Ok guys I am looking for a site that will have the removal of a 1999 gran prix door panel. It is the SE so there is not too much there I just kind of want a idea before I tear my car apart. I know most of it there is just one puzzler. There is a plastic trim around the door handel. I cant figure it out anyone know ??
Replies (7)
ttocs on 08/17/2003 11:35:48
I have only memorized a few doors to take apart, and unfortunatly that is not one of them. All doors are put together prettymuch the same. If you know where to look, no big deal.
Tools you may need:
screwdrivers, nutdrivers, torx drivers, picks, window crank removal tool and panel poppers are a must have..
Start by looking around the outside of the door. Run your hand around it and check for screws(visually and by feel). Also look to see how it is put together. If there are sail panels that will need to be removed, start there. Look around the door handle, as well as the door pull. If you have pwr windows the piece that it is mounted to is generally easy to pop off, and not uncommon to find another screw under it. There is ALWAYS(and I never say that) a screw/bolt around the door pull. it should be obvious but may need to dig a bit to find it. Remove all the screws that you can see, as well as the window crank if you have one. Some doors pull straight off, some you slide up and then pull out(ford). Give a light pull on one of the corners and see if it releases. If it doesn't, try a little harder. Some hold very well even without screws. If you find yourself with both feet on the door while trying to pull the panel off then you need to stop and check and see what is holding it. It is not uncommon to miss a screw, a good installer will catch it, a bad one will pull real hard.. Make sure to take note of any hrns that are connected. nothing is worse to get everything back together and realize you didn't plug all the hrns in...
carfreak on 08/17/2003 16:10:47
Ok I have found 2 screw covers and thats all the screws I can find . There are a bunch of white plastic pins that pull out the main problem is that the door opener has a plastic frame around it and I am not sure how to get that off the rest should be easy. I was just trying to get a Idea or a look at it before I jump in to it am break something.
ttocs on 08/17/2003 17:25:50
those plastic pins are what holds the door on. I am not for sure about the plastic frame though. Let me do some looking and see what I can find...
ttocs on 08/17/2003 17:54:33
does it look like this?
http://www.sounddomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=206639&page=5
carfreak on 08/17/2003 23:20:22
yes thats it but with out the tweeter in the sail panel the plastic that I am talking about is barely visable around the door handel and lock. did he do the tweeters like that or is that custom?
ttocs on 08/18/2003 23:46:14
The tweeter is factory, but you can put an aftermarket there as well.
That sail will simply pull off. You may need to work it a bit, but should not have to yank. If I remember correctly, the plastic piece you are talking about stays on, and the door panel rests aginst it, but is not attached.
Pinch on 08/19/2003 01:21:24
I have taken off quite a few door panels at work so far and I've noticed that like ttocs said they're all very similar. Those plastic push pins are sometimes really tight but will often yield to assertive pops from a panel popper or finger. Probably the most important advice I can offer is to pay attention to what the panel is doing. It sounds weird, but I'm serious. If the panel seems like it's comming loose, keep doing what you're doing. If it's being difficult, the chances are you've missed something. For some reason, manufacturers like to hide screws behind light covers, and trim pieces. Make sure you've gotten all screws out before you get REALLY assertive with the panel. Also, if you pull a corner out, take a peek inside to see what's goin on. That is the best way to make progress without harming the vehicle in any way. Best of luck!
Replies (7)
ttocs on 08/17/2003 11:35:48
I have only memorized a few doors to take apart, and unfortunatly that is not one of them. All doors are put together prettymuch the same. If you know where to look, no big deal.
Tools you may need:
screwdrivers, nutdrivers, torx drivers, picks, window crank removal tool and panel poppers are a must have..
Start by looking around the outside of the door. Run your hand around it and check for screws(visually and by feel). Also look to see how it is put together. If there are sail panels that will need to be removed, start there. Look around the door handle, as well as the door pull. If you have pwr windows the piece that it is mounted to is generally easy to pop off, and not uncommon to find another screw under it. There is ALWAYS(and I never say that) a screw/bolt around the door pull. it should be obvious but may need to dig a bit to find it. Remove all the screws that you can see, as well as the window crank if you have one. Some doors pull straight off, some you slide up and then pull out(ford). Give a light pull on one of the corners and see if it releases. If it doesn't, try a little harder. Some hold very well even without screws. If you find yourself with both feet on the door while trying to pull the panel off then you need to stop and check and see what is holding it. It is not uncommon to miss a screw, a good installer will catch it, a bad one will pull real hard.. Make sure to take note of any hrns that are connected. nothing is worse to get everything back together and realize you didn't plug all the hrns in...
carfreak on 08/17/2003 16:10:47
Ok I have found 2 screw covers and thats all the screws I can find . There are a bunch of white plastic pins that pull out the main problem is that the door opener has a plastic frame around it and I am not sure how to get that off the rest should be easy. I was just trying to get a Idea or a look at it before I jump in to it am break something.
ttocs on 08/17/2003 17:25:50
those plastic pins are what holds the door on. I am not for sure about the plastic frame though. Let me do some looking and see what I can find...
ttocs on 08/17/2003 17:54:33
does it look like this?
http://www.sounddomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=206639&page=5
carfreak on 08/17/2003 23:20:22
yes thats it but with out the tweeter in the sail panel the plastic that I am talking about is barely visable around the door handel and lock. did he do the tweeters like that or is that custom?
ttocs on 08/18/2003 23:46:14
The tweeter is factory, but you can put an aftermarket there as well.
That sail will simply pull off. You may need to work it a bit, but should not have to yank. If I remember correctly, the plastic piece you are talking about stays on, and the door panel rests aginst it, but is not attached.
Pinch on 08/19/2003 01:21:24
I have taken off quite a few door panels at work so far and I've noticed that like ttocs said they're all very similar. Those plastic push pins are sometimes really tight but will often yield to assertive pops from a panel popper or finger. Probably the most important advice I can offer is to pay attention to what the panel is doing. It sounds weird, but I'm serious. If the panel seems like it's comming loose, keep doing what you're doing. If it's being difficult, the chances are you've missed something. For some reason, manufacturers like to hide screws behind light covers, and trim pieces. Make sure you've gotten all screws out before you get REALLY assertive with the panel. Also, if you pull a corner out, take a peek inside to see what's goin on. That is the best way to make progress without harming the vehicle in any way. Best of luck!
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