Int. door panel removal

wessock · Post by **wessock** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:17 pm

My driver's side door suddenly no longer locks/unlocks with the key from the outside. I can lock it from the inside and the handles still work, but thanks to the "convenience" feature of not being able to lock the door while it's open, I'm getting tired of crawling through the passenger side to unlock/lock the door. Sure I don't want to deprive the ladies of checking out my ass while I'm doing this but I have a huge bruise on the middle of my back from every time I back out and hit it. The lock still feels springy when I turn the key so I think a cable or arm is just popped out. I've never really bothered with interiors much so I've never taken off a door panel let alone a Lanos door panel. How hard is this to do without scratching or cracking things, and do I need any special tools or will standard screwdrivers and such work? I looked in the service manual but it was lacking in details considering I'm new to this type of stuff. Any tips on how to do this with the least damage is appreciated.

Thanks

TheGreatAndPowerfulOz · Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:02 am

Do you have power windows or hand-crank windows?

Doors with power windows are MUCH easier to remove the interior panel.

wessock · Post by **wessock** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:30 am

Hand-crank and no power locks either.

TheGreatAndPowerfulOz · Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:01 am

Just read the other posts and you will see that someone recently asked almost the exact same thing.

http://www.daewootech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5884

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I will re-post the steps:

Remove the window winder handle. The retainer clip can be a real pain to remove, but there are special tools to make this easier.
Remove the 3 screws along the bottom of the door panel.
Remove the triangular plastic cover over the mirror adjuster.
Remove the screw in the bottom of the hand cup where you grab the door to close it.
Starting at the bottom of the door panel, tug it toward you and you will here loud popping sounds as the plastic trim clips pop out of their holes.
The trim ring around the interior door handle will pop off. It may even fly across the inside of the car. Laughing
Pull off the sheet of plastic (it is a moisture barrier) so you can see the window tracks inside the door.
Use a flashlight to inspect the mechinism and track as you wind the window down and up. Remember to use the window crank handle WITHOUT the retainer clip when you have the door panel off.

Cliff

wessock · Post by **wessock** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:09 pm

Haha, actually I had searched the threads for about an hour looking for the answer before I asked. I guess I missed that one or didn't scroll down far enough. Ok, anyway I'm not seeing a clip on the window handle and the service manual doesn't mention one or the handle in general actually. Without going out and getting some special tool is there a way to get it off?

NM, I found it in the service manual now. I guess the plastic ring and clip are just missing on the driver's side. I took a look at the passenger side and it has them. I guess I'll just have to go yank on the handle harder. I was just affraid of breaking it.

wessock · Post by **wessock** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:55 pm

It looks like the last owner seemed to have super-glued the handle on. Luckily I got it off without breaking it. I'm finding this guy was a super glue fan for everything on the car.

TheGreatAndPowerfulOz · Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:31 pm

LOL ... Make sure your car has lug bolts holding the wheels on and that they are not super glued on!!