| Author | Message | ||
     Rombi |
Can't find anything online about removing a new generation (2005) sliding door interior panel on one of these plastic monsters. Anyone here ever had the pleasure? I do not see any screws and my first go at it snapped a plastic clip, I don't want to snap all of them, must resist the urge to use dumb strength. | ||
| Sifo |
I've been out of the body work trade for decades, but hidden plastic fasteners are nothing new. The best way is to get the correct tool. Yes, they make a specific tool for that job. Next best thing I've used is some needle nose pliers that you can slip under the panel and get one tip on either side of the clip and you should be able to pry them out one at a time. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I made a tool for this job many moons ago, but lent it to somebody & never got it back. I used a bit of flat steel strip 1/16" thick 1/2" wide ish. Cut a V in the end & smooth off all rough edges & surfaces. To use slide behind the panel & lever it up a little so you can slide in a wedge of some sort, wood or plastic is best. Then you can fiddle around 'til you find the fasteners & lever them out by sliding a leverage point under the tool. All this you have to do blind, so try & see it in your mind's eye. My wife can't understand how I manage to do so much work on the cars with my eyes closed. Most doors you'll need to start at the bottom as it "hangs" on the top of the door if you understand me. Bear in mind also that there may be hidden screws, behind badges, or at an angle up through a handle etc. Also be careful of any wiring, speakers etc. In a last resort, brute force & ignorance, then get some new clips & epoxy. Good luck. | ||
| Sifo |
What Mr_grumpy describes is pretty close to the real tool. The real thing is bent in such a way to allow the tip to pry up easily. There's almost certainly a few screws well hidden, usually at the arm rest and or door pulls. The top usually is held with tabs where the panel will lift straight up when everything else has been disconnected. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Looks like this:  Available at any parts store for pretty cheap. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I second getting the tool (makes life much easier) and heeding everything Mr. Grumpy has said. It's spot on. If you don't break something taking the interior apart on a car, you surely have god-like powers. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Probably to replace those stupid door handles. Broke three of them since 2003. Stupid design, last Toyota I buy. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I've done it on a 2000, the older generation Sienna. It is just a bunch of clips on the inside of the panel. The Haynes manual had great instructions on what to remove first, and a diagram of where each clip is so you can bang all of them back in without forgetting any. |
