Can anyone tell me how to remove the drivers door trim on a 2003 Octavia with electric window controls? I've looked at the posts here and it isn't clear to me how the grab handle comes apart. I need to get in to see if I can fix a central locking fault (drivers door won't lock remotely) without paying the dealer

Have a read of the thread below:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/removing-front-passenger-door-trim/65280/?highlight=removing+door+trim

Thanks but the drivers door is quite different because of the switches built into the grab handle.

Not sure if it's covered in Haynes or not?

The grab handle on the drivers side is fairly straight forward to remove. Firstly if you look down (from above) at the part which you actually hold to close the door you will see that the half closest to the door is actually separate from the rest, you need to push something thin (and I mean THIN) down between the two halves so that the small, inner section comes away. (I've drawn a quick/poor diagram, you need to part the two pieces down the red line)

Once the inner trim piece has been removed the rest needs to be levered up from the door, it's just clipped in. The clips are strong though and you need a fair amount of force to remove it (I was on the point of stopping to avoid damage when mine finally popped out).

Once you have the panel out, you need to unclip the wiring and then remove the screws below (8 or so small and 3 large I think). The rest of the door is the same as the passenger side I believe.

Rember the drivers side door as the flashing LED alarm light as well. The passenger door has a little screw behind the window control which does not exist on the drivers side.

Undo all screws, remove wiring at bottom of door, pop out the window adjuster and remove wiring, remove tweater. Apply pulling up force on the door trim - if it has never been off before it can be a bit tight!

When putting it back together, remember to reattached the wiring for the light at the bottom of the door. On my passenger door the internal weather trip comes off with the door trim, but on the drivers side it stays on the car

Thanks - thats a great help, does the wing mirror adjuster hide a screw and so need to come out?

Thanks - thats a great help, does the wing mirror adjuster hide a screw and so need to come out?

Not on the drivers door - or certainly not on my TDi. There is wiring behind the mirror adjuster switches, so that needs to be popped out to unplug it. On the *passenger* door there is a small screw behind the window up/down switch next to the internal door release handle.

The clips are strong though and you need a fair amount of force to remove it (I was on the point of stopping to avoid damage when mine finally popped out).

You telling me mate, I thought I was doing it all wrong and thought I'd better stop incase I snap summit.

It nearly won and made me stay with the standard black trim but I decided to have one last go and it eventually gave in,

so my alu version is now fitted and looks so much nicer

Got any pictures of new trim?

Got any pictures of new trim?

There ya go

That looks quite good :-)

That looks quite good :-)

Well I like it