how to remove door panel '05 chevy

[trouttrooper]

Ok, so my new tow mirrors showed up and I figured I had all the knowledge I needed on how to remove the door panel. Apparently GM has a couple different ways they attached these darn panels, so here we go. I'll highlight the steps that were different from what I had read on other posts.

original mirrors, 2005 power towing mirrors


pop out the inside door lock.


pop out the triangle


remove 7mm screw above handle


remove 7mm screw on underside of door


remove Phillips head screw behind door latch <--- new one on me


little plastic/rubber cap, pop it off <--- new one on me


remove torx T20 screw underneath

 

[trouttrooper]

Part 2

Plastic/rubber bump near the hinge side of the door is one of those stupid ribbed push pin (or whatever you call them) I found it easier to remove it when the door is completely free except for it, then get my fingers behind the panel and pull it out. Those of you keeping track that's 2 7mm screws, 1 phillips screw, 1 torx screw, 1 push pin......why all the different types??? No reason it had to be that way.


pry the storage cubby out. The 7mm screw from underneath is what holds it in place


unplug the door "dome" light. I found it easier to just pull the whole light out and then unplug it, as my fat fingers couldn't wrap around the plug properly to unplug it.


pry the trim piece off around the handle.


some other posts mentioned a screw behind the window/mirror control unit that you have to take out. Unfortunately I found out that 1st, I didn't have that screw, and 2nd my control unit is screwed in place from underneath. I ended up breaking off a chunk of plastic trying to get the unit out. The black thing at the top end of the hole is the broken plastic part that the screw from underneath is screwed into.


And of course I never can seem to work on vehicles without bleeding at some point. :rolleyes5:



At this point the panel will lift up, which at that time I reached over and unplugged all the electrical stuff so I could set the panel aside. There's really no way I can describe it, but one of the electrical connectors has a really goofy way it unplugs.

This is as far as I got today as I was also installing a wood stove in the house, dropping off paperwork at the courthouse for work, and getting groceries.

 

[mattthebrat]

Nice write-up!!