Please Help with exterior door handle

It’s a 2022 4Runner TRD Off Road with keyless entry and hoping to fix without having to take it to a dealer. Hoping someone can shed some light on a fix. While replacing drivers door exterior handle, I accidentally removed the screw that holds the inner exterior door mechanism assembly in place. The mechanism stayed connected to the rod assembly and I got the mechanism secured back to the door panel and screw reinstalled.
The problem now is when I pull on the exterior door handle there is no spring tension on the handle and it’s moves rough and stays in the open position when pulled? What gives the exterior door handle the spring tension when pulled? Do I have to have the interior white and green cables connected for the exterior door handle to work properly? The interior door panel is removed as I’m sound deadening the doors and installing Kappa speakers. Thanks in advance for any advice that may point me in right direction for a fix!

 

Make sure that the spring is seated correctly and has the proper turn before installing it. Installed the cable back in place and that should solve the issue. Make sure to press it down until you hear that it snapped into place property.

 

What spring are you referring to? I didn’t see a spring? Is there a spring that the door handle fits into on the side that has the yellow plastic flip latch that locks the handle in place? What do you mean by the proper turn? Please explain. Or better yet, any pics of what you are referring to.

 

I don’t have a pic to provide you but when I replaced all the door panels for TRD on my 4R I believe I noticed a coil spring right behind the handle. Is that what you are referring to? I didn’t have your issue but had a similar situation on a 3rd Gen 4R where the coil spring got out of place by pulling the panel and had to put it back together.

 

Why were you replacing the handle in the first place?

Google search 4runner drivers door handle diagram. I couldn't attach the photos but there's a couple that might help out. Maybe this will help? Shouldn't be to different.

 

I did not replace the handles, I replaced all 4 door panels on my current 4R. My friend swapped his 2022 TRD Pro panels for my silver one as he didn’t like the darker accent etc.

I believe the coil spring it’s inside here…

 

I was changing the door handle to black while I’m doing speaker replacement. But I never noticed a spring. I accidentally removed the screw that holds the inner door assembly and the assembly was loose and it may of dropped the spring free?
I appreciate the help but still can’t see a spring anywhere. I will keep looking..

 

Just take a picture of what you’re dealing with. That may help a lot more on figuring out the fix for it.

 

I just got it. The latch where the door handle attaches at the rear wasn’t catching the latch so of course the handle wasn’t opening the door. I pulled the rod on latch down while moving the rear of huge handle into poison and walla.. it’s working Great!
Thanks for all your help it’s really appreciated.. Man, I love this site it’s Awesome!

 

Glad you figured out!!!

 

How did you fix your spring exactly? I am having the same problem and cannot get it fixed.