Door Panel Removal

[Bob Chadwick]

I'm getting ready to remove my passenger side door panel and even bought the tool, thoguh I am having no luck with it. The problem I'm havings is that the tool is wider than the channel that the door lock sits in. Its just a flat piece of metal with cut outs in it. The one on the Zip page shows a tool that looks like pliers. Did they send me the wrong toll or is there a trick someone can share with me?

Bob

[69MyWay]

I usually do the deed with a putty knife, or screw driver, because I can never find my tool.

Just keep at it, you will know when you hit the sweet spot because the knob will pop right off.

All you are doing is trying to catch one or both of the outer ends of the C style clip that goes in the groove of the knob and lines up with the notch in the lever stud.

[Bob Chadwick]

Thanks Chris. I was playing around with it with a small screw driver and saw what appears to be a C clip that I need to push off but was using too small of a screw driver. Sounds like I need one that will push both of the open ends of the C at the same time.

Bob

[GaryS]

You have the correct tool. However, removing the C clip can be a minor PITA. In my toolbox, I carry a very stiff piece of wire that I put a VERY small curve in the end of it just for that purpose. I can depress the panel just enough to fish this curve behind the lock knob and pull the C clip out of the knob. The wire I use is made from an old key ring. You know the kind I am talking about; the ones that have the mulitiple loop of wire on it and some cheap piece of plastic with someone's logo or ad.
Gary

[Bob Chadwick]

I'll be giving it another try today. Thanks for the advice.

Bob

[Bob Chadwick]

Got it off. You have to put some pressure on the tool to get it in the slight angle necessary. You were right about the sweet spot Chris. Because of the pressure, once it came loose it went flying across the car.

That was the good news. The bad news is Bubba had been in there before. I knew it as soon as I got the panel off. There was duct tape on the sheel metal. I pulled it off and Bubba has taken some tin snips and cut one of the access holes larger and then bent it back in place.