How to remove & re-use the red interior door lock 'thingy'

[lotusflasherman]

I thought I ought to share my method of removing the red interior door lock 'thingy' that even Lotus say will break when removed.
I had various M100 Elans since Oct 95 and hate to think how many times I've had the door trim off and never yet used the replacements I have handy.
My method is dead easy to get them out and you can reuse them as long as you don't mind a tiny (1/16th") hole in them.

What you need is a little brass hook like this...

hook.jpg

Drill a 1/16th inch hole into the centre of the red 'thingy' and screw in the hook, grip with pliers and just pull straight out...

this is what you get

button hook.jpg

as you can see, still intact and reusable if you wish... If you do reuse it, it looks like this..

situ.JPG

I'm happy to live with a tiny hole and be able to remove and replace it at will, but the choice is yours...

still think it's by far the easiest method to get them out..

Phil

[muley]

Good tip, thanks for posting.


Jim

[HJ2]

Excellent alternative!

I read somewhere on this fine forum another alternative. I drilled a small hole as well, same location, but threaded it (M3).
Whenever I need it out, I put an M3 bolt in and keep rotating till it plops out. Works like charm.

[Tuga2112]

I think most people call them the "orange clip" or red clip, its funny how such a common issue that nearly all diy owners have takes 25 years to see a post with such simple solution with pictures included.

I always prize the clip off using 2 of the small " watch battery " screw drivers slowly, so far only broke 1 clip which was the first time I tried to take the door card out.

I intend to make a YouTube video on the procedure whenever I buy a proper camera. ( probably not in the near future)