How to Remove the Rear Door Panel in a 2002 Impala

The Impala was one of the more feared full-size muscle cars of its era, especially in its SS guise. As emission regulations strangled the life from the muscle cars, Chevy readjusted the Impala and made it into a more family friendly and comfortable ride. When Chevy released the newest Impala in 2000, it kept with the family car style, making it a four-door model with a 200-horsepower peak. Replacing the rear door panel on the 2002 Impala is a rather straightforward task that nearly any home mechanic can complete.

Instructions

Removal

1

Remove the screw securing the inside door handle bezel, the trim panel surrounding the door handle using a Phillips screwdriver. Pry outward on the front and rear of the door handle bezel using a flat-head screwdriver to disengage its retaining clips and remove the bezel.

2

Unfasten the two screws inside the pull cup, the part you pull when shutting the door from the inside, using a T-30 Torx screwdriver. Lift the pull cup assembly far enough to access the power window wiring harness and unplug the wiring harness. Set the pull cup assembly aside.

3

Find the two screws inside the pull cup assembly cutout and remove them using the T-30 Torx screwdriver.

4

Remove the triangle-shaped trim panel above the rearmost part of the door trim using a flat-head screwdriver to release its retaining clip and remove the trim piece.

5

Pry around the perimeter of the door panel using a trim stick to release the door panel-retaining clips. Lift the door panel slightly to remove it from the upper retaining guides and remove the panel from the door.

Installation

6

Guide the top of the door panel into the upper retaining guides, then align the locating pins on the rear of the door panel with the locating holes in the door. Press the door panel onto the door to engage the panels retaining clips.

7

Line up the clip on the rear of the triangle-shaped trim piece with the slot in the door and press the trim piece onto the door to snap the clip into place.

8

Tighten the two screws inside the pull cup assembly cutout with the Torx screwdriver. Guide the door handle bezel over the door handle and align its retaining clips with the slots in the door. Press the bezel onto the door to snap the clips into place, then tighten its retaining screw with a Phillips screwdriver.

9

Plug the wiring harness into the power window switch on the pull cup assembly and insert the assembly into its cutout. Tighten the two screws in the pull cup with the Torx screwdriver.