How difficult is it to replace the door handles on the Brava as mine have started to split
:bang:

mixie said:

How difficult is it to replace the door handles on the Brava as mine have started to split
:bang:

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Its not very difficult. I would suggest you purchase handles from the Fiat Marea, as they are made of plastic and not rubber and they can be colour coded to the car. But new Bravo ones will do the job for a good few years anyway and are much cheaper new i think. 2nd Hand Marea Handles are approx £20 for two or £30 for 4.

Fitting them isn't hard, the only trouble is with the small metal rod in the door that connects to the key barrel. If you take your time you'll not have much problems. Theres a small clip holding the key barrel in place and you just swap yours with the new handles.

yeah the hardest part is reconnecting the 2 metal rods when fitting the new handle. be careful not to damage or lose the white plastic cup that sits on the end if each rod. they're needed to keep the rods conected to the handle. also you cant get to the nut behind the handle if the window is down so make sure its up (or if you go to a scrapyard that the window isnt down, i had this problem and had to destroy the window to get it off).
the clip to release the lock is a small circlip, it pulls off but i found it easier to push it off from the other side using a small flathead screwdriver.
also note, you can fit any handle on any side of the car, so when you go to scrapyards you dont need to find a good condition driver's side, any good conditon handle will do. just turn it upside down and by magic it can be fitted to the other side.

Thanx both of you. As soon as I can source some handles at a reasonable price I will attempt. Let you know how it goes

:worship:

jug said:

also note, you can fit any handle on any side of the car, so when you go to scrapyards you dont need to find a good condition driver's side, any good conditon handle will do. just turn it upside down and by magic it can be fitted to the other side.:

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Though this is true, they are made to go on the side they are designed for. The handle itself can be flipped, but the part that has the key/blank really needs to be fitted to the side its intended for. Where the handle enters this part there will be a lip on the square opening, make sure its on the bottom as you'll have problems with the handle not running smoothly and can sometimes not fully return to its original position if the lip is on the top.

Anyway goodluck and take your time.

Their are full instructions on Fiat Boo

I just took a set off a Marea to go on my Brava, and have to say it looks like a fiddly job. I hope they go on easier than they came off anyway.

no they come off easier i'm afraid.

lol, thats something to look forward too then.

I wish I had bought a Bravo now, less doors.