How to Remove Door Panel
#26
Don't you know I'm loco?
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm having difficulty removing the panel covering the window and lock controls (panel mentioned on page 1). It could be I'm just afraid of snapping a clip and so not pressing hard enough, but I'm not sure.
Am I doing this right:
I place my flathead screwdriver - the smallest one I have (1/16") into the space between the panel and the door handle, on the bottom side. I'm aiming right about in the center. Now I pry upwards. Or, inwards. A little of both. If I now use my other hand to pry the panel back a bit, I can get it to move, but not much. Maybe 1 cm. Now I go for the top clip. I'm not feeling anything...and the panel won't come off.
Suggestions?
Am I doing this right:
I place my flathead screwdriver - the smallest one I have (1/16") into the space between the panel and the door handle, on the bottom side. I'm aiming right about in the center. Now I pry upwards. Or, inwards. A little of both. If I now use my other hand to pry the panel back a bit, I can get it to move, but not much. Maybe 1 cm. Now I go for the top clip. I'm not feeling anything...and the panel won't come off.
Suggestions?
#27
Purveyor of fine bass
Originally Posted by unpocoloco
I'm having difficulty removing the panel covering the window and lock controls (panel mentioned on page 1). It could be I'm just afraid of snapping a clip and so not pressing hard enough, but I'm not sure.
Am I doing this right:
I place my flathead screwdriver - the smallest one I have (1/16") into the space between the panel and the door handle, on the bottom side. I'm aiming right about in the center. Now I pry upwards. Or, inwards. A little of both. If I now use my other hand to pry the panel back a bit, I can get it to move, but not much. Maybe 1 cm. Now I go for the top clip. I'm not feeling anything...and the panel won't come off.
Suggestions?
Am I doing this right:
I place my flathead screwdriver - the smallest one I have (1/16") into the space between the panel and the door handle, on the bottom side. I'm aiming right about in the center. Now I pry upwards. Or, inwards. A little of both. If I now use my other hand to pry the panel back a bit, I can get it to move, but not much. Maybe 1 cm. Now I go for the top clip. I'm not feeling anything...and the panel won't come off.
Suggestions?
The top clip is not really a clip that snaps out, but instead something that slides up. So do not try to pry it up from the top!
What I usually do is place a pretty wide flathead screwdriver (wrapped in electrical tape) at the very bottom, into the space between the panel and the side of the door. Give it a good push -- you want to be pushing away from the front of the car, maybe at a slight upwards angle. This will snap out the bottom clip. Then you can lower the top of the panel and free the top.
#28
User and Abuser
iTrader: (3)
Didnt see this in the thread, but in order to remove the actual panel around the door handle.... you should slide it towards the front of the vehicle.... then it should pull out. Just pulling on it will break a little tab. Please edit the first post to include this so future viewers will see it. Broke the one on the driver's side and I'm not too happy about it.
#29
Never Blend In
iTrader: (2)
Didnt see this in the thread, but in order to remove the actual panel around the door handle.... you should slide it towards the front of the vehicle.... then it should pull out. Just pulling on it will break a little tab. Please edit the first post to include this so future viewers will see it. Broke the one on the driver's side and I'm not too happy about it.
#33
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/suicide-door-panel-removal-135059/
#36
just took off my door panel today to disconnect a broken speaker, and when trying to remove the entire panel the door handle piece was in the way but i just pulled it straight off and ended up breaking the little tab. now it doesnt sit right and it's gonna really bug me. i wish i would have read your post before i started.
#38
Trying to fat mat the door
I've pulled off everything to the glass. I'm trying to fatmat (just like dynamat) all 4 doors. But once I took it apart, I really didn't see a good location to fatmat. Has anyone done this? If so, did you do it inside, or outside of the black liner? Pics would be very helpful. I don't want to interfere with the window operation, So i'm not sure where to place it. If I go under the liner the gaps are very big, if I go over the liner is there a point, How would I make it so the liner can still be removed, and not in the way?
If anyone has done this, please help!
If anyone has done this, please help!
#43
It's been a while since I've taken off the rear door (prob 2 yrs by now . But I do remember the two screws in the handle that you mentioned. Other than those two screws I don't remember any serious fasteners. There are, just like on the front door, and series of plastic snaps. probably 6-8 of them that hold the door on fairly securely. You need to use a plastic tool, or your hands to work your way around the edge of the door to start pulling them loose. You will have to pull fairly hard, OR in the exact right area to get these to pop out (1 at a time). Just make sure that there is some 'give' around the door handle, and that will indicate that you have removed all the 'permanent' fasteners (screws, bolts, ect.).
Now that I say that, I seem to remember that there is a bolt or two in the handle. Just to clarify this statement so we are talking about the same handle. The door handle (with the latch), and the 'OSH*T' handle probably each have screws. 3-4 total. So in summary, check BOTH handles for screws before you start working on the plastic clips.
#44
Here is what you are looking for:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-int...r-panel-73480/
Above is the link to the thread that talks about removing the suicide doors. Like I speculated in the previous post, there are 3 screws. One in the handle with the latch, and two in the actual door handle (reference the picture from that thread). Once that is done you should be down to just the plastic fasteners.
#45
Registered
Old post but just wanted to thumbs up the thread. There are a couple additional clips not mentioned in the original picture around the perimeter, and even using a pry tool some of my clips were just too old or brittle and broke anyways.
I needed to replace the driver window motor(3 bolts in the middle of the door as soon as you get the panel off and that's it). Job took about 30-45 minutes.
Thanks again!
I needed to replace the driver window motor(3 bolts in the middle of the door as soon as you get the panel off and that's it). Job took about 30-45 minutes.
Thanks again!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jst4fun
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
18
04-17-2021 07:43 AM
Jst4fun
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
9
03-05-2021 07:16 PM
nferguson88
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
1
10-06-2015 12:45 PM
jasonrxeight
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
2
09-30-2015 01:53 PM
Learners_Permit
Series I Interior, Audio, and Electronics
8
09-27-2015 07:38 PM