Honda Accord
Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the interior door panels
in an 8th generation 2008-2012 Honda Accord with photo illustrated steps.
By Paul B. Michaels Author & Photographer Auto Mechanic Since 1989 |
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2009 Accord Door Panel |
Pry Off Sail Panel |
Sail Panel Removed |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the eighth generation (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012)
Honda Accord sedan or coupe in removing the plastic interior door
panels in order to upgrade the OEM speakers, add soundproofing
material, fix a faulty electrical switch or replace a broken power
window motor. Owners of other Honda or Acura vehicles with similar door panels such as the Civic, CR-V, Fit, CR-Z, Insight, Crosstour, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, RLX, TL, TSX, ILX, ZDX, MDX and RDX may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panels include a small flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver and a large flathead screwdriver or an automotive panel removal tool. The OEM door speaker is held in place by a single Phillips head screw. |
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Disconnect Tweeter Speaker |
Trim Behind Door Handle |
Press Down Release Tab |
The first step is
to gently pry off the sail panel located at the top inner corner of the door
panel with a small flathead screwdriver.
You may want to cover the tip of the screwdriver with a thin micro fiber cloth to prevent from scratching the plastic or painted surfaces. If your Accord is equipped with tweeter speakers, press the release button on the power plug to disconnect it. Set the sail panel aside in a safe place. Then move to the door opener handle and press the release tab at the top of the trim piece behind the handle and pry it out. |
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Remove Trim Piece |
Arm Rest Door Pull Handle |
Pry Open Screw Cover |
Remove the trim
panel and set it aside in a safe place. You'll see the two Phillips head
screws that were hidden by the cover. Then move to the well in the door pull handle below the arm rest and pry open the rectangular plastic screw cover with the small flathead screwdriver. |
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Phillips Head Screw |
Remove Two Phillips Screws |
Remove 2nd Screw |
Remove the two screws behind the door opener handle by turning them counter clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. | ||
Remove Screw Below Arm Rest |
3 Phillips Screws Removed |
Insert Flathead Screwdriver |
Remove the screw
located in the arm rest door pull well by turning it counter clockwise with
the Phillips head screwdriver. Set the three screws aside in a safe place. Move to the bottom edge of the door panel, insert a large flathead screwdriver or a panel removal tool, and pull out the pop rivet friction fasteners. |
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Pry Out Pop Rivet Fasteners |
Courtesy / Step Light |
Pop Out Wire Harness Clip |
Continue pulling
out the pop rivet friction fasteners along the bottom edge and both sides of
the door panel. Pull out the pop rivet fastener that holds the courtesy step light bulb wiring harness in place. |
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1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise |
Lift Door Panel Off Frame |
Door Handle & Lock Cables |
Rotate the light
grey courtesy/step light bulb socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pull it
straight out of the door panel. Lift the plastic door panel straight up and off the top lip of the metal door frame. Tilt the top of the door panel towards yourself and support the bottom edge with your thighs. |
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Swing Open Black Collar |
Black Plastic Collar Released |
Swing Out Door Opener Cable |
To release the door
opener cable, first pry off the black plastic "C" collar from the white
plastic cylinder. Then pop the white plastic cylinder out of the metal bracket and swing the cable away from the assembly. |
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Pry Off White Plastic Collar |
Pull Out Metal Piece |
Pry Open White Plastic Collar |
Pull the smaller
white plastic "c" collar at the end of the cable off the metal piece.
