How to Take a Door Panel off of a '96 Ford Thunderbird

The door panels on a 1996 Ford Thunderbird cover the entire interior surface of both doors. Each panel houses the door pull cup, power window switch, and the power lock switch. These panels are secured both doors with a combination of plastic retaining clips, locking tabs, and steel screws. The front door panels must be completely removed in order to perform repairs and maintenance on the power window motor and other interior door components.

Instructions

Door Panel Removal

1

Disconnect the negative battery terminal, using a battery terminal wrench.

2

Open the door and grip the front door trim finish panel with two hands. Gently pull the front door trim finish panel away from the front door trim panel until it is completely free. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the front door lock switches, outside mirror controls, and the power window switches. Set the front door trim finish panel aside.

3

Remove the front door trim panel retaining screw through the space previously occupied by the front door trim finish panel, using a metric nut driver. Remove the interior lamp lens cover and the screw that holds the trim panel to the door frame inside the interior lamp lens opening.

4

Lift up on the entire door trim panel to disengage the trim panel hooks. Rotate the top of the trim panel clockwise away from the door in order to disengage the lower hooks. Disconnect the window regulator jumper wire and remove the front door trim panel from the vehicle.

Door Panel Installation

5

Reconnect the window regulator jumper wire and align the front door trim panel with the door. Set the trim panel in the on the door and press down so the lower hooks attach to the door skeleton. Align the upper part of the front door trim panel with the leading edge of the door skeleton and press down to engage the upper hooks with the door skeleton.

6

Reinstall the front door trim panel screw located in the interior lens lamp opening. Reinstall the interior lens lamp cover. Reinstall the front door trim panel retaining screw through the finish panel opening.

7

Reconnect the electrical connectors on the back of the front door trim finish panel and reinstall the finish panel. Reconnect the negative battery terminal. Check to make sure that the front door trim panel is installed securely and that all of the electrical switches operate properly.