Front Interior Door Trim Panel/Removal

CAUTION:
DO NOT DISTURB THE ENERGY ABSORBING FOAM AT ANY TIME DURING THE PROCEDURE. IF ENERGY ABSORBING FOAM IS REMOVED FROM DOOR OR DOOR TRIM PANEL, IT MUST BE REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. IF OMITTED FROM THE DOOR OR DOOR TRIM PANEL, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MEET FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS), SUBJECTING THE RETAILER TO POSSIBLE CIVIL PENALTIES FOR MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE TO THE FMVSS, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.





1. Remove the door trim panel:

a. Remove the mirror trim panel by firmly pulling on the panel to disengage attaching clips. If equipped with a manual remote mirror, allow the panel to hang from the adjustment cable.

^ Mirror trim panel (left side only).
^ Mirror insulator (right side shown, left typical)

b. Remove fastener from the center of inside the door handle assembly.

c. Slide the door handle assembly forward while pulling outward from the trim panel.

d. Using a thin screwdriver, disengage the lock and latch rod from retainers. Remove the inside door handle.





e. If equipped with power door locks, disconnect the power door lock switch wiring to remove the inside door handle.





f. On manual window vehicles: Using a standard handle tool, disengage the manual window regulator handle clip and remove the window handle.

(1) Proper angle for the right side manual window regulator handle.

(2) Proper angle for the left side manual window regulator handle.





g. Remove the trim panel fasteners at the pull cup and the lower rear corner of the trim panel.

h. Pull up on the door trim panel assembly to disengage the trim panel to the door structure attaching hooks and remove the door trim panel.





2. Remove the door pull cup.





3. Place the door trim panel (heat-staked side up) on a work bench with a cloth-type material to protect the panel's finish. (Sedan panel shown, Coupe panel similar)





IMPORTANT:
Drill into the heat-staked stud just enough to cause the stud material to separate from the substrate (door trim panel) material.

4. Using a 7 mm (9/32 in.) drill bit, drill out the round heat-staked studs.





5. For Sedans, remove the rectangle shaped heat stakes with a hand grinder (die grinder) with 38 mm (1-1/4 in.) diameter grinding disk, or equivalent, by grinding the studs from the side.

6. Remove the old door insert from the door trim panel.

(Sedan panel shown, Coupe panel similar)





7. Remove any heat stake material that may be left in the door trim panel holes, or on the door trim panel substrate.

(Sedan panel shown, Coupe panel similar)