"How To" Remove Door Card & Speaker Grill on VT-VX *Detailed*

[Ozzie]

How To Remove Door Card & Speaker Grill VT-VX Commodore *Detailed*

For those of you who can't seem to get to the speaker grill in a VT or VX, I have writen up this detailed guide for you.
Alot of people search for detailed descriptions on this "how to" with no luck and they end up starting a new thread asking how its done.

Ok lets get streight into it shall we.


First of all you will need a few things.
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* 2 x Philips Head Screwdrivers. (1 long and 1 stubby)
* 1 x Flat precision screwdriver. (can be anything similar like a knife)
* 1 Rag or cloth of some kind.
* 1 x pair needle-nose pliars.
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Step 1.
First open the door that you wish to work on.
In this case I have used the drivers door as an example. Reason for this is that it has the electric mirror switch.

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Step 2.
Grab your precision screwdriver and unclip the door lock like so...


It will then be able to pull out easily.

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Step 3.
You will notice the screw is highlighted below. Undo it using your philips screwdriver.


The lock casing should easily lift out like so....

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Step 4.
Grab your precision screwdriver again, and unclip the plug inside the door handle as seen below.


You will then notice the screw behind the plug.


Using your philips head screwdriver, unscrew the door handle.


As you pull the door handle you will notice that it is attached to a metal rod. A gentle twist will un-snag it.


Where the door handle was, You will see a screw behind it.

Unscrew it using your philips screwdriver.

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Step 5.
Time to remove the window winder.


Grab your rag or cloth and slide it behind the winder like so...


Move the cloth side to side to get a grip of the pin behind the handle.


The clip will pop out like so..... And you can then pull on the winder to remove it.

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Step 6.
Now its time to un-screw the outer screws on the door card. The detailed pics below highlight the screws where necessary.




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Step 7.
Now we need to remove the vent cover as pictured below.


A slight pull from the back outward will un-clip it.


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Step 8.
Pull the bottom of the door card out (all the way round) and then slide it up until its free.



Before you can totaly remove the card, you will need to unclip the mirror switch.

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Ok so now the door cards off. Remember this bracket as pictured below because you will need to match it up with the door card clip when re-installing.

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Step 9. - Removing the Speaker Grill.
On the back of the door card, you will notice a few clips and a screw as highlighted below.


Grab your flat screwdriver and pry the clips off carefully.


You will end up with 6 clips and a screw at the end (Back doors have no screws) The grill will then slide out.

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Most important thing is that yu remember how it all came apart. Basically reverse all procedures to re-install the grill & door card.

[Dayvo]

Nice write up Ozzie . Just like to add one thing, when puting it all back together. Make sure that you clip the door trim up under this bracket first before fitting trim to the top of the door .If you don't do this you can end up with a window that rattles when fully wound up .
Cheers

[Ozzie]

LOL thanks Dayvo. I added the bracket pic to give that impression but I missed that part

[nicko]

Cheers ozzie, just about to rip mine off big help mate

[HVXII]

so do u put the door cards back on with out the speaker cover on it??? any pics of that??

[Ozzie]

No, this is a guide on how to remove them.

If you have cracked covers that need replacing then this thread should help.

I just did it to paint mine.

[HVXII]

No, this is a guide on how to remove them.

If you have cracked covers that need replacing then this thread should help.

I just did it to paint mine.

ahhhh ok awesome

[Blocka111]

Nice 'How to' Ozzie. I have to fix/replace my window mechinism in my VT.
Thanks for taking the time.

[rch-13z]

Nice one, need to do my father-in-laws one.. was just afraid to break those tabs....

Assuming the material part on the door card has the same sort of tabs?

