How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP5985203 / W10813881 Outer Door Panel

I ordered the panel from AppliancePartsPro.com. It arrived within two days. I followed the instructions posted by a blogger on the AppliancePartsPro.com website. It was very straightforward. Just eight screws to be removed and replaced. 

Removed the handle with two screws on the inside front and pulled out the custom wood panel. Pulled the compactor out from under cabinet. Tipped it over on back of unit, supporting it with a little foot stool. Unscrewed two lower screws at bottom of unit holding black trim panel (that held wood panel in place) and lower black rubber flap. Removed two screws on lower outside side of unit that held the foot pedal. Slid off black U shaped metal frame from top of compactor towards bottom. Slid on new stainless cover, putting black rubber flap between compactor door frame and new cover. Replaced lower screws, reattached foot pedal. Tipped the unit right side up and screwed in four metal screws inside of the unit, securing the new stainless cover to the front compactor door frame. Installed the handle. Pushed unit back under cupboard. While apart, cleaned all black parts and polished with ArmorAll car cleaner. 

Purchased the door plate in chrome, door sweep in black rubber and spray painted the remaining visible areas with black paint. Looks the same as a new unit costing 8 times as much. 

All other appliances had been replace with new staniless a year before. The Trash compactor had a black front, works well but did not match the other units. I replaced the front cover with relatively no time or effort. 

Stainless panel easy to install, with some black spray paint for the handles and foot pedal opener and it looks like a new compactor. 

Remove one and replaced it with the stainless panel. 

Just updated the front panel from black to stainless steel to match balance of kitchen appliances. Extremely easy to do.