How to remove driver's door storage bin on a D4?

[Smcconnell]

Hi folks,

I put 1L (open) bottle of milk into the storage bin a few days ago and it tipped over and spilled.

Before I could get to it, most of the milk seeped between the door panels and now, 2 days later, the milk has gone off and I have a rotten smell inside the car. It smells like something died in it.

I'd really appreciate is someone shared how to remove the driver's door bin, so I can clean out the fermenting milk. I tried simply removing the 2 screws on it, but it seems like a lot more is required to take it off. I'm hoping that I don't need to disassemble the entire door - the less parts I have to remove, the less opportunity I have to break something, the better.

Thanks for your time.


Steven

[PerthDisco]

Ewwwwwwwww. Good videos on YouTube of removing the entire door card. Not hard and Phillips head screws only. Suggest you will need to do this and then remove the part in question from behind if that is at all possible.

[LRD414]

This should help Steven:
DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Replacing door latch / window regulator - Now with guide (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic33743.html?highlight=%2Bfront+%2Bdoor+%2Bwind ow&sid=1d86a73d5f6fc55dc42dda2240f88f1f)

And this is passenger door but may be partially useful:
DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Removing passanger door panel ?? (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic5303.html?highlight=%2Bfront+%2Bdoor+%2Blatch )

For reference, these threads are both mentioned in this AULRO thread:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/146911-door-will-not-open-d3-passenger-front.html

Hope that helps. Yours is much worse than the little bit of curry sauce that spilled over the lip of my footwell mat and down into the sill. I could get at that with paper towel.

Scott

[Smcconnell]

Thanks for the tips, gents. I removed the door card successfully and cleaned out the space behind it.

However, the smell persisted! I began to suspect that some of the offending milk has leaked across into the car. I proceeded to scrubd the seals, the carpet around the seat and pulling back the strip of trim which runs along the doors to wash underneath them.

Despite these efforts, however, the car is still smelly. Smells like 100 babies vomited in it.

My next thought is - some of the milk must have leaked under the trim, (into the body shell) in the area underneath the driver's door sill. Is this something I can take apart myself? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to the dealer to look at?


Steven

[letherm]

Thanks for the tips, gents. I removed the door card successfully and cleaned out the space behind it.

However, the smell persisted! I began to suspect that some of the offending milk has leaked across into the car. I proceeded to scrubd the seals, the carpet around the seat and pulling back the strip of trim which runs along the doors to wash underneath them.

Despite these efforts, however, the car is still smelly. Smells like 100 babies vomited in it.

My next thought is - some of the milk must have leaked under the trim, (into the body shell) in the area underneath the driver's door sill. Is this something I can take apart myself? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to the dealer to look at?


Steven

I know it's hard to put up with but I would think that the smell will eventually go away. Is it feasible to pour water in to dilute the remaining residue of milk? Obviously not if there's nowhere for the water to drain out. Just food for thought.

Martin

[BMKal]

Thanks for the tips, gents. I removed the door card successfully and cleaned out the space behind it.

However, the smell persisted! I began to suspect that some of the offending milk has leaked across into the car. I proceeded to scrubd the seals, the carpet around the seat and pulling back the strip of trim which runs along the doors to wash underneath them.

Despite these efforts, however, the car is still smelly. Smells like 100 babies vomited in it.

My next thought is - some of the milk must have leaked under the trim, (into the body shell) in the area underneath the driver's door sill. Is this something I can take apart myself? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to the dealer to look at?


Steven

Removing the door sill trim is not difficult if you have the instructions handy. There are two layers - the sill panel that you can see and another plastic panel beneath it that you will also have to remove to gain access into the cavity below where the milk will probably be.

The best instructions that I have seen are part of Tim's (Drivesafe) instructions for fitting one of his kits, as you run the wiring to the rear of the vehicle through this channel with his kits.

Reassembly can be tricky, as there are some metal clips involved which have a habit of popping out and falling down into the cavity - meaning removing it all and starting over. After a couple of attempts, the best way to install the clips becomes obvious. :D

If you pm me an e-mail address, I can send you a copy of Tim's instructions. Or better still, if you are thinking of installing a dual battery system, check out Drivesafe's web-site and buy a kit from Tim and you will then be able to gain access to the cavity below the doors while you are running the power cable to the back of your vehicle for accessories etc - killing two birds with one stone. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/131.jpg

[Melbourne Park]

Just an aberrant thought - my cousin in the USA (Orange County) had a bad smell in her Lexus, she couldn't get rid of it.

Turned out that she had left a packet of raw prawns in the boot, she had forgotten about them, and they had found their way out of sight.

Possibly there is something else in the car ... just a thought.

I'm surprised milk could be so bad.

Also, putting baking soda into some containers and maybe in the door trim can absorb odors,