My 1990 XJ-S convertible driver's side rubber window wipe is cracking and pieces have left the area. I have a replacement rubber wipe that matches the original but am having trouble removing the inner door panel to remove old rubber wipe and replace it. The panel is all loose and the clips came out fine, but the inner door handle has stumped me. It obviously is bolted/screwed to the door frame, but I cannot remove the chromed plastic piece that covers the bolt. I am afraid of breaking or damaging it. Any suggestions? If I can get the plastic piece to move I can access the bolt/screw I think. Thanks!

 

The armrest at the forward end has a chrome finisher round the end. This must be slid/eased along the arm backwards towards the rear of the car (not that easy as the arm gets thicker as you go back but it can be done) and it will reveal a huge pozi headed screw. Undo this an the trim will come off. The card will need a sharp upward thump as well when the screw is undone, as there is a min-card clip thingy that hooks into the steel of the door.


There is also a screw at the bottom of the card near the front end of the pocket, just in case you have missed it. It is a good plan to replace the huge pozi with an allen headed bolt, too, as this is easier to undo next time.


Greg

 

The chromed trim piece snaps onto a bracket as you can see in the photo. Try slipping the tip of a flat blade screwdriver under the lower edge of the trim piece and twisting the screwdriver to release the trim piece from the bracket. I've had success with that method. You may want to put some thin cloth over the blade of the screwdriver to protect the leather.

Once you get the trim piece loose, make a note of which way the bracket faces. I'm not sure if the bracket in my photo is facing the right way. This photo is from an XJ6 but it's the same design as an XJS.

Once loose, pulling the trim piece back far enough to access the posi headed screw can be easy or not, depending upon thickness of the leather there. Some recommend masking tape over the leather or silicone spray to ease in pulling it back.

 

If you are having trouble moving the armrest trim piece you can wrap some string around the leather to protect it and make it a bit thinner. Just like using string on finger to remove a stuck ring.

 

Thanks all.
I have my driver's door hinges to replace this winter and didn't realise I would need a few tricks to get the door card off.
LeeP