97 PA Door Panel Removal - Door Lock SW went into door!

[mcwho]

I was programming an add't remote, when I pressed the "Lock / Unlock" button it pushed into the door panel. How do I get the door panel off to fix / replace this. Is there any fix (glue) that can be done without removing the whole door panel?

[Bowhayri]

Originally Posted by mcwho

I was programming an add't remote, when I pressed the "Lock / Unlock" button it pushed into the door panel. How do I get the door panel off to fix / replace this. Is there any fix (glue) that can be done without removing the whole door panel?

Sorry, there's no glue or quick fix but getting the door panel off is easy.
For good instructions, go to http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl243i.htm.
I had the same problem on my 99 Park Avenue, dealer wanted $75 per door to reseat the door lock actuator. There is a very thin plastic clip that holds the acuator switch in place and over time it gets very brittle to the point that a little extra force on the switch will snap off the clip and the switch goes into the door panel. To get the panel off:
1. Remove the door handle trim plate (carefully), it comes right out with a little prying.
2. Remove the armrest cover plate by prying upward from the access hole using a thin bladed screwdriver. There are two screws under the cover plate. Unscrew them.
3. Remove the courtesy lamp assembly by prying it out of the door, very easy. There is one screw behind the lamp assembly, remove it.
4. Remove the push-in retainer from the defroster duct in the door panel. This is not easy, you will probably have to break the plastic top of the retainer in order to get a pair of longnose pliers on it to pull it out.
5. Lift straight up on the door panel in order to disengage the hooks on the backside of the panel.
6. The plastic retainer clip at the top of my actuator lock mechanism
was broken off. I fixed it by placing a flexible metal strip across the switch body and screwing each end into the thick plastic on the panel.
I used a copper pipe hanger as the flexible strip because I had a couple of them on hand. Worked fine.
7. Reassemble in reverse order. It may take several attempts to get the panel hooks aligned in order to reseat the asssembly back into the door.
Good luck.