How to Remove a Car Door Window Crank

Many cars still use a manual crank to control the windows instead of electrical switches. If your car has a window crank and you need to remove the door's trim panel, the window crank is the first thing you need to disconnect. The crank is held in place with a C-shaped retaining clip inside the trim panel, which is attached to the crank's circular center. There are a couple of ways to disconnect this clip and remove the crank, but the easiest can be with a hook-shaped tool from an auto parts store.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hooked removal tool or shop rag

1. Roll the window all the way down. Take note of the exact position the handle is in for reinstallation.

2. Look for a decorative cover in the center of the window crank. Pry this off to find a screw; remove the screw and disconnect the handle. This method is used only on a few very old model cars like the older Volkswagen Beetle.

3. Insert a hooked tool in between the space between the crank's underside and the door's trim panel. Insert it sideways from the left and look for it to hook onto the retaining clip.

4. Push downward on the tool while jiggling the window crank slightly in both directions until you feel the clip dislodge. Then pull the crank off of its gear.

5. Use a shop rag or similar cloth to remove the clip if you don't have an appropriate tool. Insert the edge of the rag into the space between the crank and panel and pull it up and down to dislodge the clip.

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