iamsuperbleeder

I was taking my door panels off today while running some wires for some LED turn signals in the side mirrors, and after some searching, I was dumbfounded that I could not find a fully detailed step-by-step how to with pictures and a full explanation on how to remove the door panels on the 2009-2010 trucks.

So I snapped a couple of pics along the way and figured I'd make one of my own. I realise this is pretty simple for some people, but it can be nerve racking the first time you do it, as you're afraid that you'll break something

This is on a 2010 XLT




Step 1

Remove the two bolts located along the bottom of the door.










Next, move to the inside handle. We need to remove the black plastic behind the handle to reveal a screw.








To pop it out, just take a thin flat-head screw driver, gently jam it in between the plastic panel and the gray plastic surrounding it. Be VERY careful here, so you do not scar up the gray plastic; it's a fairly soft plastic and can scar easily if care is not taken.










Now move to the pull-handle/cup area. We need to remove the small plastic square in the bottom to reveal the last screw holding the panel on.

Using the same small flat-head screw driver, jam it in the side and pry it out.

iamsuperbleeder

Now we need to get the window and door lock controls out of the way and unplugged. Take a flat head screw driver (this one can be a little bigger), and gently place it between the soft arm rest material and the plastic bezel around the controls, and pry it up. The clips that hold it in do so very good, so it will take a little bit of force; I honestly thought I was going to break something the first time I did it. But once it pops free, you'll know it. It helps to start with the side closest to the pull handle, then move over to the side further forward.













Then just unplug the harnesses, and lay the control panel to the side.








Once all of those screws are removed (total of 4 holding the door panel in place) and the control panel is out of the way, you need to lift upwards on the door panel to get it to "unhook" off the door. You should only have to lift up an inch or so, and the door panel will come free.

It helps to do one side at a time; lift the side closer to the mirror up first, then move to the other side closer to the door lock and lift it up.







Don't just drop your door panel just yet!

*If you're working on the driver's side like shown above, you'll need to reach in and unplug the mirror adjustment control.

You need to get the door handle assembly free of the door panel before you can completely remove the door panel. All you need to do to do that is to depress the two small tabs that are on the forward-facing side of the handle, from the inside, and push it out.







Once it's out, just turn it on it's side, and pass it back through the same opening, and let it dangle from the cable.












And now you have the access to you speaker, mirror, or whatever else you're working with inside you door!





Reinstallation is the exact reverse obviously. The hardest part is getting the door lock to line back up. Easiest thing to do when putting the door panel back on is to line up the door lock with the hole in the door panel first, drop that side on a little bit, then move back the the forward side of the panel, push in towards the door and down at the same time to seat it, then move back to the side with the door lock, and push in towards the door and down at the same time to seat it. You can double check to see if the panel is pushed back down all the way by checking the alignment of the screw holes in the door handle, and along the bottom of the door.

shoff95

Nice presentation. Thanks for the walk thru.

picaflor

thank you!

faster_than_u

Very good and detailed. I'm still scared to try this though

delirious

It's VERY easy. The panel just lifts off.

powerboatr

very good
you get a gold star for today

EDLEE1945

Great write up with the photos, I wish more experienced folks who do mods would follow this example. It would really help those of us who are a novice in these sorts of things. Yes, I know, I am not the brightest bulb in the box.

johnwill

Excellent and helpful job! Thanks!

When putting door back on and dealing with/lining up the door lock, I have used a straw. I read about that little trick on this forum (or another, I forget).

Thanks

iamsuperbleeder

Thanks for the feedback guys

I can only hope that it helps someone out


I tend to take LOTS of pics any time I do any mods, on any vehicle. For that reason, I usually like to follow up with a how-to like this, especially if it's a newer vehicle like this that hasn't really been worked on by a hole lot of people yet. It was one thing with my 91 Toyota that had been around for almost 20 years and had plenty of people working on them. But these trucks not being out for as long, have a smaller crowd of people working on them so far, so any advice or help is greatly appreciated, at least in my eyes.