Don't know about the problem, but there are discussions here other places about the door panel. Haynes/Chilton has pretty good info on taking off the panel.
There are a couple of screws, a few clips, and the inside handle bezel that have to be removed before you can get the door trim off.
I don't remember exactly how many or exactly where they are, so take a look when you're ready to go for it, and make sure you're careful not to break the plastic clips. There's one bugger on the rear side that looks like a donut with the donut hole inside. Get the "hole" out first (won't come out all the way, as I recall) and then worry about the donut. Otherwise you're going to crack the donut and it'll look like mine. If you do it's not the end of the world.