QuestionHello, I have a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix and was wondering do you know the way or proper way to take off the rear interior door panel. I noticed that my window is not rolling back up anymore and confirmed with one of your previous answers to someone else that in order to replace the whole window mechanism I need to take apart the door panel. I was wondering if you can give any directions as to how to take it off. I just don't want to break anything while taking it apart the improper way. Thank You.
Brandon
AnswerHi Brandon,
This door panel is one of the easier ones to remove, so if you are careful, I think you can get it off without any serious damage.
1. Remove the window switch by inserting a small flat blade screwdriver under the back edge of the switch "bezel." There is a spring clip you need to push forward to release the bezel. If you have released the spring clip, the bezel lifts up easily. If it takes a lot of force to lift up the bezel, the spring clip is not released. Once you have the bezel out of the armrest separate the switch from the wires.
2. Underneath the "door pull" in the middle of the armrest you will notice two "caps" about the diameter of a dime. Remove the caps by prying the edges with a flat blade screw driver. Next you can remove the two #3 Phillips screws that are now accessible from the two openings that were covered by the caps.
3. The door panel has several "door panel clips" located around the perimeter of the panel. These are most easily removed with a door panel removal tool. I'll bet you don't have one in your tool box, so if you have a stiff putty knife about 2" wide that will have to do. Start at the front corner of the door panel. Slide the putty knife under the door panel. Slide the putty knife left/right until you feel the edge of the putty knife come in contact with the corner panel clip. Pull the handle of the putty knife away from the door. This should pull the bristles of the panel clip out of the mounting hole in the door. You will hear a sort of "zip" sound as it releases. Once the first one is loose, proceed in the same manner with the clips on the bottom edge of the door. Once the bottom clips are all loose, go up the front and back edges of the panel. Lastly, there are a few more clips along the top of the panel. These are difficult to reach with a putty knife, so be especially careful removing these clips.
4. Now that you have all the clips released, slide the door panel forward to move the panel away from the door handle. Be careful. You may have one electrical connection behind the panel (optional courtesy light) that you must separate before the panel comes off completely.
5. The next step is to remove the plastic moisture/dust shield that covers the inside of the door. You may want to remove your speaker first if it is installed over the shield. The plastic shield is adhered to the door with a very sticky mastic. I suggest using a utility knife to cut the mastic as you peel the shield from the door. It takes a little extra time to do it this way, but it is much less messy and when you re-install the shield it goes on very easily.
6. Before you can remove the regulator/motor assembly, you must separate the glass from the regulator "lifting plate." It is the piece of the mechanism that slides up and down on the center rail. The glass is held on by two 10mm bolts that go through the lifting plate and into two plastic brackets glued to the bottom of the glass. After the bolts are removed you can slide the glass all the way to the top. Secure the glass to the top of the door with a piece of masking or packing tape.
7. Now you can remove the regulator/motor assembly by unscrewing two 10mm bolts at the top of the regulator, two 10mm bolts at the bottom of the regulator, and three 10mm bolts that mount the motor portion of the assembly to the door. Don't forget to remove the wires to the motor before pulling the assembly out of the door.
8. I recommend one small but important step. Purchase a can of spray silicone at your local Lowes, Home Depot, etc. (Don't use any lubricant but silicone.) Spray the "run channels" that the edges of the glass slide up and down in with the silicone. When you have everything working again, use the silicone on the run channels above the top of the door.
9. Now you are ready to install the new mechanism and put everything back together again in the reverse order you removed it.
Hope you project goes well. Let me know if you have any questions.
Ben .... the power window guy
