1987 door panel removal
wcabldude
07-03-2004, 10:34 AM
I am having trouble tring to figure out how to get the door panel off on the passenger side of my girlfriends 1987 deville. the window came out the track so if anybody has any advice about that as well it be very helpfull.
Thank You
R.
Thank You
R.
MagicRat
07-04-2004, 07:37 PM
Its been a while since I removed one. but these door panels are no real big problem. Some of the screws are hidden behind the door pull, below the ash tray and behid the courtesy light lens. I believe the lens just pops out.
Its just a case of calmly looking around for them. There is no special trick to them. However, be prepared to replace some of the plastic push-in pins that hold the bottom of the door on. Sometimes they can be scrunched beyond re use when they are removed.
Once all the screws and pins are removed. you must lift the panel upwards over the top of the window sill.
Its just a case of calmly looking around for them. There is no special trick to them. However, be prepared to replace some of the plastic push-in pins that hold the bottom of the door on. Sometimes they can be scrunched beyond re use when they are removed.
Once all the screws and pins are removed. you must lift the panel upwards over the top of the window sill.
jasel
07-20-2004, 04:12 PM
It's really not all that hard. I've actually had to get in to repair both front windows because they'd popped out of the track.
First you'll need to remove 4 thick sheet metal screws. Lift up the spring-loaded handle you use to close the door. You'll find two there. Next, pop out the window/seat switch control panel (you'll see a little notch at the rear end - insert a screw driver and you may have to use some force to push in and lift up at the same time to unlatch the retaining clip). You'll find another of the thick sheet metal screws down inside the control panel's hole. This would be a great time to (gently) pry the wiring from the back of the switches - it's easiest to remove the entire switch assembly anyway. Just be careful, some of those little molded, black, plastic clips are so old they break easily.
Now, on the back side of the door's arm rest, you have a red courtesy light. Grab a screwdriver and pop that out by inserting the screwdriver on either the top or bottom end. There is a graded, notched piece of plastic that holds the light assembly in. Up in there, you'll find the remaining sheet metal screw.
Grap a torx bit and remove the black, plastic cover that sits behind the inside door handle (the lock "tab" that slides up and down is part of this). Gently work it out and twist it around to get the silver handle through the hole. Gently pull off the wire plug for the electric door lock button.
Now. I have this wonderful little tool I bought years ago for my Jeep at Crutchfield. It's called a panel remover. It's basically like a very sturdy grill spatula with a long slot in the middle. In fact, I _just_ went to www.crutchfield.com and found it for you. You can either order for them or you can get an idea and ask around. It's Crutchfield item # 18187650. This tool is SO needed because of the age of our caddys, it is too easy to have the fastener rip through the thin fiberboard backing of the door panels. You simply insert this tool between the sheet metal of the door and the panel, centering the fastener throught the slot in the tool and it'll pull the fastener out of the sheet metal instead of ripping it out of the panel - which there's no real fix. I've still managed to rip a few because I was in too much of a hurry. You'll find these fasteners all around the panel. Best thing to do is get on your knees and gently pull in one spot at the edge of the panel and you'll either see the white (all though yellowed from age) fasteners, or you'll notice where the panel seems to be held closely to the door. Insert tool there. :) I usually start from one of the corners at the bottom of the door and work my way one direction, then the next.
Once the last one is popped, there are a couple small ones near the top in the middle that you won't be able to get the remover tool to. No worry, just gently pull the panel and they'll release.
To get to the window, you're going to have to remove all the plastic sheeting and stiff paper that's held to the door with putty. You'll notice a little more noise when driving down the road after you do this, so you can either install more or you can Dynomat to cover the holes in the sheet metal.
