Removing the Door Panel From a 1995 Toyota Corolla

In 1968, Toyota shipped its first Corolla to the United States. As American buyers were beginning to desire more and more features, Toyota went the opposite direction with the Corolla, making it as basic and simple as possible. This step toward simple paid off, as the Corolla remains, at the time of publication, one of Toyotas base-level economy cars. Replacing the door panel on the 1995 Corolla requires slightly more work than its simpler ancestor, but it is still a straightforward task.

Instructions

Remove the screw from inside the door handle bezel, the trim surrounding the door handle, using a Phillips screwdriver. Slide the door handle forward slightly, then pull it outward just enough to access the linkages on the rear of it.

Press the linkage downward to disengage it from its mounting clip on the handle.

Pry outward on the side-view mirror trim, the triangular-shaped trim panel behind the mirror, using a flat-head screwdriver to disengage its retaining clips. Pull the side-view mirror trim off the door.

Using a flat-head screwdriver, pry upward on the armrest pad to disengage the pads retaining clips. Remove the armrest pad from the armrest, exposing two screws behind it. Remove these two screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

Proceed directly to Step 6 if your Corolla has manual windows. If not, disengage the power window switch assemblys retaining tabs by prying upward on the front of the assembly with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull the switch assembly from the armrest just enough so you can access its wiring harness. Press and hold the wiring harnesss unlocking button and pull it from the switch assembly. Remove the power window switch assembly. Skip to Step 8.

Pull outward on the window crank until you can see the ears of the U-shaped clip holding it in place. Rotate the crank so the ears face upward. Insert a window crank removal tool behind the window crank until it engages the ears on the clip. Position your free hand under the window crank and press the window crank tool downward to disengage the U-shaped clip, catching it with your free hand.

Remove the window crank and its plastic washer off the window regulator shaft. Line up the U-shaped clip with the slot in the rear of the crank and press the clip into the slot until it clicks into place.

Pry around the perimeter of the door panel with a trim stick to disengage the door panel retaining clips. Lift upward on the panel to remove it from the door frame.

Set the top of the door panel back onto the door frame, guiding the door lock knob through the hole in the top of the panel, as well as guiding the power window harness through its hole in the panel.

Align the retaining clips on the rear of the panel with the holes in the door frame and lightly strike around the perimeter of the panel with your hand to engage the retaining clips.

Tighten the two screws above the armrest with a Phillips screwdriver.

Plug the wiring harness into the power window assemblys receptacle. Set the rear of the power window into the armrest first, then press the front of it downward to engage its retaining clips.

Position the armrest pad on top of the armrest, aligning its retaining clips with the slots in the armrest. Press downward on the pad to engage the retaining clips.

Guide the door linkage onto its clip on the rear of the door handle and press it onto the clip to secure it. Slide the rear of the door handle into the door panel and press the front of the handle into the panel. Tighten the screw into the door handle bezel with a Phillips screwdriver.

Line up the clips on the rear of the side-view mirror trim with the slots in the door frame and press the panel onto the door frame.