So the nylon/plastic driver’s side door lock actuator in my ’90 2+2 has become stripped and no longer works. I confirmed this by removing the door panel and shining a flashlight behind the inner metal panel and I can see the door lock turns nicely but the actuator has become disconnected. I ordered a replacement actuator, but now I’m stuck on how to get to it to install it.

After I remove the door panel (like to do a speaker swap), how do I get behind the inner metal panel that covers the window and door lock mechanism? Will I screw anything up (like my power window) by removing it? It seems to be welded to the exterior door, but maybe that’s just paint?

Thanks in advance for any help. I’ve spent a couple hours searching the web and the online service manual but can’t find the answer to a seemingly simple question.

 

I pulled my door lock the other day to get a broken key out of it, and I followed this guide.

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/doorhandletech.html

It took a little while to figure out how to line it all back up right when I put it back together, but it worked.

 

Take a very long and thin screwdriver, or a piece of harder type wire. It is very fiddling but it will work, it takes a time to put the pieces back in place I had same problems when I put my boards back in place