We just started removing the door panel. It’s not too difficult, but a few hidden bolts need to be uncovered. Take your time to keep the finish fine!
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Exposed Torx
After popping off the small cover you can remove the LONG Torx screw. The previous page showed how to remove the clip covering this screw.
Door lamp
Your door may or may not have this lamp in it. It didn’t look like the replacement door had wiring for it, so may be optional, who knows, but in any case it needs to come out if your car has it.
Pry that sucker out
Using some care remove the lamp by prying the back of it up with a small screwdriver. It should pop out fairly easily. Don’t pull on the wire, it’s really short.
Leave the light in the Door
Once the cover is off just leave the bulb assembly in the door. It comes out with a wiggle.
Door Latch Trim Removal
This was about the only part that didn’t seem to want to just come off clean. I’m sure you can find someone that knows or cares how to do it, but at some point I just starting lifting from the bottom and pulled it up. That’s when I heard the cracking sound. Oh well, expected as much. Try to be careful, but not really sure if you can be.
How It’s Held In
Now you can see the problem the square hole part catches on the now missing piece to the right of my thumb. I was going to glue it back on with some PCV pipe glue but the part got lost on re-assembly. Good news is that it still fits OK without it.
Second Long Door Panel Bolt
This is another one of the longer bolts that holds the door panel on. It’s a Torx, just remove it. You will note I use bolt and screw incorrectly a lot, this is really a screw…
Next The Airbag Bolt
Don’t get nervous here, their is a bolt hidded under the little plug that says AIRBAG. This needs to be removed to access one of the door panel bolts and is not one of the air bag bolts.
SAFETY WARNING : AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CARE. IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY DON’T DO THIS JOB