There are triangular tabs that attach to holes in the sides of the glass. These are what slide in the tracks. It is probably best to replace both now (one front/low and one back/high) even if you don't notice them broken. Most likely, the front/low one is broken if the window popped out. These can be purchased from the dealer - they're pretty cheap. One other note: my driver window KEPT popping out. I had to remove the front track (easy - it's held by screws not rivets thank God!) and VERY GENTLY use pliers to squeeze the track together ever-so-slightly so it wouldn't allow the plastic guide to pop out.
Good luck. Hope that helps. I've removed the panels on all four doors in my caddy - the front ones many times to do various work. It's not bad after the first time.
I am having trouble tring to figure out how to get the door panel off on the passenger side of my girlfriends 1987 deville. the window came out the track so if anybody has any advice about that as well it be very helpfull.
Thank You
R.
First you'll need to remove 4 thick sheet metal screws. Lift up the spring-loaded handle you use to close the door. You'll find two there. Next, pop out the window/seat switch control panel (you'll see a little notch at the rear end - insert a screw driver and you may have to use some force to push in and lift up at the same time to unlatch the retaining clip). You'll find another of the thick sheet metal screws down inside the control panel's hole. This would be a great time to (gently) pry the wiring from the back of the switches - it's easiest to remove the entire switch assembly anyway. Just be careful, some of those little molded, black, plastic clips are so old they break easily.
Now, on the back side of the door's arm rest, you have a red courtesy light. Grab a screwdriver and pop that out by inserting the screwdriver on either the top or bottom end. There is a graded, notched piece of plastic that holds the light assembly in. Up in there, you'll find the remaining sheet metal screw.
Grap a torx bit and remove the black, plastic cover that sits behind the inside door handle (the lock "tab" that slides up and down is part of this). Gently work it out and twist it around to get the silver handle through the hole. Gently pull off the wire plug for the electric door lock button.
Now. I have this wonderful little tool I bought years ago for my Jeep at Crutchfield. It's called a panel remover. It's basically like a very sturdy grill spatula with a long slot in the middle. In fact, I _just_ went to www.crutchfield.com and found it for you. You can either order for them or you can get an idea and ask around. It's Crutchfield item # 18187650. This tool is SO needed because of the age of our caddys, it is too easy to have the fastener rip through the thin fiberboard backing of the door panels. You simply insert this tool between the sheet metal of the door and the panel, centering the fastener throught the slot in the tool and it'll pull the fastener out of the sheet metal instead of ripping it out of the panel - which there's no real fix. I've still managed to rip a few because I was in too much of a hurry. You'll find these fasteners all around the panel. Best thing to do is get on your knees and gently pull in one spot at the edge of the panel and you'll either see the white (all though yellowed from age) fasteners, or you'll notice where the panel seems to be held closely to the door. Insert tool there. :) I usually start from one of the corners at the bottom of the door and work my way one direction, then the next.
Once the last one is popped, there are a couple small ones near the top in the middle that you won't be able to get the remover tool to. No worry, just gently pull the panel and they'll release.
To get to the window, you're going to have to remove all the plastic sheeting and stiff paper that's held to the door with putty. You'll notice a little more noise when driving down the road after you do this, so you can either install more or you can Dynomat to cover the holes in the sheet metal.
There are triangular tabs that attach to holes in the sides of the glass. These are what slide in the tracks. It is probably best to replace both now (one front/low and one back/high) even if you don't notice them broken. Most likely, the front/low one is broken if the window popped out. These can be purchased from the dealer - they're pretty cheap. One other note: my driver window KEPT popping out. I had to remove the front track (easy - it's held by screws not rivets thank God!) and VERY GENTLY use pliers to squeeze the track together ever-so-slightly so it wouldn't allow the plastic guide to pop out.
Good luck. Hope that helps. I've removed the panels on all four doors in my caddy - the front ones many times to do various work. It's not bad after the first time.
I am having trouble tring to figure out how to get the door panel off on the passenger side of my girlfriends 1987 deville. the window came out the track so if anybody has any advice about that as well it be very helpfull.
Thank You
R.
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