How do you remove the driver's side interior door panel on a 1998 Ford Expedition?

Answer 1

My father used this website when he removed the door panel for his 1999 Expedition. He doesn't have any factory shop manuals so this was helpful. kwmuth.com

-James

I know this is a lot of info, but it very detailed and makes no mistakes! The Weenie!

Make sure the window is completely shut. Remove the 'sail' panel at the top front edge of the door. First pry the top out towards you, then lift it straight up. Remove the Phillips screw behind it. Remove the door handle trim. To do this pull the handle out and hold it while prying the trim piece on the speaker side, then lift and rotate it to reveal a 5/16" bolt behind it. Remove the 5/16" bolt to remove the handle. Set it aside. Pry up, also speaker end first, the power window and door lock switch panel. Unplug the three connectors and set it aside. Remove the Phillips screw now visible through the switch panel opening in the panel . Pry off the courtesy light lens using indent along the bottom edge. Remove the Phillips screw in the reflector well. Lift the door panel straight up and off. If it does not lift off easily you missed something. Reach under the top edge and unplug the power mirror connector. Reach down and remove the courtesy bulb socket. 1/4 turn anti-clockwise. Put the door panel aside. Remove the four 1/4" bolts holding the speaker. Unplug the connector to the speaker and set the speaker aside. Using your or your mates hair dryer apply heat to the stuck-on insulation layer and peel back enough at the top left corner of the door (about a foot). Heating the adhesive allows it to come off more readily and will help control accidental tearing. Peel back just enough to expose the door handle mechanism. (Use the dryer again when reassembling). Remove the two 3/8" nuts and push the door handle out along the bottom edge first. From outside the door observe how the C-clip is installed around the key cylinder in the handle and the position of the key cylinder arm. Remove the clip and the key cylinder should slide off. Leave it on the push rod for now. Twist the door handle around to release the hook shaped door latch push rod. Remove the key cylinder from the key lock push rod. Install the key cylinder in the new handle/keypad. Reinstall the C-clip. Thread the 8-wire bundle through the handle opening and through to the inside. You will fish it along the door later. Hook the keypad handle onto the hook shaped pushrod. Seat it in place, top edge goes in first, and fasten it with the two 3/8" nuts. Connect the key lock push rod by snapping it onto the key cylinder arm. Fish the wire bundle back through and along the outer wall of the door and out the speaker opening (temporary). Pull straight down below the handle towards the reinforcing bar that is spot welded to the sheet metal. Using a nylon wire tie, tie it to the reinforcing bar immediately below the handle. This will keep it away from the window travel path. Put another nylon tie about halfway along the door length. A third tie will be installed later. __________________________________________________

Door Panels

Removal & Installation

1. Remove the sail panel (Front Doors Only). (Triangle looking shape near the side view mirror)

2. Remove the door panel by carefully lifting the panel upward to release the retaining clips.

3. Remove the electrical plugs that control the windows, exc.

The installation is the reverse of the removal.