Taking Off Door Panel

[RetroRacer02NY]

2000 Eclipse: Hey I removed the two screws on the outer sides of the panel, removed the screw inside the door handle, removed the screws underneath the handle bar that requires that the two silver top parts to be popped to reveal two crews and two nuts/bolts (can't remember). I popped out the panel, but it won't undo from the top. The weatherstripping/rubber piece is holding it down, just wondering how to remove the top so the whole panel is off (and yes I also unplugged the power connector to the locks).

By the way, I'm trying to reach the power lock because on my driver's side the lock indicator (small rectangular piece with the neon tape) somehow lost the long bar that it's connected too and won't indicate whether it's locked or not. It's not a major concern, but just a small thing I have time to fix.

Thanks for the help.

[Thruster]

sorry, i just responded to your PM, i thought you meant something different. once all the screws are out and the retainers are popped out, you have to lift up the entire panel to get the lip out of the window sill(you will see what i mean by this once its out). its kinda hard the first time.

[RetroRacer02NY]

Well, I took off the entire panel and strangely enough the actual rod connecting to that small piece isn't there at all. I figured maybe it fell down in the actual door but it didn't. I was wondering if I could just put any rod in there as it seems it's a lever mechanism? Also, if you could suggest a way to put the door panel back on the right way because I'm having a problem fitting it back on as it seems the top edge is not connected by anything. Even after putting all of the screws back in, the alignment is off for the door handle cover and is too far to reach it's screw hole which is odd because all of the other screws and plastic plugs fit in fine. It's almost as if the window going up over the years has caused that rubber strip over-lapping the top to create a seal on the top edge of the panel that I can't re-create.