[tbrown89]

does any one know how to get the door locks back in? cant seem to get mine working properly

[LthlThrt]

does any one know how to get the door locks back in? cant seem to get mine working properly

there is a little metallic rod that comes up through the opening where the locks belong just sloowly slide your lock over the rod and you should feel it slide down then when it is as far as it can go just pust in the red bit and badda bing badda boom. sounds complicated but once you've changed your speakers enough times it is like second nature lol. best of luck

[ruggj]

does any one know how to get the door locks back in? cant seem to get mine working properly

If you've tried using this guide and you still cant get it on, i suggest looking to see if the rod for the door lock is bent, or if you are actually getting the door trim on right, if the trim is out of place, you wont be able to get the lock on the rod, even though you can screw in the surround and what not, it wont stay on.

check those things and give it another go

[s_ikari2015]

That trick with the cloth to remove the Jesus clip is effing brilliant!

[luke02VY]

can you get the grill off with out taking the door panel off

[Ozzie]

That trick with the cloth to remove the Jesus clip is effing brilliant!

Cheers but i cant take the credit for it. I got it off this forum from another member (cant remember who used it) who probebly had the idea passed to him ect...

Definetly effective though.

[MikeCuzzy]

@ Ozzie

Thanks mate, I've got to change out the speakers in mine (too old and buggered). This thread was very helpful.

Again, thanks.

[SS245]

Is there a trick to those little metal clips for the grill? i really had to work them to get them off and now they wont go on. Any ideas?

[SS245]

Is there a trick to those little metal clips for the grill? i really had to work them to get them off and now they wont go on. Any ideas?

I just answered my own question. If you use a pair of side cutter and snip the clip just in one spot it lets it expand just enough as you push it down it fits nice and snug. It holds it pretty tight as well.

[SAV_117]

i swear i must suck i cant get that damn window winder off

[SAV_117]

ok well i went and put a tool to remove them for 10 bucks so meh all done GREAT how to thread very detailed.

Ill add something ozzie didnt in the rear door grille there is 7 clips not 6 and no screw.

thanks very much mate went off with out a hitch this should be changed to VT, VX, VY. VZ

[VX S-speeddemon]

hey would this be the same procedure for auto windows because i am about to remove my trim because my window of the frivers side has managed to come completely off the rails but the motor still brings the rails up and down
sso if its the same this post is a great help

[LthlThrt]

it is simpler, you dont have do worry bout the winder, just be carful of the electrics, had the same problem w/ my VT a few months ago, ended up welding the rails together, works like a dream

[Chilly]

How long does this take, i was thinking of getting a start on this whilst the folks are out today.

EDIT: This window winder is being a B***h!!! any tips?

[Chilly]

Sorry to double post,

Had a go at this myself, Dissassembly was going smooth until i got to the vent cover trying to remove it (slowly) and the clip happens to snap..no biggie i can fix this with industrial strength super glue ( I couldn't) and so i continue and everything goes smoothly. Re-assembly was fantastic all i had to do was put the door lock back on...but it wont go on... the lock case was fine the rod-thing? wouldn't go in properly so i spent hours trying to fix it all to no avail, so now my car has no door lock. Thankfully it still functions properly, i can still lock and unlock the car, however it looks like the rod that goes into the button/case is slightly bent and is the cause of all this trouble. Am I able to replace it??? To make things soooo much better I happened to drop my precision screwdriver, it happened to fall into the lock case, right between the hole and fall somewhere into the door card. So i will have to spend another day taking it all apart and fixing it again -_- /end rant

EDIT: FIXED IT! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[VXjeremy]

Grab your flat screwdriver and pry the clips off carefully.

if only it was that easy, i sat there for an hour with a pin tool prying each little tab up in the clip until it came off. you'll find some come off easy with a flathead screwdriver and others NOT!

by the way if your REALLY anal about little damages in your car(like me) i recommend drilling a tiny holy in the orange tab on each door lock (step 2) rather than sticking something flat in and prying it out because chances are you'll leave tiny marks. atleast with the tiny hole its neat incase you wanted to leave it or you could buy new orange tabs without having to buy the whole plastic lock

good post though i'd be completely lost without it