How do you remove the door panels on a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am GT?

Question

I need to replace my power window motors on the driver's side door. Does anyone know where I could find information on how to remove the door panel online?

Answer 1

I just took the driver's door panel off my Pontiac van.  It should be somewhat similar to your car.  The best info will come from a manual, of course.  Go look for a Chilton's or Haynes repair manual for your car.  It would be very helpful for lots of routine maintenance.  These instructions are general to what I found.  If they don't work for you, get the manual.

First look for any screws or bolts on the inside of the door panel.  Look around the handle, the inside latch, the controls for windows, locks, etc.  Look underneath and inside anything and everything you can find, and remove them.  If you have ANY doubt about where to put them back when you're done, or if there are different sizes, lengths, or styles of screws or bolts, then either mark them with tape for where they were located, or put them in a sandwich bag with a note about where they were located.  If you don't have the replacement motor already, do this anyway.  

Next, slide a stiff putty knife or a slender screwdriver under the panel near a bottom corner, and gently lift.  You're trying to pull the panel away from the frame.  It's usually held in by plastic clips that look like little round bits held together by a vertical piece.  They're sometimes nicknamed "Christmas trees", because they sort of look like these.  They pull straight out of the frame.

Work your way around the door, loosening the christmas trees.  It's OK if you damage them - they are cheap to replace at any decent hardware store.  If you hit a spot where you can't pull it loose, look hard for a s***w you might have missed.  

Once you have everything loose, maneuver the door around to get it free of the lock buttons, handles, etc.  You will probably have to disconnect the lock and window buttons.  These usually have clips that release without too much effort, so don't try to pull the door away without detaching these, or you'll have to repair wiring, too.

Watch for any sticky putty in places.  Sometimes the manufacturers put this on as an additional way to attach the door, or to keep it from buzzing when you drive.  If you find some, you can usually just pull the panel away from it without any problems.

When you get it off, take all the christmas trees off the frame and door, and set them aside.  Replace the motor, and check the christmas trees for any damage.  Take all the damaged ones to a good hardware or auto parts store and ask for replacements.  You may not find exact matches, but you should come close.  Buy replacements for all the ones you need, and get a couple of extras.  They are usually under a dollar, and may be only a quarter or so.  The extras will be handy, because you may damage one when replacing them, or drop one.

Put the christmas trees back into the door panel, and count how many you have in the panel.  Reconnect the wiring, maneuver the panel back on to the door latch, etc, and pop the christmas trees into place.  Make sure you do all of them - that's why you counted them.

Replace the screws, latch covers, trim pieces, etc, and be happy.

And I still suggest you get the Chilton or Haynes book before you start this.