Chevrolet
Impala Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in a 10th generation 2014-2018 GM Chevy Impala to upgrade the speaker.
![]() 2014 Impala Door Panel |
![]() Door Opener Handle |
![]() Plastic Trim Piece |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the tenth generation (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018) GM
Chevy Impala in taking off the plastic interior door panels in order
to upgrade the OEM door speakers, add soundproofing material, fix a
faulty electrical switch or replacing a broken power window motor. Owners of other General Motors vehicles such as the Malibu, Cruze, Camaro, Sonic, Spark, Volt, Corvette, Trax, Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, SS Sedan, Bolt, Colorado, Silverado, Buick Verano, Regal, LaCrosse, Cascada, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Canyon, Sierra 1500, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, ATS, CTS, XTS, CT6, XT5, SRX and Escalade may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools required to remove the door panel include a small flathead screwdriver, a plastic pry bar tool, a 7mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet and a large flathead screwdriver. |
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![]() Plastic Trim Panel Removed |
![]() Pry Out Rubber Cover |
![]() Door Pull Handle Cover |
The first two steps
are to lower the power window all the way down and then open the door. Use the small flathead screwdriver to gently pry out the plastic trim piece located behind the door opener handle. To prevent from scratching the plastic surfaces, you may choose to cover the tip of your screwdriver with a thin micro fiber cloth. Set the plastic trim piece aside in a safe place. Then move to the door pull handle well near the center of the armrest. Gently pry out the rubber cover located in the bottom of the door pull handle well. Set the rubber cover aside in a safe place. |
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![]() Loosen Counterclockwise |
![]() 7mm Screw Removed |
![]() Remove Door Pull Screw |
Loosen the screw
located behind the door opener handle by turning it counterclockwise with
the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. Set the screw aside with its corresponding plastic trim cover. Remove the 7mm screw located at the bottom of the door pull handle well by turning it counterclockwise. |
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![]() Door Pull Handle Screw |
![]() Two Covers & 2 Screws |
![]() Gently Pry Up Switch Panel |
Set the screw aside
with the rubber cover. Use the plastic pry bar tool to gently lift the rear edge of the switch panel. Try to avoid using excessive force, the metal friction fastener should pop out relatively easily. |
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![]() Pull Out Switch Panel |
![]() Plastic Hook - Front Edge |
![]() Screw Under Switch Panel |
Lift up the rear
edge of the switch panel and carefully remove the plastic hook on the front
edge from the opening in the door panel. The third and final screw was hidden under the switch panel. |
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![]() Loosen Counterclockwise |
![]() 2 Trim Panels & 3 Screws |
![]() Large Flathead Screwdriver |
Remove the third
screw by turning it counterclockwise with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive
ratcheting wrench. Set the screw aside with the other screws. At this point, you should have removed two trim covers and three screws. |
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![]() Pry Out Bottom Edge |
![]() Plastic Pop Rivets Released |
![]() Pull Off Top Edge Door Panel |
Insert the large
flathead screwdriver or the plastic pry
bar tool in between the bottom edge of the door panel and the metal
door frame.
