So I took my door panels off so I could remove the last little bit of window tint from my car (Not that I didn't like the tint the car came with, but the state trooper was not so supportive).

Anyway, the sides and bottom of the panel came off intact enough, but the top trim portion confuses me. The Chilton's manual says they should just lift off. I had to pull on them pretty hard to get the three snaps to release. One of them snapped off. Reinstalling was just as hard. I had to press/pound pretty good on them to get them to seat. Now the passenger side looks a little lumpy. Are these only meant to be installed once? Is there a better technique to releasing and seating the snaps? What am I missing here?

Thanks

 

Once I had the side and bottom clips loosened (and the armrest and controls off of course) I had to slide the whole panel a couple of inches forward to slide out the clips holding the top part. Seemed to go pretty smoothly on my car.

Edit: By "forward" I mean along the length of the door, it would be towards the front of the car if the door was closed.

 

its easier with the window down.

sliding it forward and lift upward, the plastic piece sits down into the window area. It is bolted onto the fiber board in several places and these and the sweap get caught up on the metal.

The fiber board shoudl swing relatively freely if you have all the plastic clips loose. The tool designed to get the clips out makes it alot easier.

 

Whenever I get stumped on something Im afraid of breaking, or what it looks like underneath a certain panel or whatever. I wait and be patient, I go to the local pick a part and try whatever I wanted to do with mine on the junker at the pick a part, so even if it breaks who gives a crap. Just my two cents, you will be glad you did most of the time.

 

Pretty good ideas. Yeah, practicing on bone yard cars is always a good idea.

One last Q, what is the purpose of the moisture barrier plastic? Is it to keep moisture out or in?

 

until you have done it 50 times it will be a pain in the butt - and since very few of us do it 50 times just figure it will always be a pain in the butt.
i have to take mine off again to put on the new power mirrors and i am dreading it.

 

The moisture barrier is used to keep water from ruining the cardboard door panels.

 

use the search function to find the post regarding replacing door weatherstripping that has a link to an online video actually showing how to remove the door panels (it has sound narrative also) - I do not remember exactly where it is on here, but I watched and then removed both my door panels with zero issues

 

It's not hard. Just like any other car, using both hands (one at the top and one on the bottom) you push the top part of the panel (the window ledge thing) towards the open window (if possible), lift the panel outward (towards the interior of the car) at the bottom and up. Start at the back and work your way forward. Takes about 10 seconds, without breaking anything, after the hardware is off, for both sides.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m2C449C7s0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iacu3NWUM74

J.

EDIT:...that guy sure does like the word "unit"...watch the redye vid haha. Great info, just thought it was funny.