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2001 C5 Z06
I am sure some of you enthusiasts have taken a door panel off a C5.
I'm wondering if there are any tricks/tips to avoid damage to the panel and make it an easy job.
Reason it needs to come off is because I can hear the window relay in the passenger door clicking but the window won't go down and I'd like to trouble shoot it when it gets warmer outside.
I've had my door panels on and off more times than I care to count. I think I broke a pin every time I took the panels off. It just happens.
The surround around the door latch pull just pulls off.
Then there are two bolts behind the little plastic panel behind the door pull that needs to come out. Some say you have to take the door reflector off but you don't, there is no bolt behind it.
Here is what the pins look like:
I just took a good pin copy to a local collision center and they gave me some pins free. If not, here is a link to some.
Oh, and the clicking noise. The is a relay inside the door module. It might not be putting out any voltage to the power window's motor. I'd check that with a voltmeter before ordering a new regulator.
2001 C5 Z06
I am sure some of you enthusiasts have taken a door panel off a C5.
I'm wondering if there are any tricks/tips to avoid damage to the panel and make it an easy job.
Reason it needs to come off is because I can hear the window relay in the passenger door clicking but the window won't go down and I'd like to trouble shoot it when it gets warmer outside.
It worked fine when I bought the car last year.
Thanks in advance.
Here is a video that I did when I removed my left side panel to investigate a speaker that was no longer working. Some of what others tell you to remove is not necessary. Also, pulling it off when the temperature is warm is also a good thing to prevent plastic parts breaking. steve
Don't use screwdrivers to pry the door panel, use the proper plastic trim tools pictured above.
Do not remove the reflector from the door and do not remove the switch panel like YouTube videos tell you to do. The less stuff you mess with, the less likely you are to break something expensive. Do not pry on the plastic trim around the door handle, either. Look on the top and bottom of that piece (facing the handle), and you'll see a slot to insert a screwdriver or other flat instrument into release them from the door.
You can also get a very nice OEM door panel removal tool for about $10. at Pep Boys. It works perfect. You will not break any pins. I started with the 2 pins nearest the hinge. there are 3 on the bottom. One on lower outside edge. Now i am waiting for my garage to warm up to 70 degree to reinstall panel
Years ago someone posted a link to these fasteners where you can buy them in bulk @ 15 per box, male and female.
I figured what the hell and to me it was worth it when i saw what some of the prices were for just one !
Anyway, if anyone is interested here the link.
PS: Since i have purchased it I have used a few so, as far as I'm concerned it payed for it's self.
Don't use screwdrivers to pry the door panel, use the proper plastic trim tools pictured above.
Do not remove the reflector from the door and do not remove the switch panel like YouTube videos tell you to do. The less stuff you mess with, the less likely you are to break something expensive. Do not pry on the plastic trim around the door handle, either. Look on the top and bottom of that piece (facing the handle), and you'll see a slot to insert a screwdriver or other flat instrument into release them from the door.
Exactly.. I started blindly following a door panel removal YouTube video that instructed to pry the switch panel from the front with a screwdriver.. so I started doing that to the driver’s switch panel.. terrible idea.. *CRACK* .. so off to eBay I went and an extra $80 bucks later I ordered a replacement.. that stupid panel doesn’t need removed.. once the door panel is off, just reach behind and disconnect the harness.. simple as that.. & I just used a large flat heat screwdriver and my hands to gently pry the bottom and sides of the door panel off, then it just lifts up and unhooks from the top of the door
Last edited by OleStraightStick; Mar 14, 2018 at 10:28 PM.
I just removed one of my door panels for speaker replacement earlier. For reference it's been under 55 degrees F here for a while so the garage and the car were pretty cold when I started. After removing the handle bezel, the plastic cover over the two T30s, and removing said T30s I started on the clips.
Using a plastic pry tool like one pictured earlier, I started at a corner. Using a light I was able to see precisely where that corner clip was. I pried right at its base just enough to hear two pops, then moved down the bottom edge of the door to the next. At this point I was just able to see the head of the next one. I repeated this process until I'd gotten all of the clips at the bottom loosened a couple of pops. Once there, you can comfortably tug on the panel to remove the rest of the clips all the way and pull the door panel up and away from the door. Not one clip broken
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C5 Door panel removal...
That way you are not putting too much stress on the door panel by just pulling on the edges of the panel.
.. so off to eBay I went and an extra $80 bucks later I ordered a replacement.. that stupid panel doesn’t need removed.. once the door panel is off, just reach behind and disconnect the harness.. simple as that.. & I just used a large flat heat screwdriver and my hands to gently pry the bottom and sides of the door panel off, then it just lifts up and unhooks from the top of the door
