Enyart,

You don't need to remove the control panel to change the water filter, unless something is jammed or broke.

"To Change Filter :
It is not necessary to turn the water supply off to change the filter.
1. Set the ice maker wire signal arm to the OFF (up) position.
2. Push the Filter Releaser Button, located to the right of the filter cartridge, to release the filter from the housing. To minimize the possibility of the filter falling out of the housing during removal, it would be best to hold the filter as it moves out towards you.

NOTE: A small amount of watermay be released during this operation. You should have a paper towel or dish cloth handy to wipe up any water thay may drip out of the filter or housing. Two small holes near the back of the housing have been added for any excess water to escape. It would be best to clear away any food near this area on the top shelf in advance of removing the filter.
3. Pull the old filter straight out of the housing.
4. Discard the old filter.
5. Remove the new filter cartridge from the packaging and insert it into
the filter housing the same way the old one came out.
6. When the cartridge is almost in, you will feel it stop against the clip assembly in the back of the housing. The clip assembly holds the filter cartridge firmly in plce. At this point you will to push firmly until the cartridge snaps fully in place. When completely in place, the front of the filter cartridge will be flush with the front of the housing.
7. Set the ice maker wire signal arm to the on(down) position.
8. Fill a glass with water. As you are doing this, check for leaks at he filter housing. There will be noticable spurts and sputters as the system pushes the air out through the system and out the dispenser nozzle. This is NORMAL.
9. After you have run one glass of water, continue to flush the system for approximately 3 minutes to assure that the purest water possible is stored in the water storage tank.

Good Luck,
:) :) :)