Grab Handle Removal on 2003 Tundra SR5

What tool do I need to remove the driver’s side grab handle? Is a torx wrench? What size? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

Probably a small screwdriver to remove the covers and a Philips or 10mm for the bolts

 

Not sure the size but is that stripped?

 

T25 I believe

 

I think you will want an impact wrench for that. I'm pretty sure there is factory loctite on those screws and you need something to break it off. I used an old-fashioned manual impact that worked well.
But looking at those screws, you may need a drill and screw extractor.

 

A small amount of heat with a propane torch will work as well if that's the case.

 

It's all plastic around it.

 

For 5-6 seconds of heat it should do minimal damage if you cover it.

 

I think the challenge in getting those out has been overstated. And heat will fail, because the grab handle itself will be f-ed before any screw benefit. Try the right Torx bit, give it baby taps with a light hammer if you must. I just pulled mine to access the pillar. I could break it with a thumb screw.

 

Sometimes with stripped torx you can take a similarly sized allenhead and hammer it into place, then spin out.

The inverse also works, given you're being smart about size stepping to something that won't fit w/o a little force.

Sometimes you can do similar with a flathead screwdriver, if you can find one that fits between two notches opposite each other.

Don't use heat. There are other methods I just outlined and more.

I personally always try using a cordless drill with proper sized torx to back those out the first time, or after not done in a while. You can put more pressure into it and give light taps to loosen it up.

 

I appreciate all the responses. I am not sure about heat since it may ruin the plastic. Perhaps the tip of a soldering iron? I am still wondering about the type of screw. Is it a regular Torx or is it a Torx plus? This has me perplexed - I simply want to hide a wire from a backup camera the runs to the rear view mirror. Thanks again for all the responses and Merry Christmas to all.

 

An impact screwdriver is the proper way to get it free. The one you use a hammer with.

 

I had to remove my passenger side recently to run my dash cam power lead. I used a Torx bit - I feel like it was a T27, but I really don't remember. Have it stuck in my head it was an odd number non-divisible by 5, one of the bits ending in 7, and T27 is the only one I can think is common enough.

But yeah. Torx worked for me. It was stubborn as hell - mine had never been removed.

 

I second the impact screwdriver approach. I only mentioned heat if it's just the outside plastic that you're concerned about which can be masked off. If there's plastic internally within that recessed hole, it's probably not a good idea.

A solder gun would be a better approach then using a torch if there's no internal plastic to worry about.