My 2004 H2 Hummer rear hatch door is broken where the door handle/license plate holder is attached to the door. When you try to pull the handle, the entire assembly tries to come out. Can this be repaired or do I need a new handle/base assembly. Should I try to look at the problem from the inside of the door? thanks

Either the cable is stretched or the holder for the cable (inside the rear plastic cover at the bottom of the back door) has come loose. Another unlikely possibility: The latch may be closed with the door open. In that case, insert screwdriver into hole in the latch and pull open. That only works if your door won't latch at all. Check the "pull" handle... make sure the cable is still attached. If this is an electric model then you must see a licensed mechanic for replacement or repair of the solenoid.

The inside panel of the hatch has to be removed to gain access to the locking mechanism which is stuck or unhinged.

Its not very hard,check the 3 help links provided below regarding this:----

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/07/hummer-h2-door-panel-removal.html


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http://www.howtorepairguide.com/2012/07/hummer-h2-how-to-remove-front-door.html


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http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/07/2009-hummer-h2-door-panel-removal.html

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All the 3 help links will give you complete step by step procedure to remove door panels.

Thanks.

Hi there,

Firstly, remove the four screws on the bottom of the license plate light assembly using a Phillips screwdriver. Then pull the license plate light cover out away from the rear of the car. Pull the bulb forward and pull it straight out of the wiring socket.

A press the new bulb into place until it is secure. Push the bulb and wiring assembly back up inside the light assembly and replace the license plate light cover. Replace the four screws that secure the light cover and tighten them with a Phillips screwdriver. Finally, turn on the lights to test the new bulb.

Hope this helps...

Dig out the broken bits of door handle, then on the right side insert a flat head screwdriver diagonally up and fish around for the release lever.
Push up on the screwdriver handle to manipulate the release lever down and your tailgate will open.
Remove the interior panels by unbolting the 10mm bolt behind the strap and pulling off the interior pieces held on by plastic pop fasteners.
Remove the 10mm bolts around the perimeter of the interior cover plate and let it hang by the harness.
Remove the license plate.
Remove the license plate trim panel (multiple push fasteners from behind and a few 10mm around the lock)
Replace the handle.

Take a look at my other Sequoia posts about this.

You need to remove the interior pull handle first then gently pry away the interior panels from the top down. Go look at Tundra Solutions.com for the detailed procedure on the handle assemlby replacement but here is a rundown:

First, take off the license plate.
Since the hatch wouldn't open, I started from the inside and took down the top trim piece. After that the two side pieces come down, then the main trim piece which covers the bulk of the door comes out. These are all popped in with the white tabs.
There are 3 access hole covers to pop out (don't forget to install them back in when done) and through the left hole you can see the mechanism to unlatch, press it down with a screwdriver and open the door. If anytime you close the door you will have to do this to unlatch, up until you disconnect the cable and pull out the handle, then you have to locate the cable and pull that directly.
Behind the large trim piece you will find a metal access cover, remove the 7 or 8 10mm bolts holding that on and pop the 3 white tabs and let it hang off to the side. Disconnect the cable from the handle assembly by reaching in from the right hand side and popping of the cable from the handle assembly.
From the left and right access holes, locate the two 10mm nuts which hold the license plate assembly to the door and remove them. Then there are 4 plastic tabs that come in from the outside that hold the license plate assembly on in each corner, try and locate those and using some pliers squeeze them together and push it through. Next locate the license plate lamps wire connector and release that from the left side, it’s the simple push in and pull out square white connector.
After these are out, put back in 1 or 2 bolts into the large metal access cover so the hatch can be lowered (don’t close it).
Here is where I had fun, begin to pop out the assembly that it was bolted to. I ended up breaking 3 of the 4 plastic tabs in each corner because I did not use pliers from the other side to pull them out, however it remained somewhat useable (hindsight 20/20).
Now the license plate assembly can be taken to a bench to replace the handle assembly (Toyota doesn't sell just the handle, it is a small assembly). Two screws out and the assembly is replaced.
Before pressing the license plate assembly back onto the truck, make certain all the plastic tabs are in the assembly and not in the truck. Reverse the process to re-install.

I just bought the part last week for 61.76 from the dealership. It takes about two hours to unscrew the strap from the inside, remove trim from the inside starting at the top, sides and bottom. Remove the license plate from the outside of the hatch. Next remove the 8 bolts (10mm)and 3 white plastic tabs that snap on from the large black plate and move to the side (you don't need to disconnect the wires). From here you can reach around the rear window unit and open the door by moving the latch or pulling the cable. You should remove the 4 nuts that hold on the rear window assembly and move the to reach two nuts which holds the center portion of the trim piece you are trying to remove. There should be a plastic piece covering the cable and latch, it just pops off by pulling it straight out. There are three plastic tabs in the corners and one screw (lock for the hatch) that holds on the license plate assembly to the rear hatch along with two white plastic tabs which are located at the bottom two holes for license plate. These plastic tabs come in from the front. Use pliers to squeeze the together and push. You will need to disconnect the license plate lamp wire connector from the left side. The license plate assembly should drop away. Two screws hold on the latch, remove and replace and reverse proceedure.

First, take off the license plate.
Since the hatch wouldn't open, I started from the inside and took down the top trim piece. After that the two side pieces come down, then the main trim piece which covers the bulk of the door comes out. These are all popped in with the white tabs.
There are 3 access hole covers to pop out (don't forget to install them back in when done) and through the left hole you can see the mechanism to unlatch, press it down with a screwdriver and open the door. If anytime you close the door you will have to do this to unlatch, up until you disconnect the cable and pull out the handle, then you have to locate the cable and pull that directly.
Behind the large trim piece you will find a metal access cover, remove the 7 or 8 10mm bolts holding that on and pop the 3 white tabs and let it hang off to the side. Disconnect the cable from the handle assembly by reaching in from the right hand side and popping of the cable from the handle assembly.
From the left and right access holes, locate the two 10mm nuts which hold the license plate assembly to the door and remove them. Then there are 4 plastic tabs that come in from the outside that hold the license plate assembly on in each corner, try and locate those and using some pliers squeeze them together and push it through. Next locate the license plate lamps wire connector and release that from the left side, it’s the simple push in and pull out square white connector.
After these are out, put back in 1 or 2 bolts into the large metal access cover so the hatch can be lowered (don’t close it).
Here is where I had fun, begin to pop out the assembly that it was bolted to. I ended up breaking 3 of the 4 plastic tabs in each corner because I did not use pliers from the other side to pull them out, however it remained somewhat useable (hindsight 20/20).
Now the license plate assembly can be taken to a bench to replace the handle assembly (Toyota doesn't sell just the handle, it is a small assembly). Two screws out and the assembly is replaced.
Before pressing the license plate assembly back onto the truck, make certain all the plastic tabs are in the assembly and not in the truck. Reverse the process to re-install.

is the child lock on?

Open the hood, Turn the twist lock sleeve the surrounds the wiring harness end and pull out bulb holder. Pull out old bulb, press new bulb tab into slot, replace unit back into light housing, turn twist lock sleeve to secure to housing.

Dont touch the new bulb with your bare fingers.

Skin oils can heat up on the bulb and cause it to fail.