Miata Mailing List: May 1999, Message #7

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Cameron Brandon wrote:
> 
> I wanted to remove the back vinyl stuff on the inside of the door, but
> instead of pulling - tugging - breaking - complaining, i thought i would ask
> for help prior. I was maybe going to replace it with a different color, and
> i also need to get at the mirror screws from the inside.
> Any one done this and care to help me?  Thanks!

If you mean the interior vinyl door panels, and you have a pre-'99
car, then:

* Carefully pry square plug out of upper part of interior door arm
  rest.
* Remove three Phillips screws from arm rest, and remove it.
* Remove one Phillips screw from the black metal cup behind the
  interior handle, and carefully work the cup out from behind the
  handle.
* If you have manual windows, wrap a handkerchief around the shaft
  behind the crank, then pull on one end of the handkerchief, causing
  the snap ring to pop off, releasing the crank.  Find the ring!
* Very carefully, pry up on four corners of the small speaker panel
  at the front of the door, releasing the plastic snaps there.  Then
  remove the speaker panel.  The speaker stays.
* Very carefully, pry up around the edges of the door panel to
  release about 10 plastic snaps there.
* The interior door panel is now free, but is hanging on the upper
edge
  of the door.  Lift up on the panel to remove it.
* Now you're looking at a sheet of clear vapor barrier plastic held to
  the door by the stickiest black goop in the world.  Peel back the
  film as much as you need to get where you wanta get.  Don't get the
  black goop on your clothes (or worse yet, your seats!).
* As the Brits say, assembly is the reverse of disassembly.  Make sure
  all the plastic snaps are fully seated in their slots before you try
  to reinstall any panel.

Good luck.

--
Bill Gusky and Petunia
Red '91, license "MOMENTS"
http://www.totcon.com/users/moments
DeLand, Florida
"Too soon oldt, und too late schmart!"