Door Panel Removal

NOTE: There are some differences between the '88-'89 and '90-'91 door panels.

Please select the section below that applies.

Instructions for 1988-1989 models

These instructions are for the passenger side door but both doors are basically the same.

1. 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.
   
    
2. Remove the Phillips screw that secures the power door lock switch plate. Pull the switch forward, pull the locking tabs back and unplug the electrical connector and remove switch.
   
    
3. Remove the plastic 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, one on each end, that secure the pull strap to the door. There should be 10MM bolts about 2 inches lone here but in many cases, if someone has been in here before, you may have who-knows-what securing the strap.
   
    
4. 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 notch of the power seat switch as shown in the photo below and push in on the metal spring while pulling up on the front of the switch. Once the front of the switch ihas cleared the armrest, pull it up and slide forward so it will clear the tab (about 1 inch long) on the back end of the switch.  Unplug and remove the switch.
   
    
5. Starting at the bottom of the door panel, carefully pull straight out a little at a time toward you working your way across the bottom of the door and up each side evenly.

   Do NOT yank it firmly like other door panels. Damage will likely to be the plastic fasteners or the door panel as a result. Apply pulling pressure close to the fasteners circled below to avoid damage to the door panel.

   Pull the bottom of the door panel away from the door a little at a time and go to the next place to work the door panel off evenly.
   
   
   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 window sill molding. Do not try to lift up on the door panel like is needed on some door panels. The door panel should come off by pulling straight out on it. The the white circles in photo below shows the locations of all the fasteners holding door panel on. They just snap into holes in the metal door. The plastic fasteners can be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot if needed.
   
   
    
6. 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.

*****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

Instructions for 1990-1991 models

TOOLS NEEDED:

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER
FLAT BLADE SCREWDRIVER
10MM SOCKET WRENCH  (3/8" OR 1/4" drive)

1. 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)
    
2. 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)
    
3. Pull back the ends of the door pull straps, exposing 10MM bolts. remove bolts, and remove door pull strap.
    
4. 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.
    
5. Remove the two Phillips screws that secure the switch plate to the door panel, and pull out from the door panel.
    
6. Remove the bright blue thumb screw over the power window plug. Using the flat blade screwdriver, separate the sections, and unplug.
    
7. Separate the black and gray sections of the power seat switch, and unplug.
    
8. 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.
    
9. 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.
    
10. 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

Thanks to reattadudes, member of the Reatta forums for this information.