how to remove driver side door panel on 1988 Olds 98 Regency?

Door Panels

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

See Figures 1 and 2

You can use a special tool GM Part No. BT7323 or equivalent to disengage the clips fastening the inner panel to the door on front, rear, and lower edges. You'll also need a rubber mallet.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Remove the inside handles by removing the two attaching screws. These are usually Phillips® head screws and accessible from underneath via recesses.
2. Unscrew and remove the inside door locking knob. If the vehicle is equipped with a strap type door pull handle, pull the escutcheons out of the centers of the strap mounts on either end to reveal the mounting screws. Since these screws pass through the door panel and into the metal shell of the door behind, remove them.
3. If the vehicle has a remote control mirror, remove the remote mirror escutcheon and then disengage the end of the mirror control cable from the escutcheon.
4. If the vehicle has a switch cover plate in the armrest, remove the screws securing the cover plate and disconnect the switch connectors and, if the vehicle has one, the cigar lighter connectors from the wiring harness.
5. If the vehicle has remote control cover plates, remove the attaching screws and remove the cover plates. Then, remove the screws (which were under the cover plate) which secure the cover plate to the inner panel.
6. If the vehicle has integral armrests, remove the screws inserted through the pull cup and into the armrest hanger support.
7. If the vehicle has electric switches located in the door trim panel, disconnect the wiring harness at the switch. If the vehicle has courtesy or reading lamps in the panel, disconnect the wiring harness at the lamp.
8. Use a special tool or flat bladed prybar to carefully pry the panel out from the door, going around the periphery to release all the clips from the inner door.
9. To remove the panel, first push it slightly downward and then pull it outward to release it from the inner door at the beltline. Then, lift the panel upward to release it at the top of the door, where it hangs over.

To install:

10. First check that all trim retainers are securely installed and are undamaged. If any require replacement:
    1. Start the retainer with a ¹ / ₄ in. (6mm) cutout into the attachment hole in the trim panel.
    2. Rotate the retainer until the flange that has the ¹ / ₄ in. (6mm) cutout is inside the attachment hole.

    
    
11. Connect all electrical connectors.
12. Pull the inside door handle inward and position the inner panel near the door, passing the handle through the handle hole in the panel. Then, lift the panel slightly and install the retainers over the top of the inner door.
13. Position the inner panel so all retainers line up with the holes in the inner door. Start one into the retainer hole to ensure alignment and hold. Then, use a rubber mallet to tap all the retainers into the corresponding holes in the inner door.
14. Install all trim and handle screws, window crank and connect the negative battery cable.

Fig. Fig. 1: Removing the window crank handle.

Fig. Fig. 2: Door trim panel retaining clip locations

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Door Glass and Regulator

The glass and related regulator parts (the glass guide) are removed as an assembly and the glass is then separated from the regulator and rebonded on a bench. The regulator itself works through a metal tape, and is removed separately from the window and guide parts.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

See Figures 1 and 2

Regulator

To perform this operation, you will need a¹/₄in. drill and a rivet tool such as GM J29022 or equivalent and aluminum¹/₄in. x¹/₂in. peel type rivets. You will also need a soft adhesive to reseal the water deflector, a center punch and cloth-backed tape.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Remove the door inner panel as described above.
2. Remove the trim panel and peel the water deflector off the soft sealer.
3. With the glass up all the way, tape the glass to the upper door frame.
4. Remove the lower sash channel bolts.
5. Use the punch to drive out the centers of the regulator mounting rivets. Then, drill the remaining portions of the rivets out with the ¹ / ₄ in. drill.
6. If the vehicle has electric windows, disconnect it from the wiring harness at the connector.
7. Pull the window regulator out through the access hole in the inner panel.

To install:

8. Position the new regulator in the door in reverse of the removal procedure.
9. Install the rivets with the rivet tool. Bolt and nut sets with thread locking compound may be used. Connect the negative battery cable.

Window Glass

CAUTION

If the glass is being removed because of breakage or a crack, wear gloves and eye protection as you handle it to protect yourself from cuts.

1. Remove the door inner panel as described above.
2. Remove the door trim panel and peel the water deflector off the soft sealer.
3. With the glass up all the way, tape the glass to the upper door frame.
4. Remove the bolts that hold the lower sash channel to the regulator sash.
5. Reattach the regulator handle without fastening it and use it to run the regulator all the way down. Remove the regulator sash by rotating it 90° and pulling it out.
6. Support the glass in a secure manner and then remove the tape. When the glass is free, lower it carefully all the way.
7. Now, disengage the front edge of the glass from the front glass run channel. Slide the glass forward, tilt it slightly, and remove the guide from the retainer in the run channel located in the rear leg of the door frame.
8. Now, tilt the glass forward and remove it from the door.

To install:

9. On a workbench, unbolt the lower sash channel from the glass and bolt it onto the new glass.
10. Use the following method to install the guide retainer:
    1. Install the glass and raise it about half way.
    2. Supporting the glass with one hand on the lower edge, rotate it rearward to snap the guide into the retainer.

