How do you change a door panel in a 1998 Pontiac Trans Am?

Answer 1

Tools you will need

Small flathead screwdriver (Or something to pry with)

Small piece of soft cloth

Long Phillips Screwdriver

Might need a Long flathead screwdriver as well.

1. pop out and unplug the window, lock, and mirror control buttons before the panel comes out. All the switches are attached to a small panel that is held into the door panel with some little pressure snaps. Just get something flat under the switch panel (Something that is not going to scratch your plastic that is sturdy enough to pry with. I use a flathead screwdriver with a soft cloth underneath it so it doesn't scratch the plastic) and pry them out, they should pop right up

2. Take plastic piece off of the lock. (The little piece that slides back and forth with the red on it to indicate locked or unlocked). Pull piece away from door panel and wiggle out.

3. The tough part that is not really tough at all. The trick is finding all the screws before you pull the panel off. Car manufacturers like to hide the screw holes under the door handles, in the door pockets, and anywhere else on the door panel that is out of immediate site. There is 4 or 5 screws on my 95. All in all it took me about 10 minutes to take the door panel off the first time before I knew where all the screws were hidden.

4. Lift the door panel upward when removing it. If the door panel seems like it is not wanting to lift off then stop and find where the other screws are at. The guy that owned my car before me just ripped and there were still screws in resulting in a cracked door panel.

Good Luck!