OK first of all I have removed door panels from several different vehicles in the past, and more importantly reinstalled them successfully, so I am not totally clueless. I do all of my own stereo installs.

My wife's car is a 1999 Toyota Avalon in desperate need of some new door speakers. I have replaced the ones in the rear doors, no problem. But on the front door, there is something located somewhere near the door handle, that has a freaking death grip on the door panel. I have removed every fastener I can find, looked at IPBs, called the dealer (useless), searched around on the internetz for info (found some, not enough), and still cannot get the damn thing off. It feels like it will break if I try much harder to pull it off.

Anyone got any idea how to get one off, or know someone who does? I am about to get really desperate and pay an installer to do the front doors. Oh the horror...

 

I'd be willing to bet it will come off with enough force. Its probably one of those things like the gauge hood or vents on our cars. Sometimes it feels like its going to break (sometimes it does) but will usually pop off with enough force. those evil little clips are probably just being bastards. No experience with those cars, but if you could pull the panel back far enough to look up between the panel and the door you could see what was wrong maybe. Sorry, I'm no help.

 

OPLIN Research Database Remote Access

Go to that link.
Type in 123456789 as the Card number.
Select Cinncinnati and hamilton libraries
Then select 1999, toyota, avalon, repair procedures, body and trim, interior, door panesl, removal and installation, front door.

 

Getting the dealer to explain things to laymen is difficult lots of times. trust me. I work parts, i hate telling people how to do simple things. But with persistance they will help out.

Its probably more simple than you realize, it usually ends up that way. Ive learned the same with my own projects.

A trick to seeing how it is assembled, work with the dealer to get a breadown diagram of the door panel. Basically call, ask for a random piece of the door panel, that may not even exist, Insist to the point of confusion, and get the parts person to fax you diagrams of the break down. With the breakdown, you might then see if the pull handle comes apart in two sections, or if the bezel around the pull latch holds the panel on. ETC. breakdown of parts usually means those parts are re place able...

goodluck, I know VOLVOS have deadly clamps that hold the door together and are a BITCH to get apart. Not to mention the trim colored rivets that hold together too...

Goodluck

 

Artie, that is exactly what I needed. Thanks

 

No problem. I got that info off this site before and saved it. It comes in handy quite often.

 

No joke. I need to remember that for future use. FWIW for others, the menu structure did not work for me in Chrome. I used Explorer and it worked fine.