Lift the metal bar straight out of the socket to release the door opener handle cable. To release the door lock switch cable, first pry off the white plastic "C" collar from the white plastic cylinder. |
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Plastic Collar Opened |
Swing Out Door Lock Cable |
Plastic Snap Clip |
Rotate the plastic "C" collar off the white plastic cylinder. Then swing the door lock cable out away from the assembly. |
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Pry Open Locking Clip |
Locking Clip Opened |
Pull Out Straight Metal Bar |
Pry open the locking clip with the small flathead screwdriver and then lift out the straight metal bar. | ||
Switch Panel Electrical Plug |
White Plastic Locking Arm |
Press Down Release Tab |
To release the power plug for the electrical switch panel, press down the small white plastic tab and swing the locking arm open away from the plug. | ||
Swing Open Locking Arm |
Pull Out Power Plug |
Close Up of Locking Tab |
Pull the power plug straight out of the socket. | ||
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Metal Door Frame |
Plastic Door Panel Removed |
OEM Door Speaker |
Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place. | ||
Remove Phillips Head Screw |
Speaker Screw Removed |
Pry Off OEM Speaker |
Remove the single
screw at the top of the OEM door speaker by turning it counter clockwise
with the Phillips head screwdriver. You may need to gently pry off the speaker from the door frame with the flathead screwdriver to release the adhesive foam backing. |
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Release Power Plug |
Pull Off Door Speaker |
Hold Door Panel Near Frame |
Press the release
button on the speaker's power plug and slide it straight out of the socket. The OEM front door speakers can be replaced with 5 1/4" (5.25"), 6 1/2" (6.5") and 6 3/4" (6.75") aftermarket speaker sizes. I'd recommend purchasing new speakers from Crutchfield since they usually include any necessary wiring adapters or mounting brackets. If you'd like to reduce road noise and make your new speakers sound better, apply some Dynamat Sound Deadener to the metal door frame. It will stop any vibrations or rattles when you crank up the volume. |
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Push In Electrical Connector |
Push Lock Arm Closed |
Re-Insert Door Lock Bar |
To replace the door
panel, hold it near the door frame and support the bottom with your thighs. Push the electrical connector for the switch panel straight in to the socket and close the white plastic locking arm. Then re-insert the straight metal bar at the end of the door lock switch cable in to the white plastic locking clip. |
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Snap Locking Clip Closed |
Pop In Plastic Piece |
Close White Plastic Collar |
Push the locking
clip closed over the straight metal bar. Try to place the barbs on the metal
bar in the same position in the locking clip as when you removed the cable. Pop the white plastic cylinder in to the metal bracket. Swing the white plastic "C" collar over the white plastic cylinder on the door lock switch cable to secure it in place. |
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Door Lock Cable Re-Installed |
Re-Insert Metal Bar |
Pop In Plastic Cylinder |
Re-insert the "L"
shaped metal bar at the end of the door opener cable in to the socket. Snap the small white plastic "C" collar over the metal "L" shaped bar at the end of the cable. Push the white plastic cylinder on the cable in to the gold colored metal bracket. |
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Close Black Plastic Collar |
Door Opener Cable Replaced |
Hang Door Panel On Frame |
Close the black
plastic "C" collar over the white plastic cylinder on the door opener cable. Lower the plastic door panel on to the metal lip at the top of the door frame. |
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Courtesy Step Light Bulb |
1/4 Turn Clockwise |
Push In Wire Harness Fastener |
If you need to
replace the courtesy step light bulb, pull it straight out of the socket and
push in a new # 194 miniature wedge base bulb. You may also choose a brighter 194 LED bulb. Re-insert the light grey bulb socket in to the rear of the door panel and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place. Push the pop rivet fastener back in to the rear of the door panel to secure the courtesy step light bulb wiring harness. |
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Line Up Pop Rivet Fasteners |
Tap Panel - Insert Fasteners |
Tighten Screw Below Arm Rest |
Line up the white
plastic pop rivet fasteners on the rear of the door panel with the
corresponding holes in the metal door frame. Firmly tap the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel to secure all of the pop rivet friction fasteners. Re-insert the silver screw below the arm rest and turn it clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver to tighten it. |
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Pop Closed Screw Cover |
Tighten Door Handle Screws |
Phillips - Turn Clockwise |
Push the
rectangular plastic screw cover closed. Re-insert the two dark grey screws behind the door opener handle and tighten them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Re-Insert Plastic Trim Piece |
Trim Panel Replaced |
Plug In Tweeter Speaker |
Push the plastic
trim piece back in to place behind the door opener handle. Plug in the tweeter speaker (if equipped). |
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Line Up Pop Rivets |
Push On Sail Panel |
Door Panel Replaced |
Line up the
friction fasteners on the rear of the sail panel and gently push it back in
to place. For more,
check out my other
2008-2012
Honda Accord Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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