    
    

Fig. Fig. 1: Front door glass and operating hardware

Fig. Fig. 2: Rear door glass and operating hardware

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Door Locks

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

See Figure 1

1. Make sure the window is up all the way. Then, remove both the upper and lower portions of the trim panel as outlined in this information.
2. Going in through the largest access hole, disengage the rod connecting the remote control to the lock as follows:
   1. Use a flat-bladed prybar to slide the spring clip out of engagement. The clip must be slid on the lock lever until the ends of the clip no longer engage with the grooved section of the end of the lock rod. You don't need to remove the clip from the lock lever. There is a slot in the rear side of the clip so it can shift on the lock lever even though the lockrod passes right through it.
   2. Pull the lock rod out of the lock lever.

   
   
3. If the vehicle has electric locks, remove the solenoid.
4. Remove the three screws mounting the lock onto the door lock pillar section of the door and remove the lock. On some models, it may be necessary to remove the inside remote handle and then remove the lock and its connecting rod together. On four door models, it will be necessary to remove the lock, then separate the lockrod from the lock on a workbench, and install the rod onto the new lock.
5. Install in exact reverse order. Torque the lock mounting screws to 84-144 inch lbs. (10-15 Nm).

Fig. Fig. 1: Removing the lock connecting rod from the lock lever

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Electric Window Motor

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION ³ /₁₆ in. drill bit and ³ / ₁₆ in. rivets.

To perform this operation, you will need a drill,

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Remove the door trim panel as described above.
2. Remove the interior pad and peel the water deflector off the soft sealer.
3. With the glass up all the way, tape the glass to the upper door frame.
4. Remove the regulator and glass as described above.
5. Disconnect the electrical connector. Drill out the rivets that attach the motor to the door and then remove it.

To install:

6. Install the motor, and then mount it with the new rivets. Reconnect the electrical connector.
7. Install the window and regulator as described above.

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Doors

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

See Figure 1

CAUTION

Removing a door is a simple operation, but it requires careful handling of a heavy object that is awkward to handle. You must have a helper who will hold the door and ensure that it does not get out of control, which could hurt someone or strip the threads of the mounting bolts. Put a floor jack or other adjustable means of holding the door underneath before starting, so that the helper must only keep the door from tipping as you remove the fasteners.

The easiest and best way to remove the door is to remove the bolts that fasten the door assembly to the hinges, rather than attempting to remove the bolts fastening the hinges to the body. This is true because it is much easier to gain access to these bolts.

1. If the vehicle has power operated components in the doors (electric windows or motor operated mirrors), disconnect the negative battery cable, remove the trim panel (see the appropriate procedure later in this section), and lift the watershield out far enough to reach the electrical connectors. Then, disconnect these connectors. Detach the rubber wire conduit and pull the harness coming from the body out of the door.
2. Very precisely use a sharp scribe to mark the relationship between the door and the door hinges so that you can remount it without the need to adjust it.
3. Open the door all the way and, with the help of another person and using a floor jack or other means, support the door.
4. Remove both the upper and lower bolts attaching the door to the outer portions of the hinges. Remove the door.

To install:

5. Install the mounting bolts and turn them in until they are nearly ready to clamp the hinge to the door.
6. Position the door carefully so that the matchmarks line up.
7. Tighten the bolts alternately top and bottom until the door is tightly held in position. Torque the bolts to 15-21 ft. lbs. (20-28 Nm).
8. Install and connect all disconnected wiring and battery cable.

Fig. Fig. 1: Door hinge bolt locations

ADJUSTMENT

Doors are adjustable by using floating plates inside both the doors and hinge pillars. Always mark locations of bolts before loosening them and beginning adjustment. It is best to remove the door lock striker to permit the door to hang free and then close the door so you can observe exactly how it fits onto the body.

Front Doors

1. If the door requires fore and aft or up or down adjustment, loosen the body hinge pillar adjustments. Shift the position of the door with the help of an assistant and a floor jack. Then, tighten the bolts. When the position fore and aft and up and down is correct, torque the bolts to 15-21 ft. lbs. (20-28 Nm). If you have to move the door to the rear, replace the door jamb light switch.
2. If the door must be adjusted in or out, loosen the bolts attaching the door at the hinge pillar attachments. Shift the position of the door with the help of an assistant and a floor jack. Then, tighten the bolts. When the position in or out is correct, torque the bolts to 15-21 ft. lbs. (20-28 Nm).

Rear Doors

1. If the door requires in or out or significant up or down adjustment, loosen the door side hinge attaching screws. Shift the position of the door with the help of an assistant and a floor jack. Then, tighten the bolts. When the position in or out and up and down is correct, torque the bolts to 15-21 ft. lbs. (20-28 Nm).
2. If the door requires fore or aft or a slight up or down adjustment, loosen the body side, center pillar hinge adjusting bolts. Shift the position of the door with the help of an assistant and a floor jack. Then, tighten the bolts. When the position is correct, torque the bolts to 15-21 ft. lbs. (20-28 Nm). If you have to move the door to the rear, replace the door jamb light switch.

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