Its easy to get the door panel off, the only hard part is you need the same bit to get the handle off as you need to get the MAF out of the housing.

Inside the door panel near the lock bezel is a rubber plug. Remove the plug and look into the hole. You can see the screw with the star head holding the bezel on. Remove the screw. I put something sticky on the end of the bit because if you drop the screw inside the door, ggod luck ever finding it again. Once the screw is out the lock bezel pops off and the handle comes out. Just replace everything in reverse order. DONT OVERTIGHTEN THE BEZEL it is plastic and east to strip out. Make sure you order the handle and bezel, they come seperate. Takes 30-45 min a sude, real easy.

Originally posted by Twofocused in this thread Sorry the thread's really long, this was on the first page (I view 40 posts/page).

Oh and here's a pic of what the handles look like, if it helps you visualize how to get them out:

 

Hey Lil PZEV are those pics of your handles? Asking cause i want to know if the tribute handles come in twilight blue, as it seems to be one of the more uncommon focus colors.

 

Those are Mazda handles indeed. If you check the thread I linked, and search within it for my name, I may have posted the part #s at some point (I forget, they're like 2 years old)!

 

"Sorry the thread's really long, this was on the first page (I view 40 posts/page)."

Of course.. I missed it on the first page [screwy]

But, I did get them off (thanks for the info, Lil PZEV), and got some Sonic Blue handles on in their place. Unfortunately, it's just the front part of the handle that got changed for now- when I bought these from the local Mazda dealer, they only ordered that part and not the keyhole bezel. Even so, it's an improvement- here's a pic, albeit a not so good quality cellphone one:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/527063053_345d9c62b0.jpg?v=0

 

Looks good jhess74, did you paint the side panels and skirt or are those from a svt?

 

Thank you... I'm liking the change.

As for the side panels and skirt, that's actually all stock on my '06.

 

Ah yeah that's what i figured, and there's no twilight blue SVT's so i guess i'm going to have to end up painting. wonder how it'll look with the rough plastic texture.

 

Sand the handles smooth b4 you paint them- that's the best way to get around that rough texture problem.