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Door Panel Removal Instructions
Written by Reattadudes - AACA Reatta Forum
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
1988-1989 models
(Instructions
for 1990-1991 can be found below)
TOOLS NEEDED:
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER
FLAT-BLADE SCREWDRIVER
10MM SOCKET WRENCH WITH 1/4" DRIVE (A 3/8" drive WILL NOT WORK!!!)
- Remove the phillips screw in the black Door Handle Finishing Cup behind the inside door handle. Pull the cup and door handle toward you to release it from the door
panel. Then rotate the cup 90 degrees and slide it up and off the door
handle. (see photo below)
-
Remove the phillips screw that secures the power door lock switch plate. Pull the switch forward, unplug the electrical connector and remove switch. (see photo below)
-
Remove covers over the ends of door pulls (if present). Using a 1/4"
drive socket, (again, a 3/8" drive socket WILL NOT work here), remove the
two bolts that secure the pull strap to the door. There should be 10MM
bolts here but in many cases, if someone has been in here before, you
may have who-knows-what securing the strap.
-
Pry up on the front side of the power seat switch assembly with the flat
blade screwdriver to release the switch from the door. Insert the
screwdriver between the black and gray sections of the underside of the
power seat switch. Unplug and remove.
-
Starting at the
bottom of the door panel, SLOWLY pull, (DO NOT yank it firmly like
other door panels), toward you. Continue around the sides of the
panel. When the bottom and sides have been loosened, slowly pull the
top section of the door panel from under the black sill molding.
-
Pull the door panel away from the door, and carefully unplug the
courtesy light, (use the flat blade screwdriver), and remove the fiber
optic connection for illumination of the key hole by pulling it out from
the back side of the courtesy light bezel.
1990-1991 models
TOOLS NEEDED:
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER
FLAT BLADE SCREWDRIVER
10MM SOCKET WRENCH (3/8" OR 1/4" drive)
- Remove the phillips screw in the black Door Handle Finishing Cup behind the inside door handle. Pull the cup and door handle toward you to release it from the door panel. Then rotate the cup 90 degrees and slide it up and off the door handle. (see photo below)
-
Remove the phillips screw that secures the power door lock switch
plate. Pull the switch forward, unplug the electrical connector and
remove switch. (see photo below)
- Pull back the ends of the door pull straps, exposing 10MM bolts. remove bolts, and remove door pull strap.
- Gently pry up on the black bezel over the switch plate. Remove switch
plate bezel. This is how it should go. Many times, this will
have had clips broken in the past, and it will be attached in many
possible "ingenious" ways.
- Remove the two phillps screws that secure the switch plate to the door panel, and pull out from the door panel.
- Remove the bright blue thumb screw over the power window plug. Using
the flat blade screwdriver, separate the sections, and unplug.
- Separate the black and gray sections of the power seat switch, and unplug.
- Unplug power mirror plug (push locking clip down, left door only).
Remove the switch panel from the door panel. This would be a great time
to clean any grimy switches.
- Starting at the bottom of the
door panel, SLOWLY pull the panel towards you. Continue around the
bottom and sides. When the bottom and sides have been loosened, slowly
pull the top section from under the black sill molding.
- Pull the door panel away from the door. With the flat blade
screwdriver, remove the courtesy light plug, the fiber-optic wire (1990
models only), and the plug in the front for door handle illumination.
*****SOME HELPFUL TIPS*****
A helper is a good thing to have, especially when the door panel is off,
and you are trying to remove the plugs on the back side. I have learned
to balance it on one foot while removing the plugs.
When you get
the panel off, who knows what you will find inside. Many times there
will be door panel retainers not attached to the door panel because the
attachment points on the back of the door panel have been broken from a
previous intrusion. You can glue those in their proper position to make
the panel fit as it should. I use Liquid Nails, but I'm sure there are
many adhesives that would work. Take your time, and let everything dry
before reassembling.
While the door panel is off, this is a good time to:
- Lube the window tracks
-
Replace burned out courtesy lights (yes, there are two bulbs in there
-
Replace bad speakers, and/or unplug the squawking tweeter
Last Updated Thursday, 23 June 2011
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: We are not experts or professionals in any field. Any advice or information found on this website should not be considered as 100% accurate and is provided on an AS-IS basis. Use any information you find here at your own risk. Click here and carefully read and agree to the DISCLAIMER statements before using any information found on this website.
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