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The actuator in my drivers door has gone out and needs to be replaced. Does anyone know of a "how to" to get the plastics off to get to the latch? I don't see anything external to remove save the one screw at the top, so I gather they just pull off, but I hate to start pulling on things without knowing for sure. The plastics in question are the ones circled here
You have to pull off the sill plate piece first, just carefully pull straight up to you unclip it.
Then the upper piece in your picture, again they pull straight out. I use interior clip removal tools with a thin towel behind it to not scratch the paint.
Then you remove the lower piece in your photo, just pull straight out. You can feel where the clips are when you pull.
Behind that you have weather sealed plastic to remove. I just cut the sealant with a sharp razor while gently pulling on the plastic while being careful not to tear it. It's sticky, so try not to let touch anything.
Then you can unbolt your latch by removing the two screws in your photo.
Then you will need to remove the plastic on the latch to access the pull cables.
Then remove the pull cables and replace your latch.
It wasn't so much getting them to work as having to realize the cables need to lay horizontal to the pieces they connect into. I fooled with them for 10 or 15 minutes trying to get it all to work right and get the cover back on with the cables coming out vertically from the mounting holes. Once I laid them down, it all went right together.
I actually took the car to the dealer last Saturday and after waiting an hour was told the one guy they had that could work on it was off that day. After looking around a bit and the help here, I figured I could get it done. #Winning!
FWIW, I got mine for $170 on eBay. Cheapest price I could find. http://www.ebay.com/itm/141665766567?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Glad it worked out for you....and without the hookers and blow that Charlie Sheen needs...LOL. My only advice was going to be to make sure that the plastic pieces are warm when popping things....most cracking damage happens during the winter when plastic is brittle.
Replacing door latch - how to remove plastics
