2000 Dodge Ram door panel removal

Tiny
JIM SHEEHAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 DODGE RAM
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 106,000 MILES
My driver's window won't go down. I need to remove the door panel to see what's wrong, but can't figure out how to remove the panel without doing damage. Can you give me step by step instructions on removing the panel?

Jim Sheehan
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 AT 2:17 PM

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Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
Inner door panels.

Most inner door panels are attached the same, no matter what kind of car you have.

Generally the front, bottom and rear edge of the panel is held to the metal part of the door with plastic clips. Expect to break about 25% of these when you remove it.

The center part of the panel normally has a few screws that secure it. Sometimes they will have a small cover over them, often the size of a dime. Just for cosmetic reasons.

There will almost always be 1 or 2 screws attaching the pull handle, the place you grab onto to pull the door closed.
Most of the time, there will be a screw somewhere close to lever you use to open the door.
If your armrest is not molded into the door panel, there will be screws that attach it. Often at a 45degree angle coming from the bottom.
And finally, on rare occasion, there will be some screws near the speaker in the door, if you have one.
If you have manual windows, you'll have to remove the crank handle.

Armed with this information. This is how I remove a door panel that I am not familiar with.

First I remove all of the screws that I can see, and look for anything that may be a cap that is covering a screw.

Second I start at the bottom of the panel and try to pull it away from the door. As the plastic clips start to release, I work my way up along the front and rear edge of the door. Often during this step, I notice the center part of the panel is still attached by a hidden screw.

Finally, when the panel is free all the way around, grab the panel along the front and rear edges and pull straight up to get it to release from along where it touches the glass.

I hope this helps.
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 AT 3:21 PM

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