I plan to remove my door panels from early 944 interior next week to dynamat the inside. I know I have to pull the speakers, etc., but are there also hidden "trim clips" that hold it on? Any tips for removing the door panels on an early 944 without bending or breaking anything? I have taken off door panels on other cars before, and when I thought the trim clips pulled off, I found out after breaking them that the panel slid up rather than pulling out. Thanks.

 

I am doing the same thing actually, It shouldn't be to hard. Unscrew all the visable scews on the armrest. Take off the door lock post and carefully slip a thin peice of rigid metal inbetween the panel and door and push up. There are a number of plastic clips that hold it in place. There is a specific tool to do it but I found a screw driving works fine.

 

Minus000: Are you saying to pry the panel/trim plugs out/away from the door, or to lift the panel up? Just want to be sure I understand so I don't break the trim holders. Thanks.

 

The retaining plugs should "pop" with moderate prying. No up or down, just "out"

 

1. unscrew the door pocket (3 screws)
2. unscrew teh armrest (3 screws)
3. unscrew teh speaker (4 screws)
4. unscrew one screw at the back of the door and one at the top (under caps that pry off)
5. take off the lock ****
6. pry all the little plugs straight out from the door
7. slide the door panel up toward teh top. There is a metal lever that must slide upward behind the top part of the armrest. make sure to line this up when placing the panel on the door also.

 

Be some what careful on those plastic retaining pins. If you don't get right next to them they can be pulled out of the door panel. I like to use a very large screw driver. I slip the driver under the panel and right next to the pin then twist the driver so the part of the wide tip next to the pin rotates away from the door. Doesn't take much to get the pin to release.

Don't use the screw driver as a pry bar as you will chip the exposed paint around the door.

 

jamiejim, someone is enjoying their newly acquired 944.

May I ask why you want to fit that sound deadening stuff? These cars are now 20 years old. It's reaching the point where they're becoming true classics. I try to keep my cars as original as possible.

One drawback of getting overly enthusiastic with modifications and improvements is collateral damage. Trying to improve one thing, you mess up another. The result is usually costly from having to fix what wasn't broken to begin with, and when you finally prevail, often the original setup wasn't improved much! Just speaking from experience.

 

I have put back soundproofing to replace the MIA soundproofing that came factory. It just gets to you on long trip drives, having to yell back and forth to passengers. Its part of the experience i know but I also being a daily driver, its needed.

 

Another thing to look for when taking the door panels off is that the doors were sealed from the factory with thick transparent plastic. When separating the panels, it's best to use something that's not sharp or you can tear this plastic. It's no big deal, but with the panel separated, the plastic can be peeled away from the door frame and then reattached with the same adhesive, which is nice.