Cannot get door panel off!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Elko Nevada
I looked at this set before. They have another set that doesn't have the huge "U" shape (the biggest one). Does this set offer any advantage over that one? Does the U one really help?
I may just pick up a set if I don't make any progress tomorrow. I can't believe pulling a door panel is going to be days-long project
I may just pick up a set if I don't make any progress tomorrow. I can't believe pulling a door panel is going to be days-long project
With the large U shaped one you can locate the retainer pins which fits in the U and pry at that single point. also I was thinking if you could find the pin from inside the reflector opening you could use the bent one from inside the hole. good luck these tools also work really well for removing the little black plug push retainers that are on every car I have ever owned.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Enterprise Al
You can pull the window/door lock panel out and disconnect it before you remove the door panel. It just prys up and out. You have to understand that you have to jerk the panel off. The pry bar is a good thing to have. It will get some seperation so you can get your hand in there. The bottom of the panel comes off of the clips and then it lifts up out of the top where the window is. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 799
Likes: 16
From: Kansas City area
I just used a door panel removal tool from Auto Zone. Also having the diagram with the location of the pins helped (thanks to Vette Essentials website). Use a towel or tape the metal to prevent scratching.
The tool I used looks like this one:
The tool I used looks like this one:
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
With the large U shaped one you can locate the retainer pins which fits in the U and pry at that single point. also I was thinking if you could find the pin from inside the reflector opening you could use the bent one from inside the hole. good luck these tools also work really well for removing the little black plug push retainers that are on every car I have ever owned.
You can pull the window/door lock panel out and disconnect it before you remove the door panel. It just prys up and out. You have to understand that you have to jerk the panel off. The pry bar is a good thing to have. It will get some seperation so you can get your hand in there. The bottom of the panel comes off of the clips and then it lifts up out of the top where the window is. Good luck.
Guess I'll just have to try with those pryers.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Enterprise Al
I already removed the lock piece and took off the screws and everything. It's just that it's hard to get leverge inside the reflector hole and pull. You also have to pull at a certain spot or else the panel looks like it's going to snap in half. /Quote
Jerk. Dont pull. and don't worry about it breaking. Pull out on the panel through the reflector enough to get your hand between the panel and the door. Use quick jerks to slide your hand back towards the front of the door. This should give you some space between the panel and the door. Then put one hand centered on the bottom of the door panel and the other on the door handle and give it a hard jerk. It should pop of. Just dont be scared to use some force.
/QuoteJerk. Dont pull. and don't worry about it breaking. Pull out on the panel through the reflector enough to get your hand between the panel and the door. Use quick jerks to slide your hand back towards the front of the door. This should give you some space between the panel and the door. Then put one hand centered on the bottom of the door panel and the other on the door handle and give it a hard jerk. It should pop of. Just dont be scared to use some force.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
I already removed the lock piece and took off the screws and everything. It's just that it's hard to get leverge inside the reflector hole and pull. You also have to pull at a certain spot or else the panel looks like it's going to snap in half. /Quote
Jerk. Dont pull. and don't worry about it breaking. Pull out on the panel through the reflector enough to get your hand between the panel and the door. Use quick jerks to slide your hand back towards the front of the door. This should give you some space between the panel and the door. Then put one hand centered on the bottom of the door panel and the other on the door handle and give it a hard jerk. It should pop of. Just dont be scared to use some force.
/QuoteJerk. Dont pull. and don't worry about it breaking. Pull out on the panel through the reflector enough to get your hand between the panel and the door. Use quick jerks to slide your hand back towards the front of the door. This should give you some space between the panel and the door. Then put one hand centered on the bottom of the door panel and the other on the door handle and give it a hard jerk. It should pop of. Just dont be scared to use some force.
Now I have to try to get to the window regulator/motor... not sure where the screws/bolts are but I'll search for it.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 151
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From: Elko Nevada
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
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From: Chicago IL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Remove the plastic access panel in the rear section of the door. (you can see the black panel in the picture of the silver door above. )
The tracks and motor assembly will fold up and come out through the access hole.
