How to Take a Door Panel Off of a 1997 Chevy S-10 Truck

Prior to the S-10, Chevrolet did offer its customers a compact truck. This compact truck the LUV was not truly a Chevy, but an Isuzu pickup in Chevy clothing. The 1982 model year brought about the Americanization of compact truck manufacturing, as Chevrolet released the all-American S-10 pickup Ford followed suit the following year with the Ranger. The 1997 S-10 was much sleeker and more aerodynamic-looking than its original version, but the basic outline remained the same. Taking the door panel off the 1997 S-10 requires great care not to break the panel, as it may have become fragile over the years.

Instructions

Removal

1

Open the door you are removing the panel from and leave it open.

2

Look behind the door handle to find the screw securing the door handle bezel to the door. Remove this screw with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the door handle outward as if you are opening the door and pull the bezel from behind the handle.

3

Pull outward on the window crank lightly, if equipped with manual windows, and find the thin, metal retaining clips securing the crank to the regulator shaft. Rotate the crank so the ears on the clip are facing upward. If your S-10 has power windows, skip to Step 6.

4

Insert a window crank removal tool behind the window crank until the prongs on the tool touch the ears on the clip. Position your hand under the window crank and press the window crank tool downward to pop the retaining clip from the crank and into your hand.

5

Pull the window crank off the regulator shaft and reinstall the retaining clip in the slot on the rear of the crank.

6

Find the rectangular screw cover inside pull cup in the arm rest, and pry the cover out with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the armrest-retaining screw with a Phillips screwdriver.

7

Pry the power window and power lock switch panel, if equipped, off the door panel with a flat-head screwdriver. Press the locking button on the window switchs wiring harness and unplug the harness from the switch.

8

Pry around the perimeter of the door panel with a trim removal tool to disengage the eight retaining clips four on the front, three on the rear and one on the bottom.

9

Pull the door panel upward and off the door frame.

Installation

10

Set the door panel back onto the door frame, lining up the retaining clips with the holes in the door frame. Hit around the perimeter of the panel lightly with the palm of your hand to engage the eight panel-retaining clips.

11

Reconnect the wiring harness to the power window and power lock switches, if applicable. Set the power window and lock panel on the door panel, lining the clips on the panel up with the slots in the door panel. Press the switch panel onto the door panel until the engaging clips snap into place.

12

Tighten the retaining screw inside the armrest pull cup with a Phillips screwdriver. Press the rectangular screw cover bock into place in the pull cup.

13

Line the hole on the rear of the window crank up with the window regulator shaft, if equipped with manual windows, and press the crank onto the shaft until the cranks retaining clip snaps into place. Pull the handle to ensure its locked into place.

14

Pull the door handle outward and slide the door handle bezel behind it. Secure the bezel by tightening its retaining screw.