Door Panel removal on 2000

[USA SHARK]

Hi all! I'm new to this forum, and glad I found it.

I have two issues with my windows. First, the front driver side window doesn't work. I'm guessing it is the motor. Second, the rear drivers side window has come off track. It doesn't go up or down, although the motor works. It does slide up and down by hand though, so I'm sure it is off track.

In both cases, how do you remove the door panel to access these? I'd like to replace the motor in front and put it back on track in the back.

Thanks for the advice!!!

G

[Fairbs]

Originally Posted by USA SHARK

Hi all! I'm new to this forum, and glad I found it.

I have two issues with my windows. First, the front driver side window doesn't work. I'm guessing it is the motor. Second, the rear drivers side window has come off track. It doesn't go up or down, although the motor works. It does slide up and down by hand though, so I'm sure it is off track.

In both cases, how do you remove the door panel to access these? I'd like to replace the motor in front and put it back on track in the back.

Thanks for the advice!!!

G

I don't have advice for your specific model, but to skin the door, there's usually a few different types of fasteners.

Trim fasteners hold smaller pieces on the car. I.E. cover for seatbelt mechanism. These usually have obvious screws or snap into place.

Heavy duty fasteners are larger screws that provide strenght to the door panel when pulling it shut for example. Since these are larger they are usually hidden behind things like reflectors, or you might see one when you remove the ashtray.

Skin fasteners keep the sides and bottoms of the door skin flush to the door. If you carefully pull back the side if the interior part of the door (less than 1/4 inch), you can see these. I usually try to pry them off with a screwdriver and end up screwing up the cardboard backing of the door. I believe they sell a tool (a forked screwdriver deally) that helps with this and I should probably get one myself.

In general, it's a matter of hunting down all of the fasteners. As you get most of the obvious ones, you can pulll on the panel to see where resistance comes from and then hunt again. I would recommend doing the back one first as it is less important and to get some experience.

You will also have to disconnect things like power for switches and the switches themselves.

Once you're inside the door that's when the fun begins. Your back window sounds like a similar problem that I had. For me there was a smal plastic part that rode in a channel to raise the window and that had broken. The plastic part connected to a metal part like a ball and socket. The replacement part I got had both the ball and socket part. Trying to replace both together was impossible (at least for me). I was able to snap off without breaking the plastic part from the new, get it in the channel correctly, and then snap it back into the old one. And it's been working pretty well for the last five years. Good luck.

[USA SHARK]

Thanks for the advice. I actually was able to remove the panel without any damage.

Unfortunately the rear will need a new regulator, which is obscenely priced at the dealership and even a local guy ($500 to replace!)

Still not sure on the front windows. After months of not working, the driver side window is now working, but we're afraid to use it. But the passenger side still doesn't work. It may be the control panel. It's expensive too so I guess I'll wait.

By the way, and now the cd player doesn't work. Says "check cd". ??? Electrical gremlins?

Thanks again for the help.

G