3rd time posting, please.....little help?

[kickniteasy]

This is my third time asking this.............long story short I want to remove my door panels to get out a pesky dent from the inside out. Is this an easy task? Can someone try and write directions on how to? I've tried searched on this and proclub and noone has really been any help. On my escort it was super easy but I've never had to with a mazda. Thanks in advance.

[loozisprotege]

ive been as far as takin the door panels off to put in new speakers but i havent gone as far as 2 get to the metal its self, its just a matter of lookin at it and findin the screws... if its easy as it was for me, it should be cake, gluck.

[dewey]

Re: 3rd time posting, please.....little help?

Originally posted by kickniteasy
Can someone try and write directions on how to? I've tried searched on this and proclub and noone has really been any help. On my escort it was super easy but I've never had to with a mazda. Thanks in advance.

Evidently, nobody has been down that road. But since you've done it on your Escort, then that means that YOU are uniquely qualified to give it a try and post the results in the HOWTO section. That way, the next guy who searches for the answer will be able to benefit.

[bruce95fmla]

Why don't you just take the door panel off and then remove the plastic linning and the metal door should be right there. You have a 3rd gen so you may have more door bracing that us 2nd and 1st gen guys.
I am pretty sure you can figure out how to take off the door panel.
As far as removing the dent.. You are on your own there. I can't tell you how to do that.. especially for liability reasons.

[kickniteasy]

I can get the dent out......just wanted to know how to get to it.

[NegatiZE]

Taking the door panel off is fairly simple, they are held on by clips surrounding the perimier of the panel, plus some screws in the armrest/grab handle and door pull.

[blue LEDz]

is it a front or back door? they are a little different i've had mine on and off a million times, but never took pics to make a how to here are some general instructions:

work from the top down removing fasteners.

front doors:
1 remove the black triangle up in the top front. just pull the back edge with your fingers, it'll come off.
2 remove the small screw in the front side of the door. it has a plastic cover over it, which you'll need to pop the top off. do that carefully with a small flat head screwdriver, or a butter knife. then unscrew.
3 remove the screw holding the door handle in place. there is one in the cup behind the handle itself. then pull the handle to get it away from the door panel.
4 now work on the back edge of the door. there should be 1 or 2 circle fasteners. they have a circle within a circle. you have to pull the center circle out, then pry the outside circle from the door. use 2 butter knives for this.
5 depending on how your arm rests are set up, you'll probably have one or 2 larger screws on the bottom of the rear of the arm rest. remove them.
6 now you have to remove the arm rest. do this by either pulling it wth your fingers, or prying it off at the spot where you removed the screw with a butter knife. pop the back off, then the front will pull out.
7 remove the 2 screws that are recessed in the door panel that were covered by the arm rest.
8 pull the bottom edge of the door panel. there are 5 or 6 fasteners on the back side. you can use your fingers on the bottom edge to pull it out, or the map pocket and door handle. but i prefer pulling from the bottom.
9 once all the fasteners are removed, you'll have to lift up on the whole door panel, to get the top lip out. but do don't pull the door panel too far away from the door yet.
10 disconnect the wire harness from where the window switch is, if it's the passenger door, or the 2 harnesses from the drivers door, one for windows and locks, the other for power mirrors.
note, you can remove the panels to disconnect the wire harnesses with the door on, but you are more likely to scratch them if you do.

rear doors:
1 remove the small screw from the front top area of the door.
2 with a butter knife, pry the top edge of your power window switch from the door panel. it has fabric behind it, so you'll have plenty of room to slide the knife in. then pull it up and out, and disconnect the wire harness.
3 remove the door handle the same way as the fronts.
4 remove the fasteners from the rear edge of the door.
5 remove the arm rest
6 pull at the bottom, then lift the door up to remove it.

[MisterT]

I removed my panels when installing midbass drivers in both doors, but I don't see how removing them is going to give you access to removing a dent. You can try it out, but I don't know how much luck you will have. I have a dent on the passenger side's fender Just above the ES logo. Damn asshole from work hit my car with his/her door. I know it was that because the area is employee parking only and strictly enforced with public safety there around the clock. Good luck!

[Dermen]

Front door panel removal. I didn't write this, it was posted at protegeclub.com

http://users.rcn.com/enamho1/frontspeaker/