I've taken my 89 GTA down to bare body in preparation of a full/semi full restoration.

My interior is completely gutted except the door panels. My top plastic trim is in great condition and I don't want to ruin them. I've unbuttoned the bottom of the panel and tried stripping back the window motor wires to "jump" the motor but I'm still unable to get the window to come down.

Does anyone have experience doing this or any suggestions?

FYI- there's no battery or cables to connect one to anymore.

 

Very carefully LOL!

What I have done in the past is pull the panel back enough that I could slip a long screwdriver up to the first tabs that lock the trim to the door and do a push/pull combination to release the tab. Then move to the next one, etc. It is a tedious process. Hopefully someone can come a long with an easier method.

 

I've considered and tried this without luck, too damn nervous to damage the upper trim. If this is my only option, do you know about where the clips are?
I haven't removed 3rd gen door panels in 10+ years.

 

There's wires running out of the door. Two of them need a 12v circuit and the window rolls down.

 

with the panel loose everywhere else use a block of wood to tap it forward-towards the side mirror. it should slide right off of the clips. i do this even with the window down.

 

I've tried this on the two wires coming directly off the motor, stripped them back a bit and used alligator clips and a 12volt battery. Maybe I need to bypass something?

 

Hmmm, I will try this tonight. Seems too easy! But just might work.

 

I tried this last night without any luck. It seems the front loosened up but none of the others. How much force should i use to knock it loose.

--no Star wars jokes lol.

 

Lift the bottom of the door panel away from the door frame and then try and
slide the plastic top piece forward till its lock tabs move into
the cutaways in the top of the door frame and then the plastic will release
and you can pull it and the door panel up and away from the door frame.

Check this thread for a bare door pic and you can see the cutouts:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...-trim-door.jpg

 

Did you power the wires and ground the battery to the door?

 

If you forcefully tap it with a hammer (using a block between the hammer and the panel) it should slide forward about two inches past the clips. Should take one good whack.

On the widow motor only send power to one of the wires at a time. The motor grounds through the body. Power to one will send it up/other'n down.

 

The procedure described is correct. I will add that you can move the top trim piece to either the front or rear and it will release the locking tabs from the clips on the door. I spent many frustrated times removing door trim panels before I learned this trick.

Lon