I need to remove my interior door panel to repair my power window motor and I have the big 'ol 500 page factory manual telling me how to do it but I want to get people advice.

From your experience, what is the best way to remove the door panel and what suggestions do you guys have for me? I want to make sure I don't damage them in anyway and that I can put them back and they look like they were never removed.

Thanks!

 

Well I just finished reading all of the posts in my search on the subject and just about all of my questions were answered.

 

I take mine off by rolling the window down all the way and then taking off the black trim piece ontop of the panel. Then taking off my armrest, and the lock and handle trim piece. I used a small screw driver with some electrical tape on the tip to remove the metal clip on the back of the window crank."yes I know you have power windows" The reason for the electrical tape on the end of the screw driver is incase you slip and hit your panel. I didnt do that when I took off my old red panels and sliced one really bad, I changed my int color so I had my new panels You can get a special door panel remover tool or just use a screw driver to pop the old plastic clips out. You can get a box of 30 new clips at any auto store. Good luck

 

Well I can't roll my window down, it's stuck all the way up. Is that going to be a problem?

 

It might, it just really depends on how good you are at getting the top piece to pop out. I've always slid mine to the left a inch and pushed it towards the window and pulled up on it. I think it will still work with the window up.

 

Me and that top piece of the door panel; the black one that clips into the door, have never been friends. Even with the window all the way down, I always have a problem with it. There are three "clips" on the inside edge of that top panel that grab onto notches of the door.

My suggestion; go to a junkyard, and try to take a door panel off. That way you'll get the experience without ruining your own. Even better if you play with a car that's door panel is already messed up; that way you're not ruining a panel for someone else.

 

I second that, get some practice. Since I've had to take mine off 1billion times, i've gotten pretty good at getting it off in under 30 sec.