Expert: Mike Evans - 10/26/2009

Question
How do I get the door panel off?I need to get at the regulator.

Answer
    First you have to get the edge loose.  The door panel is made of cardboard.  Around the edge there are little clips twisted into holes in the cardboard.  They fit into holes punched in the metal of the door.  Go to a parts store and buy a door panel tool.  They are very cheap.  Start in a corner or on the bottom edge and tug at the panel with your fingers until you find one of the clips.  Slide the tool under the panel so that it goes on both sides of the clip, then lift gently straight out until the clip pops out of the hole.  Repeat this for all of the clips, trying not to break them or the panel.  Once they are all undone give a few experimental tugs on the panel to find out where the screws are.  There will be at least two holding the armrest on, and probably one or more around or under the door latch handle.  Sometimes the ones at the handle are hidden by a piece of plastic that fits into the finger hole, it should just pop out.  The main thing is that you have to go slow if you've never done this before, 'cause you don't want to tear the cardboard.