ballmich

I'm new to the forum and did some searching but couldn't find exactly what I need help with. Apologies if it's posted somewhere already.

I have a 98 Civic LX and need to replace my Driver's Side door Handle for the Back Seat. It's actually the second time this handle has broken in the last two years. First time a mechanic replaced it, but I'm having a hard time justifying more money into this car, so figured I should do this myself on the cheap.

I ordered the handle online and have it in hand. I watched a youtube video on a honda accord back door handle replacement and thought I was in good shape... but as it turns out my civic back door is different than the accord. Different enough that I'm stuck.

So far I've got the panel off (the one screw by the interior door handle, and two screws inside the arm rest, then popped the panel off). And I've gotten the rod inside the door disconnected from the broken door handle assembly by using a slotted screw driver to pry it off. But I don't have access to go further. First I can't get to either of the 10mm bolts holding the old handle in. One is being blocked by the window track and I can't get at the bolt because it is in the way (and I'm not sure how or if I need to remove the window track). There was no window track in the way in the video I watched.... And the other 10mm bolt has to be accessed by displacing the locking mechanism by removing the three star screws on the side of the door. When I remove those three screws, however, I still can't move the mechanism far enough to gain access to the bolt through the hole that would be available. There is are two rods that connect the mechanism to the door that make it hard to move/remove further. And I havent been able to easily disconnect those rods.

And this is where I am stuck. Figured I'd take another look at it tonight to see if anything jumped out at me with a fresh set of eyes (and it was getting pretty dark last night). But if anyone could lend guidance, that would be awfully appreciated. Thank you.