Need help removing door panel of '98 Mazda Protege LX, please
 

I really need help with the door panel removal process for my 1998 Mazda Protege LX. I have power locks and windows, and wonder if this is what is complicating matters.

I've removed the three screws I was told to remove for the removal of the door panel (driver's side), but the door panel still will not budge.

I am in the process of replacing the lock cover, and must remove the door panel in order to achieve this.

I would be most grateful for any assistance at all.

Thanks so much.

Julia

you remove the plastic cover on the bottom rear of the panel, the screw in the pull handle ,the screw holding the inner door release and the plastic screw and clip below the the mirror cover .Pop off the mirror cover,and pull out the panel once the clips around the panel are free lift up and back to remove the panel .Don,t forget to slip the inner door release through the panel and unplug the power window,power mirror and power lock connectors at the panel.

Thank you, Kansei...
 

I didn't remove the screw inside the door pull. Just figured that only held in the plastic piece in there. Silly me.

Also, I'm not certain what you mean when you say to pop off the mirror cover. Do you mean on the inside of the door panel itself? Or actually the piece outside the door covering the mirror???

Sorry. When they coined the word "newbie", they were referring to me.

I'm bound and determined to get to that lock and replace the lock cover by myself...mainly because the dealer doesn't think I can do it. ;)

Thanks very much for your help.

Julia

Re: Thank you, Kansei...
 

Inside the door covering the mirror???
 

Inside the door covering the mirror...hmmm...

Covering the mirror?????

:eek:

Sigh.

Thanks, guys.

I'll try working on it again later. But I really don't think there's anything covering my mirror! :o

there`s no mirror cover in the door panel. actually u don`t have to mess with that. what u probably forgot i think u realized and that was the screw to the door pull. and with that u r probably fine.

Re: Inside the door covering the mirror???
 

covering the mirror screws that are one the inner part of the door
bruce

if you have power mirrors there is a black triangle cover on the inside this is the cover.You don't have to remove it but if you do it makes it alot easier. It just pulls off.Ihave been a tech at a mazda dealer for 13 years so trust me .

Thanks, Kansei and others...I got the door panel off...BUT...
 

...as proud as I was to have gotten that door panel off, I ended up having to put it back on WITHOUT fixing the lock. :(

I am really bummed about this, because I have the part with which to fix the lock, but I cannot GET TO the lock in order to fix it.

Mazda unfortunately used a PLASTIC lock cover/flapper originally, and they often break inside the lock. That's what happened to me. So I bought a new METAL lock cover/flapper and read here on this board how to remove the lock and take it apart, remove the plastic pieces broken inside, put the lock back together, and put the new cover/flapper on.

But I simply cannot get that lock out. I disconnected everything, but you know the big hole which is there when you remove the door panel? I'm referring to the hole through which you can view the lock. I cannot remove the lock through that hole. It seems to be connected to many things. I removed the plastic covering over the lock inside that hole, but I cannot remove the lock itself. So frustrating to have to walk away without completing the job.

Any advice for me other than "take it to a professional"? I just need some tips on removing that lock.

As a Mazda tech for ten years, my guess is that you've had to replace a few of these formerly plastic lock covers yourself.

Thoughts?

Thanks, friends. I appreciate your time and patience with me.

Julia

the lock cyl is held in the outer door handle by a wire spring clip. You can remove this with a small screwdriver( it goes around the lock cyl and hooks the plastic of the outer handle in a slot) and the rod that goes from the cyl to the latch pops out by turning the plastic clip on the lock cyl arm. Hope this helps, and if you have to remove the 8 tumblers in the lock to remove "flap debris" you should write down the order as each one is # 1-9 and watch the springs that each sits on.

Do you do all of this through the 4-inch hole in the larger access panel???
 

Thank you very much, Kansei.

Do you do all of this through that hole in the larger metal door panel which remains after taking the plastic panel off? It is so small a hole, that I have difficulty removing the lock...I can only imagine how difficult it would be to put it BACK through that hole.

I wonder if I should also remove the second, metal door panel as well?

And yes, you're right...I'm going to have to disassemble the lock in order to remove the broken plastic pieces. I can't see how else to remedy the situation.

Trying hard to keep the faith! ;)

I'd love to know if you've done this through that hole, though, or if you also remove the next (metal) panel to get to the lock.

Thanks again.

Julia

behind your door panel there is a plastic vapor sheet, Right?(just checking to see if US and Canadian models are the same. If so remove the vapor sheet and you can reach in the door though the openings. When you put the lock back in put the wire-spring clip in place on the handle and push the lock in place.Hope this helps.

Thank you very much, Kansei...
 

Yes, I do have that "vapor" sheet, in fact. I will try pulling that back to see if I obtain better access to the lock that way.

Thank you very much for the suggestion, and for your patience in continuing to help me with this project. You've been very kind, and I appreciate it very much.

Julia

no problem let me know how you make out with the lock.