Was the window open or close. I've had better luck with the window closed.

 

It was closed, and I was considering trying again with it open. So, bad idea?

 

Yes. The door panels on this car don't slide back in up and down. You need to hold the panel at almost a 90 degree angle to the door, clip in the top, then swing the panel into place. There's a few good YouTube videos that better explain this:

 

Yes. The door panels on this car don't slide back in up and down. You need to hold the panel at almost a 90 degree angle to the door, clip in the top, then swing the panel into place. There's a few good YouTube videos that better explain this:

The videos are for the front door, and for those I had little trouble re-setting them. I am stuck on the rear door panel replacement, and I did try all angles.

 

Great videos!

 

SOLUTION for setting difficult rear door panel re-installs:

1. Before replacing the panel, temporarily re-connect the electric window control, then lower the window completely.
2. After opening the window, spray some WD-40 on a paper towel and lubricate the inside of the clips at the top of door panel, and also along the top of the door frame where the panel clips will attach.
3. Angle the panel so that the two top clips on the side closest to the outer door opening can be set (while ensuring the inside door handle mechanism can still be re-attached to the panel).
4. Set the two top outer clips.
5. Once the first two top outer clips are set, push the center-top part of the panel hard against the door frame while pushing down to set the remaining top inner clips.

I hope this solution saves someone the many hours of work this problem took to solve.