HOW TO-02-04 front door panel removal

[soccerbrace]

Just so you know, all you need is a couple of Phillips screwdrivers and a small flathead

Alright, so here is the panel you will be removing...

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends001.jpg
First, get at the 2 exposed screws

The first one is at the door handle bezel

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends004.jpg

You remove that with a Phillips head screw driver

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends005.jpg

Remove the little trim that is around the bezel. Be careful when doing this. First pull up on the ring, out on the back, and then forward.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends007.jpg

do you see those two little tabs on the bezel? Those line up with the holes in the ring. there is also one that is forward too that you can see if you look closely

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends008.jpg

For the second exposed screw, you have to go into that little "cup" that you grab onto when closing the door.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends010.jpg

Next, you remove that little arm rest type thingy

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends013.jpg

Arm rest thingy removed-another screw exposed

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends014.jpg

Remove this with a Phillips head screwdriver

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends015.jpg

now get that piece of trim with the controls off

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends019.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends021.jpg

You will see two electrical plugs. Remove them both, you might need the flat head for this. The one nearest is for the windows,

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends023.jpg

and the other is for the mirrors

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends024.jpg

One that is removed, the fourth and last screw is exposed (on the right)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends.jpg

By now, you should have all of these parts removed

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends026.jpg

Now take these two plugs

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends027.jpg

And stuff them through this hole

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends028.jpg

Now you can actually start removing the panel.

Start at the bottom and move the with of the door

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends017.jpg

up the sides

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends016.jpg

Finally it will be hanging off of the window sill. When it is at this point, tilt at an angle ad pull up. Directly up.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends029.jpg
the naked door

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends030.jpg

Front of door panel

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends032.jpg

Back of door panel

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends033.jpg

a quick reminder, when you put it all back together, reverse the steps. When you are putting the ring back on the bezel, know that there is a front and back. the picture below shows you that the hole closest to you goes on the front little clip on the bezel

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h27/soccerbrace/Friends034.jpg

[DamnHippie]

One clarification I'd add to that: In the "remove the little arm rest type thingy" step, the right way to remove it is to pry straight upwards at the back (the end at the far left in that picture above, far right in the picture below).

I learned the hard way that if you pry the front side up first it breaks a plastic clip and never stays together quite as well after that.

I once summarized the process for someone with this picture. The arrows near the '1' indicate that first you pry up, then you lift up-and-back.

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/9900/frontierdoorpanelremoval6fl.jpg

[soccerbrace]

Thanks Ian! That is very helpful!

[DamnHippie]

And Thank You for all these useful how-tos. It makes me feel a bit guilty... I've got a ton of useful knowledge in my head, but I can never make myself sit down and put together a coherent writeup on things like you do.

[soccerbrace]

Yup! You're welcome. It helps that I work nights though