Mark the location of the glass first.
There are small square access holes to get to the clamp bolts that hold the glass in with the window in the full up position. (you can also see the two black covers in the picture. Some have plastic plugs and some just have weather proofing tape.)
The three motor bolts are in the center of the door panel.
The front bottom rail bolts can be accessed by removing plugs in the bottom of the door.
The tracks and motor assembly will fold up and come out through the access hole.
Mark the location of the glass first.
There are small square access holes to get to the clamp bolts that hold the glass in with the window in the full up position. (you can also see the two black covers in the picture. Some have plastic plugs and some just have weather proofing tape.)
The three motor bolts are in the center of the door panel.
The front bottom rail bolts can be accessed by removing plugs in the bottom of the door.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Mar 17, 2009 at 07:20 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Remove the plastic access panel in the rear section of the door. (you can see the black panel in the picture of the silver door above. )
The tracks and motor assembly will fold up and come out through the access hole.
Mark the location of the glass first.
There are small square access holes to get to the clamp bolts that hold the glass in with the window in the full up position. (you can also see the two black covers in the picture. Some have plastic plugs and some just have weather proofing tape.)
The three motor bolts are in the center of the door panel.
The front bottom rail bolts can be accessed by removing plugs in the bottom of the door.
The tracks and motor assembly will fold up and come out through the access hole.
Mark the location of the glass first.
There are small square access holes to get to the clamp bolts that hold the glass in with the window in the full up position. (you can also see the two black covers in the picture. Some have plastic plugs and some just have weather proofing tape.)
The three motor bolts are in the center of the door panel.
The front bottom rail bolts can be accessed by removing plugs in the bottom of the door.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 612
Likes: 69
From: Southwestern PA
Not meaning to hijack the thread, but are you sure you have a window motor problem and not a relay problem in the door control module?
Will the window only move in one direction, if so, it may be the DCM.
There is a way to replace the relays realtively cheaply.
Will the window only move in one direction, if so, it may be the DCM.
There is a way to replace the relays realtively cheaply.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
I just want to go into the motor to "tab it" as others have suggested. I tried slamming door already.
It looks like rebuilt motor is only like $50 and regulator repair is like $100.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
when you put it all back together why not convert it to Velcro, so the next time it's a piece of cake? Anyone ever do this?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
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From: Chicago IL
Melting Slicks
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From: Issaquah WA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
I already got through their instructions. I'm exactly at the picture you quoted. But I don't know how to get to regulator/motor from this point.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you are just wanting to tap the motor and not remove the whole regulator assembly at this point, you can remove the front speaker in the door. You will be able to get to the motor through the speaker opening.
You might also try removing and reconnecting the motor power, just to make sure the connection is good.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Mar 19, 2009 at 04:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
The big black access panel is held in place with weatherproof caulking that is re-usable. If you carefully peel the panel off, the adhesive strip should stay on the panel and you can press it back into place when you are done.
If you are just wanting to tap the motor and not remove the whole regulator assembly at this point, you can remove the front speaker in the door. You will be able to get to the motor through the speaker opening.
You might also try removing and reconnecting the motor power, just to make sure the connection is good.
If you are just wanting to tap the motor and not remove the whole regulator assembly at this point, you can remove the front speaker in the door. You will be able to get to the motor through the speaker opening.
You might also try removing and reconnecting the motor power, just to make sure the connection is good.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Do I remove the entire speaker frame thing? I actually found a thread about changing speakers and I tried to follow that. But the speaker frame is like really "glued" onto the panel, and there's not much space for me to get leverge and pull. Or can the speaker come off by itself without removing the whole frame? I also don't know how to disconnect the wires.. they feel pretty firm and I'm not seeing release tabs. So confused!!! :o
Nevermind, I got the speakers off.
Nevermind, I got the speakers off.
Last edited by karateboi87; Mar 19, 2009 at 09:33 PM.