mytrplseven

Can the 944 door handle be re-keyed without removing the door handle?

tempest411

I'm afraid it can not. There is a couple parts at the back of the lock cylinder held on by a screw, and the only way to get that apart is by removing the handle. Having done this on two of these cars I'd recommend making it a project out of it. Remove the door panels, allowing you to make any repairs to the deteriorated material, replace the window channel felts, and clean and grease the glass roller-slides. You'll also have good access to all the linkage and door-jam assemblies, providing a good opportunity to clean and lube them. It's a lot more work to be sure, but you'll be able to rest easy knowing that everything in the doors has been attended to.

JackHB

I had to buy a new door handle for my car about a year and a half ago. I remember taking the lock cylinder out of the old one with the teeth and little springs and switching them to the new one. I'm thinking you have to take the handle off to re-set the teeth in the cylinder to match the door key. The hardest part for me was getting the little white plastic ball joint clip reconnected; which is the thing that transfers the leverage of the door handle sqeeeze to the door jamb release mechanism.