So I finally get my car back from the shop, after 3 weeks. 97 front bumper, repainted rear bumper, im very happy until I try to lower my window and it stops about 5/6 of the way down. It wont roll down all the way, and on top of that, the door handle wont open from the outside. I can open thedoor from the inside, but the handle cant be opened from the outside. Anyone else have this problem and fix it? or know how mcuh this might run me to fix? The shop is saying it came like that, but they want me to bring it in tommorow to check it out (I took my car from the shop as they were closing)

 

Don't roll down your window anymore. Roll it back up.

Your door lock mechanism is opened by one of two cables. One is connected to the inside handle and one is connected to the outside handle.

The outside handle cable is connected to a metal rod that is interconnected with a plastic joint.
Your plastic joint has broken off (old) and the metal rod has swung down. So that is why you can't open the door from the outside. You have lost the connection between the rod and the cable because of the old broken joint.

What you have to do is take off your door trim, find that little plastic joint and get a replacement. You can do this yourself and it will save you hundreds of dollars. It takes a little bit of wiggling to get the new joint back in.

On a side note...
You might have some problems finding a replacement... The first time it happened to me (Drivers door) I took it to the dealer. A $500 bill. The Second time it happened to me (Passenger door) I went to Lexus to get a replacement joint and they said they only sold the whole mechanism for $400. I then went to Toyota and they said it would take 2 weeks for them to ship the clip itself from Japan. Then I went to a Toyota Collision Repair centre, asked to speak with a mechanic (Friendly Japanese mechanic!) and then I showed him the plastic clip/joint and he went in and grabbed a new one and installed it for me for free. I did leave a handsome tip though .

 

Shoot! I thought I was in the sc300/400 forums...
Did someone change the links?

Anyways the instructions above are from my experiences with the sc400.

 

Wow, thank you for the very great info. Any idea what part number it was ?

 

or exactly what the joint is called?

 

if this is the way it came back from the bodyshop, then take it back to the shop and have them fix it.
You have a right to a working door, not 5/6 of a window and no door handle. If this wasn't the way it was brought to them, they have no right to return it to you this way. If they have no proof that that "was the way it was brought in", then they have to look at it as they were the last ones to have it.

They should have done a walk around before taking the car in.

steviej