Easiest door card removal method?

[freddie]

Originally Posted by Johnny2R

Thanks, Freddie. How much time would you, personally, allocate to getting the door card off and back on again (I'll probably double or triple that amount to get a realistic time figure for myself)?

Easy 10 min off with tea break.
Twelve minutes to put on with a swear break.

[GeoffWW]

One thing not mentioned yet is an inner grey-coloured weather/sound deadening cover stuck on all the way around the inner perimeter edge of the door with a "soft" black bitumen glue. Be careful with the cover as it tears easily.

To remove your dropped spanner just free the outer edge of the cover at the bottom corner above where your spanner fell through by cutting upwards through the soft rubber along the bottom edge at the front end, with a Stanley knife or similar sharp blade until you have freed enough to get your hand in and retrieve the spanner.

Once spanner retrieved, just press the cover/bitumen back on the door before replacing the door card as indicated by the others before.

[freddie]

I missed out one bit of information to remove the door handle.
Once you have taken the screw out of the handle (which could be a tight fit)
First push it backwards and unhook it from the front ,Then push it forwards to release the handle.

Willing to give you a hand if you want.
Let me know Free Sat afternoon or Sunday weather could be a factor
Dont like standing in the rain

[Dorset Bob]

I took a few shots when I last removed a door card which might help (or not)

Pop the electric window switch out. I used an old credit card to avoid damage to the trim.



Remove and disconnect the wiring plug for the switch.







Remove blanking plug, and the central screw on the interior door handle.







As Freddie says, I found it easier to not disconnect the handle, as it will push through the hole in the door card.

Pop the trim off. Much easier using the trim removal tool.
Not a good shot, but I used some plastic to save marking the paint.



Once the clips are released, pull the door card out and up to remove.



Here is the inner membrane.



Use a sharp knife to cut through the adhesive. Be careful, it can tear easily. My adhesive was still very tacky, even at 14 years old, and it stuck back again without a problem.





To get the spanner out, I would just remove part of the bottom, and as suggested use a telescopic magnet.

I got one from Screwfix for about £4.00

Good luck, once you have done it once it is a doddle.

[freddie]

Originally Posted by Dorset Bob

I took a few shots when I last removed a door card which might help (or not)

Pop the electric window switch out. I used an old credit card to avoid damage to the trim.



Remove and disconnect the wiring plug for the switch.







Remove blanking plug, and the central screw on the interior door handle.







As Freddie says, I found it easier to not disconnect the handle, as it will push through the hole in the door card.

Pop the trim off. Much easier using the trim removal tool.
Not a good shot, but I used some plastic to save marking the paint.



Once the clips are released, pull the door card out and up to remove.



Here is the inner membrane.



Use a sharp knife to cut through the adhesive. Be careful, it can tear easily. My adhesive was still very tacky, even at 14 years old, and it stuck back again without a problem.





To get the spanner out, I would just remove part of the bottom, and as suggested use a telescopic magnet.

I got one from Screwfix for about £4.00

Good luck, once you have done it once it is a doddle.

Good pictures Bob allways forget to take some when pictures when I do things.
As you say once you have done it the second time is a piece of cake.

Need to take mine of again shortly logo puddle light stopped working suspect bulb.

Forggetting Johnny only wants to get spanner out might get away with
just lifting door card at one corner.

[Johnny2R]

Originally Posted by freddie

I missed out one bit of information to remove the door handle.
Once you have taken the screw out of the handle (which could be a tight fit)
First push it backwards and unhook it from the front ,Then push it forwards to release the handle.

Willing to give you a hand if you want.
Let me know Free Sat afternoon or Sunday weather could be a factor
Dont like standing in the rain

Thanks for the offer, Freddie, much appreciated! I'm busy this weekend, alas. But my current plan at the moment anyway is now to chicken out and do nothing! Having been out for a couple of drives, the spanner doesn't seem to be rattling, which was my fear. In a couple of weeks time I'm going to see Jeff (Coolcat) who'll be taking the door cards off anyway to fit new speakers, so I'll retrieve my spanner then. Maybe I'll learn a thing or two then from watching him.

[freddie]

Originally Posted by Johnny2R

Thanks for the offer, Freddie, much appreciated! I'm busy this weekend, alas. But my current plan at the moment anyway is now to chicken out and do nothing! Having been out for a couple of drives, the spanner doesn't seem to be rattling, which was my fear. In a couple of weeks time I'm going to see Jeff (Coolcat) who'll be taking the door cards off anyway to fit new speakers, so I'll retrieve my spanner then. Maybe I'll learn a thing or two then from watching him.

OK

Was going to say when you had got the door card no need to disturb membrane just take out the speaker,big enough hole to get hand in.

[freddie]

the spanner doesn't seem to be rattling, which was my fear " quote"


Could be the spanner has stuck to the magnet of the speaker/
Good result if it has.

[Johnny2R]

Originally Posted by freddie

the spanner doesn't seem to be rattling, which was my fear " quote"


Could be the spanner has stuck to the magnet of the speaker/
Good result if it has.

Yes, hadn't thought of that. I hope my recent work on the mirror was effective, because I haven't got the spanner I need to remove it now, if it turns out not to have been!