Door panel removal DIY

[Lexmex]

The panel should now lift off.

[Lexmex]

You should then see something like this.

[Lexmex]

And the back of the panel will looking something like this.

[Lexmex]

Always interesting to find Japanese in certain areas of the RX300.

[Lexmex]

After removing part of the plastic wrapping, you can see part of the lower railing. There is another railing above it that is obscured by part of the metal frame. This can be better seen if one reconnects the power window switch and raises the window slightly (I recommend this if you want to clean the rail better). With my driver's side door last year, I did clean and remove the entire window regulator, http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-first-generation/217856-bad-window-bad.html

However, I wouldn't recommend doing this as it is a very delicate process and also requires removal of the window. If you don't reinstall it right, you could have issues with your windows.

[Lexmex]

A closer look at the rails.

[Lexmex]

One of the tricks we do without removing the regulator is to take two straws and put them together and then we can shoot WD40 and later grease into areas that are otherwise difficult to reach. The WD40 we use to loosen up the parts, and we then raise and lower the window several times to get things loose and moving and after that we can spray in some grease.

[Lexmex]

Here is an example of how we would spray in there.

[Lexmex]

If you use the steps you have seen you can reinstall everything back. Some the reinstallation requires a little of popping things into place.

I did want to do a few other things this weekend, but will not have time.

1. Clean throttle body/intake manifold without seafoam or similar. I did this a few weeks ago with regard to the throttle body and part of the intake manifold, but I am going to order an oil catch can to install from the PCV valve and crankshaft case hose on the front bank and want to clean just before installation.

2. New bullhorn intake modification. I am keeping this design secret for the moment, but it requires the manufacture of a custom made piece to get the pieces to work right and I will need the better part of a Saturday to do have someone make the piece and install the parts.

[Meetya]

Originally Posted by Lexmex

And the back of the panel will looking something like this.

Nice DIY. Thanks!
But my panel looked a little different, it had some strange plastic bags with white powder. What are they for anyway? For moisture absorption?

[Lexmex]

Originally Posted by Meetya

Nice DIY. Thanks!
But my panel looked a little different, it had some strange plastic bags with white powder. What are they for anyway? For moisture absorption?

Not precisely sure without seeing it, but a lot of this stuff is just sound deadening material. I actually want to rip up all the sound deadening material I can find and drop more weight.

[Meetya]

Originally Posted by Lexmex

Not precisely sure without seeing it, but a lot of this stuff is just sound deadening material. I actually want to rip up all the sound deadening material I can find and drop more weight.

Dude, come on! That was a joke. White powder? Inside door panels? Hahaha.

[Lexmex]

Originally Posted by Meetya

Dude, come on! That was a joke. White powder? Inside door panels? Hahaha.

You know, one of my buddies used to use those panels in his SUV to sneak in $$$ thin plasma tvs into Mexico to avoid customs taxing it. I can imagine, people sneak in stuff like this all the time via that and other routes, but with dope the dogs will sniff that stuff out.

I heard most of the guns that come into the country, come via this route.

[YoshRX300]

Lexmex, Thanks for this awesome DIY on the removal of the door panel. Well put together! Will deffinetly follow these steps when I attack this project my self. I did have a question, after using WD-40 to loosen up the old grease, can I use Lithium grease or do you recommend something different to lube these rails?

[Lexmex]

Originally Posted by YoshRX300

Lexmex, Thanks for this awesome DIY on the removal of the door panel. Well put together! Will deffinetly follow these steps when I attack this project my self. I did have a question, after using WD-40 to loosen up the old grease, can I use Lithium grease or do you recommend something different to lube these rails?

Lithium grease works very well. It won't last, but it will outperform just about anything else. I am not sure the actual grease my uncle gave me to use the last time, but he told me in Spanish (a lo mejor utilizar el litio) (best to use lithium). Great stuff, because it adheres well and reduces moisture, which is often a killer in these cases.

When you use the WD-40 (I should have added), let the window move up and down a few times, and wait about 15 to 20 minutes to let everything dry before applying the grease.