How to Take the Door Panel Off a Car

Learn how to remove the door panel from most cars. This will be a generic write-up to show the usual steps to removing the door panel to access the locks, window mechanism and other interior door parts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The needs will vary by car.
• Flathead screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Possibly torx drivers
• Possibly a few small sockets
• A soft shop cloth

1. First check to see what tools you will need. Usually there are a few screws, a couple "pry" points and maybe some small (10mm) bolts holding on the door trim. Get what you need together and make sure you are working in the warmest weather you can... cold weather makes door trims prone to cracking, breakage, and leaving "fold marks" on plastic/faux leather trim.

2. 

   Lower the window to get it out of your way... OR leave it up to make sure you don't get rain in your car in case you do not finish on time. Check the door for obvious screws and bolts along the outer edge of the interior trim and remove them, taking note of where they came from and what length goes where.

3. Check for pieces of trim that can be gently pried up... look for screws behind the door handle, look for circles and ovals that look like they may be hiding screws. To gently pry at them, cover the tip of a flathead screwdriver with a soft cloth and very slowly very gently insert it in and start to lift. If it's glued on, you probably can't/should'nt remove it.

4. 
   Using a shirt to remove the clip

   Make sure that if there is a manual window crank you remove it. Many manual windows have a hidden circlip behind the crank, you can remove it by fitting a shirt or a shop rag behind the crank and working it back and forth until it pops out. Some cranks are screwed on, you will have to check google to make sure. I know most hondas and dodges use a circlip.

5. 
   Thanks to miata.net, view of a door with the trim removed.

   Once you have all of the screws and bolts you can find removed, start to pry along the edges of the trim where it meets the door. There are usually brittle plastic or metal clips holding it in place. Find where they are and gently pry on both sides until they pop out, one at a time. Once you have them all loose you can usually pull the trim part of the way off. Now you will be able to tell where it is still attached. Usually one of the "door actuator" or "window actuator" rods will be attached. They are thing metal rods, look for where they attach behind the door and slowly work them loose. If you have power anything, remove the wires from the clips, usually detachable right behind where the power button is. You will usually have to lift the door trim up and out over the locking mechanism to remove it. Be gentle and work slowly. There are often small, difficult to see connections but using common sense and giving yourself adequate time will help. Good luck!

Tips & Warnings

• Be gentle when prying.
• Keep all bolts and screws together, take note of where they go.
• Take your time!
• Cold weather will cause old plastic and faux leather pieces to become brittle.
• When detaching circlips, they may spring off with a lot of force. Eye protection is recommended.

[kaytay]

on 3/2/2009 Thanks for sharing. You never know when you might need this info. 5* and a recommend