I'm trying to take off the exterior door handles to paint on my 98 civic coupe. Got as far as removing the 2 bolts and 1 connecting rod. Idk how to get off the other rod without breaking something but even with the door jam lock i don't see how it would even come off. Can someone please help with a pic to show what I'm missing.

 

You can complete this alot easier w/ a Chilton repair manual at your side. you may want to wait the shipping time to continue before breaking something.

 

should just need to take a screw driver and pop the plastic clips off. If the rod that spins off is still on just pull the handle out of the hole and spin with the other rods off. You need to mark the location of that rod thugh

 

figured it out... there was a big gold clip behind the silver plate which i couldnt see... there was a very small acsess hole to remove it... thanks for the help