Door panel removal DIY
- Thread starter Briank
- Start date
Great guide and pics should help alot of people out who dont know where to start
+1! I'll be needing this how-to at some point, I'm sure.
Do yourself a favor guys and buy yourself a $8 door trim tool.
It will come in handy for removing the green plastic clip for the weatherstripping and the sash covers. I now you don't have to remove the weatherstirpping, but sometimes it will come apart from the weather stripping.
Get the metal ones with handle, not the cheap plastic ones. You can get them at your local auto parts store.
I've used this tool over a 100 times on the NSX.
It will come in handy for removing the green plastic clip for the weatherstripping and the sash covers. I now you don't have to remove the weatherstirpping, but sometimes it will come apart from the weather stripping.
Get the metal ones with handle, not the cheap plastic ones. You can get them at your local auto parts store.
I've used this tool over a 100 times on the NSX.
Another tip.
Do not over tighten screws the door panel tabs (the ones that hide underneath the weatherstripping) or they will break. Once you get some resistance on the screw...STOP.
Do not over tighten screws the door panel tabs (the ones that hide underneath the weatherstripping) or they will break. Once you get some resistance on the screw...STOP.
- Joined
- 10 November 2002
- Messages
- 1,124
Great write-up! I recommend using black flat panhead sheet metal screws in place of the old screws when dealing with broken tabs, either on the door panel or the speaker boxes. The lip of the panhead overlaps the remaining portion of the broken tab and holds the panel or speaker box tightly in place.
Well done! One note: years ago when I tried to do it myself I wasn't able to lift the cover off the door for whatever reason. It sticked somehow. Maybe worth to mention.
+had the same problem. i was worried about breaking the panel. Do lift up straight up 1st and pull out towards you. Or does it slide forward, sideways? I'll give it a try again.
Or just use a washer on the screw. In fact I already put washers on all the screws even to keep my tabs from breaking. It spreads the surface area instead of concentrating it to one area.
- Joined
- 15 May 2004
- Messages
- 6,898
+1 same for me. Later I had to do it again but didn't have any troubles at all and don't know why I had the first time.
great write up
- Joined
- 15 May 2004
- Messages
- 6,898
Yes, yes, sir, but the most critical part is without a picture it just says 'pull the panel 20 cm towards you then lift it...' That's when I gave up the first time years ago not willing to crack the panel.
FAQ is Wiki now anyway.
But stupid panels STILL won't lift off. Both of mine are stuck at the top of the door panel where the chrome piece meets the window/rubber gasket. Luckily, all my repairs can be done by reaching under so far.
That was exactly my same problem. I guess you need to pull the panel towards you and then lift up.
Need to pull out the bottom of the panels (20 cm!)
Then lift the panel straight up, starting from the back.
It just slips out.
Didn't know this was much of a problem, or I would have updated the FAQ.
:wink:
Then lift the panel straight up, starting from the back.
It just slips out.
Didn't know this was much of a problem, or I would have updated the FAQ.
:wink:
That was exactly my same problem. I guess you need to pull the panel towards you and then lift up.
Tried it from 20 cm to several inches.....maybe I'll try again some day.... hopefully not because I have to.
The top of the door panel is hooked in from the top. The metal strip sorta pinches it on tight. I had no trouble popping mine off with some force a couple weeks ago when i did it. The speaker repair FAQ page is all I used. It came off from the back to the front.
You did take off the 2 plastic sail panel cover things right?
You did take off the 2 plastic sail panel cover things right?
Just took my panel off my 97. :biggrin: I now have a very bruised nail and knowing what I now know, it should not have happened. Indeed you need to pull the panel away from the door very slightly to clear the sash panels (like an 1/8") and then straight up. Before doing that and almost lifting the car up by the door panel, I took a padded piece of wood and with a hammer gently tapped the panel upwards where it's molded for your arm (seemed to be the strongest point). It didn't budge that I could see. Because I wasn't pulling the panel away from the door first I don't know if that ended up helping. It didn't look like it had been jammed in the clips that it slips into (once I got it off). Hope this saves some knuckles.
Indeed you need to pull the panel away from the door very slightly to clear the sash panels (like an 1/8") and then straight up. Before doing that and almost lifting the car up by the door panel, I took a padded piece of wood and with a hammer gently tapped the panel upwards where it's molded for your arm (seemed to be the strongest point). It didn't budge that I could see. Because I wasn't pulling the panel away from the door first I don't know if that ended up helping. It didn't look like it had been jammed in the clips that it slips into (once I got it off). Hope this saves some knuckles.
Just removed the door panel this morning. It just came off as described. Just need to pull away from the door and pull up the back end at the same time. Worked like a charm. I just switched my side view mirrors.
Yes, I had trouble pulling the panel off years ago as described as well. It seemed like it would never come off! As some have already said, you need to pull it out some, and while pulling up, pull the back up more...kinda twisting it... and it just flies off. :smile:
Kind of a dumb question, but how do you get the door latch cable back on? I set it back to the right blue slot (the first one) and there seems to be slack in the cable because when I pull the latch it doesn't unlatch the door. How do I tighten up the cable? Am I missing something?
My guess is the blue end popped out, you have to push it down hard in the slot to seat it.
Thanks Brian. I thought I seated it right before, but you're right- it pulled out of the slot when I pulled the latch. Should it snap in place?
