2 Press
Michelin LTX AT2
Mickey Thompson MTZ
Mickey Thompson MTX
Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radial
Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Bias
Mickey Thompson Baja Crusher
Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ Radial SLT
Competition Claw
Dunlop Mud Rover
Federal Couragia M/T
Nitto Dura Grappler
Yokohama Geolandar
  
 
Mud Tire Reviews

 



Off-Road Lights
by LightForce Product Review / Installation.
from Off-Road Lights