help with removing read door trim panel
07-02-17, 02:07 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
help with removing read door trim panel
I have an 07 RX and I'm trying to take the left rear door panel off because the handle to open door stays about half way out. I have the door panel loose but I cannot get it to come free at the top where it touches the window glass. Before i go total brute strength and ignorance and destroy something, is there some clip or screw or something that I have missed?
07-03-17, 04:33 AM
#2
Never done this on the RX although more times than I can count on other vehicles...
normally, if you are sure you removed all the screws & freed all of the panel from the door via the clips, you pull upwards on the panel.
Perhaps Lexus door panels are wedged in more tightly than most since there isn't much space between the window & panel to do anything else to secure the panel.
That's my 2 cents worth, hopefully some who have done this will chime in.
normally, if you are sure you removed all the screws & freed all of the panel from the door via the clips, you pull upwards on the panel.
Perhaps Lexus door panels are wedged in more tightly than most since there isn't much space between the window & panel to do anything else to secure the panel.
That's my 2 cents worth, hopefully some who have done this will chime in.
07-06-17, 04:21 PM
#3
Racer
Thread Starter
To answer my question for future readers, the trim panel does not come off by pushing it up. You have to pull it away from the door, gripping it at the top corner(s).
Please note that I was doing this on a rear door. I can only assume that the front door is the same way
What Lexus has done is design a glass weatherstrip piece that is not a fixed, permanent part of the trim panel. This weatherstrip piece hooks over the edge of the door and uses pop on fasteners for the trim panel to hook on to. It is its own unique part that can be ordered separately from the trim panel.
You actually can push the panel up and get it off that way, but there is a nylon locating stud afixed to the trim panel in both top corners to prevent you from pushing the panel up. The stud is maybe an inch and a half long.
As I was looking the thing over, I saw the stud. When I decided to try pushing the panel up with a lot of force, I held the trim panel tilted out so that the studs were out of their holes. When I forced the trim panel up, one end of the weatherstrip came up with the trim panel and the other end stayed attached to the door and that allowed me to see how things are supposed to be done.
I've worked on lots of cars and this is the first one that is not supposed to be pushed up to unhook it from the door. This was the first time I had to remove the panel on a Toyota so I have no idea how long Toyota has been doing this.
The weatherstrip piece is part #6 in the following link:
www.mylparts.com/auto-parts/2007/lexus/rx350/base-trim/3-5l-v6-gas-engine/body-cat/interior-trim-rear-door-scat
Please note that I was doing this on a rear door. I can only assume that the front door is the same way
What Lexus has done is design a glass weatherstrip piece that is not a fixed, permanent part of the trim panel. This weatherstrip piece hooks over the edge of the door and uses pop on fasteners for the trim panel to hook on to. It is its own unique part that can be ordered separately from the trim panel.
You actually can push the panel up and get it off that way, but there is a nylon locating stud afixed to the trim panel in both top corners to prevent you from pushing the panel up. The stud is maybe an inch and a half long.
As I was looking the thing over, I saw the stud. When I decided to try pushing the panel up with a lot of force, I held the trim panel tilted out so that the studs were out of their holes. When I forced the trim panel up, one end of the weatherstrip came up with the trim panel and the other end stayed attached to the door and that allowed me to see how things are supposed to be done.
I've worked on lots of cars and this is the first one that is not supposed to be pushed up to unhook it from the door. This was the first time I had to remove the panel on a Toyota so I have no idea how long Toyota has been doing this.
The weatherstrip piece is part #6 in the following link:
www.mylparts.com/auto-parts/2007/lexus/rx350/base-trim/3-5l-v6-gas-engine/body-cat/interior-trim-rear-door-scat
Last edited by DennisMik; 07-12-17 at 07:28 PM. Reason: original link did not work
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