Firmly pull out the bottom edge of the door panel to disengage the plastic pop rivets. Continue pulling out the pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. There are five metal clips on the top edge of the metal door frame that secure the top of the door panel in place. Firmly pull along the top edge of the door panel to release the five metal friction fasteners. |
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![]() 5 Metal Friction Fasteners |
![]() Opening For Metal Fastener |
![]() Door Opener Handle Cable |
If any of the five metal clips come off the door frame and are stuck in the plastic door panel, pry them off and re-install them on to the door panel. | ||
![]() Push Down To Release Clip |
![]() Pull Clip Off Bracket |
![]() Swing Out Cable |
Push down the tab
on the white / yellow plastic retaining clip for the door opener handle
cable before pulling it off the mounting bracket. Swing the cable out away from yourself. |
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![]() Lift Ball Out of Socket |
![]() Electrical Connector |
![]() Swing Open Latch - Unlock |
Lift the metal ball
at the end of the cable out of its socket. Move to the middle of the door panel and locate the large electrical connector. Pull up the white plastic latch or "lever" to unlock the electrical connector. |
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![]() Pull Out Power Plug |
![]() Plug Disconnected |
![]() Set Aside Door Panel |
Slide the power
plug straight out of its socket. Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place. |
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![]() Metal Door Frame |
![]() Remove Speaker Screw |
![]() 7mm Speaker Screw |
The OEM door
speaker is located at the bottom inner corner of the door frame. Remove the single 7mm screw at the top of the speaker by turning it counterclockwise. Set the screw aside in a safe place. |
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![]() Remove OEM Speaker |
![]() Disconnect Wire Harness |
![]() Speaker Power Plug |
Pull the grey plastic fastener out of its socket to disconnect the wiring harness from the speaker bracket. | ||
![]() Slide Back Red Lock Tab |
![]() Press Release Tab |
![]() Speaker Opening In Frame |
Slide back the red
locking tab on the electrical connector. Press down the release button before sliding the power plug straight out of its socket. The OEM front door speakers can be replaced with aftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 5 1/4" (5.25") and 6 1/2" (6.5"). I recommend applying some Dynamat Sound Deadener to the metal door frame. It will help your new speakers sound their best by reducing rattles and vibrations when you crank up the volume. |
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![]() Hold Panel Near Frame |
![]() Push In Electrical Connector |
![]() Swing Closed Latch |
To replace the door
panel, hold it near the metal door frame and tilt the top edge towards
yourself. Slide the electrical connector straight in to its socket. Swing the white plastic latch closed to lock it in place. |
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![]() Power Plug Secured |
![]() Re-Insert Ball In Socket |
![]() Swing Cable Towards Panel |
Lower the ball at
the end of the door opener handle cable in to its socket. Swing the cable towards the door panel. |
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![]() Push On Plastic Clip |
![]() Door Lock Stalk In Hole |
![]() Line Up Metal Fasteners |
Push the white /
light yellow plastic clip on to the bracket to secure the door opener handle
cable in place. Re-insert the door lock stalk in to the hole at the top outer edge of the door panel. Line up the slots on the back side of the door panel with the five metal friction fastener clips at the top of the door frame. |
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![]() Five Friction Fasteners |
![]() Firmly Push Top Edge |
![]() All Top Fasteners Secured |
Firmly push on the top edge of the door panel to secure the five metal friction fasteners in place. | ||
![]() Line Up Plastic Pop Rivets |
![]() Firmly Tap In Pop Rivets |
![]() Spin In Screw |
Line up the white
plastic pop rivets on the back side of the door panel with their
corresponding holes in the metal door frame. Firmly tap in the pop rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. Spin in the screw that was hidden by the switch panel a few turns in the clockwise direction to prevent from having it fall down in to the door panel. |
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![]() Tighten 7mm Clockwise |
![]() Lower In Plastic Hooks |
![]() Line Up Friction Fastener |
Tighten the screw
in the clockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet
until it is snug. Re-insert the hook at the front edge of the switch panel back in to the opening in the door panel. Line up the metal friction fastener on the rear edge of the switch panel with its corresponding slot on the armrest. |
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![]() Push Down Switch Panel |
![]() Replace Door Pull Screw |
![]() Re-Insert Rubber Cover |
Push down the rear
edge of the switch panel to secure it in place. Replace the 7mm screw at the bottom of the door pull handle well by turning it clockwise. Push the rubber cover back in to the bottom of the door pull handle well. |
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![]() Door Opener Handle Screw |
![]() Re-Insert Trim Piece |
![]() Door Panel Replaced |
Replace the 7mm
screw behind the door opener handle by turning it clockwise until it is
snug. Gently pop in the plastic trim piece behind the door opener handle. Close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock stalk, power window switch, power door lock switch and the new speaker are all working properly. For more, check out all of my
2014-2018 Chevrolet Impala DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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