-
Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator,
Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
Register Today It's free!
98 sport door panels
- Thread starter War1ock
- Start date
Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!.
jeff96
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- June 25, 2003
- Messages
- 824
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Fayetteville, NC
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 03 Ninja 636, 96 Ex Sport
as far as i remember there are screws underneath the drivers door handle, and i believe two in the arm rest. Just look around little hidden panels on the door. They just pop off and you can access the screws. Then after that you just have to pry the panel off the frame (held on by plastic bolt things) and then lift up becuase there is a lip that the panel hangs onto.
davesexplorer
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- March 13, 2001
- Messages
- 2,701
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Central PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2001 F350 7.3
dont forget to take off the trim around the handle itself. And lock whichever door you're working on, putting the window down helps too.
newc5188
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- July 8, 2004
- Messages
- 293
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- St Pete, FL
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '98 Sport
Start at the bottom corner that is closest to the rear of the truck and ake a flat head screw driver and put it in between the painted part of the door and the plastic part of the door and search in there for a white plastic clip thing. Pull that one out of the door then move up the side of the door continuing to take them out. After that go down to the bottom of the door continuing around pulling them out using the screw driver until you reach the last one by the side view mirror. Once you have them all out life the door panel upwards, both sides at the same time and work it up over the little lock. It should come right off.
Oh and take the screws out and trim piece out before you do all this.
Hope this helped.
Oh and take the screws out and trim piece out before you do all this.
Hope this helped.
newc5188
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- July 8, 2004
- Messages
- 293
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- St Pete, FL
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '98 Sport
Try using 2 screw drivers, the first one may not come all the way out or get it out partially and then go to another one and come back to the first one and pull it out.
davesexplorer
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- March 13, 2001
- Messages
- 2,701
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Central PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2001 F350 7.3
When he said come right off - I think he meant pull as hard as you can kicking and screaming foul language. Door panels that have never had to come off since vehicle assembly can be really in there! Kind of like pulling the factory airbox out - just needs a lot of "oomph".
Brian_B
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- January 6, 2005
- Messages
- 2,214
- Reaction score
- 5
- City, State
- Mountain Home, AR
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 mounty / 56 f-100
I just had to pull mine today. My mom decided she had to get out without unlocking the rear passenger door and bent the rod. :fire:
I put tape along the edgo of the panel (to keep from scratching the paint) and used two screwdrivers (they make a panel tool, but.....). Once you get one of the platic pins out, slide the screwdriver to the next one. Its pretty easy.
I replaced the plastic pins though. Mine were pretty badly damaged getting them out. Just .25 each at the body shop supply house we use. Mine had 9 of them.
Hope this helps. I have pulled tons of panels to fix power windows, so I don't think too much about it anymore.
I put tape along the edgo of the panel (to keep from scratching the paint) and used two screwdrivers (they make a panel tool, but.....). Once you get one of the platic pins out, slide the screwdriver to the next one. Its pretty easy.
I replaced the plastic pins though. Mine were pretty badly damaged getting them out. Just .25 each at the body shop supply house we use. Mine had 9 of them.
Hope this helps. I have pulled tons of panels to fix power windows, so I don't think too much about it anymore.
IAmTodd
4x Explorer Veteran
- Joined
- April 8, 2002
- Messages
- 8,754
- Reaction score
- 24
- City, State
- Johnstown, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2015 Jeep
Get the tool, its much easier with it 
Remove the two screws and little trim piece by the door handle. It pops out. Work around the door to release the fasteners, and pull the door panel up and it should pop off.
Remove the two screws and little trim piece by the door handle. It pops out. Work around the door to release the fasteners, and pull the door panel up and it should pop off.Brian_B
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- January 6, 2005
- Messages
- 2,214
- Reaction score
- 5
- City, State
- Mountain Home, AR
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 mounty / 56 f-100
Cool. If you need to replace the platic parts just check with a parts store or body shop supply. I buy extras and usually have a box around somehwere, but didn't today. I end up fixing everyone elses power windows. I need to go buy the "tool".
Explorer Features
Explorer Features
Similar threads
