I need to repair some broken door panel clips in my 2003 XK8. I need to remove the driver's side door panel and cannot seem to remove the little plastic cover over the screw in the door latch. I got everything else removed but am stumped by this little cover. I tried every tiny screwdriver that I have without success. Any secrets to removing the little plastic cover without destroying it or scratching the plastic?

 

Destroying it is unlikely, they are pretty tough, but I haven't found a way to get one out without scratching it.

I use a set of hardware store picks. They are larger than a dental pick with a screw driver like hadle and different angles on the head.

The 90 degree one seems to work best. Press the tip into the detent with the handle pointing strait out and give it a sharp yank.

The cover doesn't respond to slowly increasing the force nor any motion that could reasonable be described as being careful.

It it goes well, theoece will go flying across the room. More likely through is that the first few times you will slip off the detent and scratch the face of the cap.

Once out, I files it down slightly to make it easier for the next time.

Good luck.

 

This thread shows the procedure pretty well:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...l-removal-954/

Here is Sam's video also which is helpful:


When I did mine, I stretched a piece of electrical tape over the tip of my small screwdriver. This helped to avoid scratching the plastic when removing the little cover. You should see a little slotted area on one side of the cover where the screwdriver should be inserted. Hope this helps.

 

I do it this way:

Use a small screwdriver with a very thin blade no wider than the slot.

Put the edge of the blade in the slot and point directly toward the door, not at an angle like you want to pry it out.

Tap very gently with a small hammer. The tapered plug will back right out. As soon as it moves the least little bit it is completely free and will fall out from there.

Works every time I have done it this way.

 

Thanks all. I am away from home right now but will try it again when I get back next week. I'll let you know if I am successful.

 

Well I tried the tip about directing the screwdriver perpendicular to the door but that did not get it to budge either. I had already fashioned tools analogous to the pick idea without success. I was on the verge of going after the cover with a vengeance and destroying it but then had an idea that I thought might work. I made a tiny hole in the cover with a brad and then threaded in a tiny eye-screw. Grabbed it with a needle nose pliers and the cover came right off. Minimal damage almost imperceptible once it's back in place. I'll prob leave the tiny hole in the cover rather than filling it so I can remove it easily again in the future if my door clip repairs do not succeed or last.
Thanks for your help.

 

adulit, that's exactly what I ended up doing...instead of scratching it up every time or nicking the edges of the plug.