DIY: Gen 3 Door Panel Removal

[Mister_Perkins]

Tools Needed:

1. Flat head screw Driver (Small one, and one about 8-10 inches long)
2. Phillips head screw driver
3. 10MM Socket 3/8"
4. 3/8" 4 inch Extension
5. 3/8" Ratchet

First, you need to remove all the screws and clips holding the door panel in place.

with the door open, travel the the back side of the door and you will see two small clips. You need to push the center of the clip inward. You will see it depress in about 1/4 of an inch. Once it goes in, place the screw driver on the outside of the clip and push it out towards yourself.



Next, travel to the front of the door panel and you will see two circles. Place the screw driver underneath the back of the circles and pry out. They will pop off exposing a phillips head screw. Remove both screws.



Next, remove the screws in the center of the door panel. One of them is hidden in the side pocket of the door shown with the red arrow. You pry the piece out exposing the screw. The one on the upper portion of the handle is also hidden, and you need to pry that out as well to expose the screw.



Once all 3 of the center panel screws are removed, the next step is to remove the door handle plastic. This is the tricky part. I like to start at the bottom of the handle myself. Place the screw driver between the bottom of the door handle and the plastic trim and pry down lightly. While prying, pull on the back side of the plastic trim. It will pop out slightly. Once it pops out a little bit, place the flat head on the top side and pry upward while pulling. Once both sides pull out you will see the handle starting to open up. Open the handle up as far as it will go and pull the trim piece off.





Now place the flat head screw driver on the bottom outside corner and pry the bottom of the panel up. You will feel it pop out a little bit. Now travel towards the center and pry out. Keep working around the bottom of the door panel. Once the bottom is removed from the door, lift the door panel up - and off.

Pull back the plastic on the top left of the door, exposing the door linkage.

You will now see a black hole cover where my arrows are on the picture below. Remove the hole cover and get your 10mm ratchet ready.



Heres where both holes are looking from the other side:


Place the ratchet into the hole and remove the 10mm bolt. Once removed, move to the right of the hole you were just in and look inside the door panel. You will see the other 10mm bolt holding the door handle in place. Remove this one. Now the handle is loose, sort of.

Next step is to remove the door linkage. Using your long flat screw driver, look inside the door panel and you well see a plastic clip thats probably Yellow in color. It holds the linkage into the door handle. It swivvles upward. Place the screw driver behind one of the ears and pry up, it will pop off. Put your hand inside the door panel and push the clip verticle and pull the linkage from the handle.



Now walk around the outside of the car and pull the handle outside the door, being gentle not to bend the lock linkage. Once you pull it out slightly, you will see the lock linkage on the right side of the handle. Pop the clip off and remove the linkage. Now the handle is off.

Next step is changing the lock to the new door handle. This requires the 10mm ratchet again.



Once you swap it over, do everything in reverse order.

I think i covered everything.

[houra]

You Tube

You Tube

[Mister_Perkins]

That's for gen 4. Not the same

[houra]

You Tube

You Tube

[Mister_Perkins]

there we go. Thats better

For all those people who cant read, watch the video above!

[mazdaverx7]

thanks for posting the diy. you should sticky this at the stop of the page so that its easier to find when searching!

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by mazdaverx7

thanks for posting the diy. you should sticky this at the stop of the page so that its easier to find when searching!

Already done

[animated_zombie]

Thanks for the write-up! I think that I'll use these directions when I re-do my door cards.

[gr91]

omfg thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i finally learned the trick to take off that effin door handle piece without breaking it!!!!!
Omg thank you! Eff this im bookmarking this!!

[mazdaverx7]

used the inner handle trim removal procedure today when i was replacing my right rear window regulator and motor! worked like a charm!! thank you for the pics and the post once again!!