LeonardDB

I hit a deer Tuesday. Had to replace the windshield yesterday. Ordered the right front fender. The deer also hit the rear passenger door and bent it in. If I remove the door trim panel will there be enough access to “pop” the outer door panel out?
Also, I removed from the door the (2) armrest screws and the door handle. The trim panel is still tight on the door. I tried prying the panel open to view the retaining clips but I couldn’t see one of them. Is there a trick to removing the trim panel? Any special tools needed besides a putty knife?

Hex420

Dam, that same thing happened to me. I hate deer, my car was getting how I wanted it, and them pow a dam dear hits me. I think that you can remove the trim panel by poping it out of the clips. I will bump to get an answer becuase I also have to do the same thing.

LeonardDB

Thanks for the reply Hex420. I tried gently prying the trim panel but it did not move much. The Haynes manual says that you have to pop off the retaining clips by sliding a putty knife under the trim panel. The panel is on tight. I didn't see any clip posts.
The larger issue is once the trim panel is removed, whether there are large enough openings in the innner door metal panel to be able to reach inside and pop out the outer door panel.

LeonardDB

I got the trim panel off. I checked out a replacement door at a Salvage Yard so I was able to see the inside of the door. The trim panel is held on with plastic trim connectors. To pull the trim panel off just start at one corner and pull outward gently and slowly, the trim connectors will let go. If you are not careful the trim connectors will break rather than let go. The electirc windows electrical connector has a push button release. It took me a while to figure it out.