replace door - detach at body or door?

[odessit]

I need to replace drivers' side front door on my 97 Lexus ES300 (hit and run accident - trying to save money).

Got a donor door with hinges.

Where should I detach the door from the car - at the body or at the door (and attach new door to existing hinges)?

Thank you for suggestions!

 

[KLF]

If it's attached the same as on my pickup, you probably want to unbolt the door from the hinge, as the other side of the hinge will be sealed to the body.

OTOH, since it's the drivers door, you might consider getting new hinges. These hinges get loose at the pins from all the opening and closing, the door will start to droop.

 

[odessit]

Switched the doors by unbolting the door from then hinge. Put support (hydraulic lift and regular lift which came with ES300) under the door and had wife held it while I unbolted and pushed the wire harness out.

Now I have an issue since the door came from 99 ES300 - the window regulator (I think this is what it is) has different connector compared to the old one and swapping them looks like a pain.

I assume that two of those wires going to the motor are all that I need (as 97 uses only 2 wires).

Connected everything else and it seems like everything works but the driver side power window.

Now I need to find wiring diagram for power window for 1999 Lexus ES300. If somebody has it - please let me know.

 

[FJsnoozer]

if your donor door has hinges on it, I would detatch your current one at the jam. If have 2 friends holding the door. and perhaps support it with a jack and a larg piece of styrofoam.

 

[odessit]

Maybe it is me as everybody's suggestion was to detach the door where hinges are attached to the body, but it looked to me that it would be much harder to get to the bolts this way. Once I disconnected the door stopper - taking other bolts was a snap. It was quite easy to unbolt and attach the door while it rested on regular and hydraulic jack.

Getting power window to work is another issue. After looking at the wiring diagram for my LC 04 I realized that those multiple wires going to the power window "module" in 99 ES300 door might be separate up/down and safety signals. Could not find the wiring diagram for 99 - so for now - no power window on drivers' door - not cool, but will have to live with this for awhile.

Again, if anybody has a wiring diagram for left hand from door power window motor/unit - please let me know.

 

[FJsnoozer]

i would check in a toyota camry forum on another website about how to best replace the door.