The rubber cover on my driver's side exterior door switch is cracking with age/usage....I have a new switch ready to install but I'd appreciate some info on the proper panel removal procedure. A search of previous posts is unclear..... Would someone mind PM-ing me the instructions? Thanks in advance!
Door panel removal
- Thread starter Cobraguy
- Start date
- Aug 25, 2006
- 4,436
Good afternoon
Did you get the information requested, if not I will be glad to help.
Takes care
Shadowman
No I did not.....seems like a minor project but as always I'd like to do my homework first. I'd appreciate a short pm.
Superfly
HERITAGE GT OWNER
- Aug 25, 2006
- 4,436
Good afternoon
Let's begin with the original question; how to access the door switches to service them.
The door panel "does not" need to be removed, all that is required is the removing of the aluminum trim ring. This is a simple snap into place piece that is easy to remove with a very low risk of secondary damage.
If you look under the upper portion of the aluminum trim ring you will see a few openings in the hard plastic door shell. Use a flashlight and lookwithin the openings and you will see the trim ring tabs poking through, i always begin at an outer corner. If you use a broad blade screw driver or flat piece of wood you can place it behind the tip of the tab and leverage it outward; a teeter tauter process, it does not take much pressure. Once you press one corner partially out then using your fingers on the outside of the trim ring begin pulling the trim ring as you migrate around the perimeter of it and then "wholla" it will pop off.
Once the aliminum trim ring is removed all of the switches are accessible. One note to share, if you need to service an inside switch you will need to remove the outer one first. FYI they are simply pressed into place with little tension as such are easy to remove. The electrical connector needs to be released, you will a all pick tool to press into the small opening at the base of the switch, if you use the pick tool with modest pressure while pulling in the connecter it will release easily.
I hope this helps; more on the actual door panel removal later.
Takes care
Shadowman
Let's begin with the original question; how to access the door switches to service them.
The door panel "does not" need to be removed, all that is required is the removing of the aluminum trim ring. This is a simple snap into place piece that is easy to remove with a very low risk of secondary damage.
If you look under the upper portion of the aluminum trim ring you will see a few openings in the hard plastic door shell. Use a flashlight and lookwithin the openings and you will see the trim ring tabs poking through, i always begin at an outer corner. If you use a broad blade screw driver or flat piece of wood you can place it behind the tip of the tab and leverage it outward; a teeter tauter process, it does not take much pressure. Once you press one corner partially out then using your fingers on the outside of the trim ring begin pulling the trim ring as you migrate around the perimeter of it and then "wholla" it will pop off.
Once the aliminum trim ring is removed all of the switches are accessible. One note to share, if you need to service an inside switch you will need to remove the outer one first. FYI they are simply pressed into place with little tension as such are easy to remove. The electrical connector needs to be released, you will a all pick tool to press into the small opening at the base of the switch, if you use the pick tool with modest pressure while pulling in the connecter it will release easily.
I hope this helps; more on the actual door panel removal later.
Takes care
Shadowman
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