Door panel removal, simple or….

[twlunn]

A pain in the butt?

Drivers door wont open from the inside, same with rear driver side door.

Looks pretty straight forward but thought I’d ask if there’s any “gottchas” involved.

Should I pick up a door handle “tool” or will something in the box already work good enough.

('94 LX wagon)

TIA, Tom

[AzTumbleweed]

I had a hard time getting the window crank handle off. Another thing to know is that when you remove the two screws on the armrest it will not come off. There are screws coming in from inside the door. Aside from that I just pop it off with a big flat tip screw driver.

[oldescort]

Does the inside door handle that is broke feel like there is less tension on it compared to a working inside handle? If you remove the screw that holds the the small door handle plate on you may find a small rod has been displaced. It happens every so often on my 93 escort. When you remove the plate (the handle is attached to it) you can see where the small rod mounts on the back. On my car a small piece of the plastic is broke where the rod attaches and it comes off occasionally.

[twlunn]

Originally Posted by oldescort

Does the inside door handle that is broke feel like there is less tension on it compared to a working inside handle? If you remove the screw that holds the the small door handle plate on you may find a small rod has been displaced. It happens every so often on my 93 escort. When you remove the plate (the handle is attached to it) you can see where the small rod mounts on the back. On my car a small piece of the plastic is broke where the rod attaches and it comes off occasionally.

I'll check it out oldescort, thanks.

[Lynde]

Originally Posted by twlunn

A pain in the butt?

Drivers door wont open from the inside, same with rear driver side door.

Looks pretty straight forward but thought I’d ask if there’s any “gottchas” involved.

Should I pick up a door handle “tool” or will something in the box already work good enough.

('94 LX wagon)

TIA, Tom

Pretty straight forward, remove the "sail" panel one screw, then the inside door handle screw, then the 2 armrest screws, ten just pull and seperate, and lift up.

[Arnoldtheskier]

Mine has child locks(in the back).Never used them.Mine screwed up somehow? gummed up/rusted/got stuck..NOT FUN!!..NOT FUN!!..couldn't open the back door from insiide OR outside.Door lock/slim jims..forget it.They are VERY serious when they design and build these set-ups.No kidding.This feature when activated.. deactivates the inside door and lock control.You open the door from the outside.That's that.Had to sort of get the door panel part way off/prying/bending..haha..with the door locked closed.I finally managed to somehow get the door open.

[twlunn]

Thanks for more tips...