Door panel removal HELP

[SAILLOCO]

I started to remove the driver's side door panel to attempt to do my own window regulator repair. I was following the instructions that were posted by a forum member. Well I have every nut and bolt off the panel and regulator and the inner metal panel will not tip outward like to poster said it would. There is a cable from the door handle that is keeping it from moving. Any ideas please. I tried to remove the door latch mech. which is held on by torx screws and they absolutely refuse to budge. Out of frustration I called a dealer to ask what it costs to do the job and they said $360. I asked what the regulator costs and they said $180. Are these things $180? I'm starting to think it might be worth it to let them do the damn job.

[shorod]

You can pick up the regulator assembly from an online store for a bit less than that depending on the model year.

I've done a couple of these on my wife's LS (driver and passenger) and start to finish takes around 45 minutes. I don't recall any tricks to doing it, which I know doesn't help you right now. For the 2004 model year, the labor is listed at 0.9 hour. You will need to disconnect the nuts holding the regulator to the metal panel in order to tilt the panel out. It looks like there are 7 bolts you'll need to remove and 7 nuts to get the panel loose from the regulator assembly and out. Then you can loosen the regulator from the window glass.

-Rod

[SAILLOCO]

I have all the regulator nuts off. The regulator is loose behind the metal panel. I just can't tilt the panel out enough to get my hands behind there to do anything. The cable for the door release keeps it from moving out and I can't get rid of that cable.

[SAILLOCO]

BTW, Thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention the dealer told me the labor time is 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Pretty far from .9. I never know when to trust these guys.

[shorod]

The labor time I quoted is for the 2004 model year, which I've never done. I have done the procedure on a 2002 a couple times though and it took less than an hour, so I suspect they're very similar.

I don't remember needing to remove the panel completely, but I don't remember many details about this process. It just all comes back to me when I'm doing it.

-Rod

[daspyderman]

well, keep this tread going as i'm about to do pretty much the same... window WAS frozen shut, went to order coffee, rolled the wind... well, you get the idea. so please keep the info coming, as soon as i fix one issue (in another thread, just waiting on the part) and if the weather gets back over freezing i'll be out to pull the driver panel off my '03