Kia Soul
Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels and upgrade the OEM speakers in a 2nd generation 2014 to 2019 Kia Soul.
2019 Soul Door Panel |
Pry Off Sail Panel |
Sail Panel Removed |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 2nd
generation (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 model years) Kia Soul in
taking off the plastic interior door panels in order to upgrade the OEM
speakers, replace a broken power window motor, add soundproofing material or
fix a faulty electrical switch. Owners of other Kia, Hyundai or Genesis vehicles such as the Niro, Sportage, Sedona, Telluride, Sorento, Rio, Forte, Optima, K900, Cadenza, Stinger, Tucson, Santa Fe, Kona, Palisade, Elantra, Sonata, Accent, Veloster, Ioniq, Nexo, Venue, G70, G80 and G90 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panel include a plastic pry bar tool and a Phillips head screwdriver. To replace the OEM front door speaker, you'll need a Torx T20 star bit screwdriver. Replacing the power window motor requires a Torx T25 screwdriver or a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet. The first two steps are to lower the power window and fully open the door. Use the plastic pry bar tool to gently remove the triangular shaped "sail" panel at the top inner corner of the door panel. On some models, the sail panel may contain a tweeter speaker that will need to be disconnected. Set the sail panel aside in a safe place. |
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Pry Out Rubber Cover |
Rubber Cover Removed |
Door Opener Handle |
Then move to the
well in the center of the armrest by the door pull handle. Pry out the rubber cover at the bottom of the well. Set the cover aside in a safe place. Next, move to the silver plastic door opener handle by the door lock rocker switch. |
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Pry Out Plastic Cover |
Trim Piece Removed |
3 Trim Pieces Removed |
Use the plastic pry
bar tool or a small flat head screwdriver to gently pry out the plastic trim
piece located behind the door opener handle. Set the trim cover aside in a safe place. |
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Set Aside Trim Pieces |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Door Handle Screw |
Remove the single
screw at the bottom of the well in the center of the armrest by turning it
in the counterclockwise direction with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screw aside with the rubber cover. Then remove the screw behind the door opener handle by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Screw Removed |
Two Screws Removed |
Pry Out Bottom Edge |
Set the screw aside
with its corresponding plastic trim cover. At this point, you should have removed two plastic trim covers, the rubber cover and two Phillips head screws. Insert the plastic pry bar tool or a large flat head screwdriver 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 release the plastic pop rivet friction fasteners. |
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Release Pop Rivets |
Lift Panel Off Frame |
Tilt Away Top Edge |
Continue pulling
out the pop rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door
panel. Gently lift the door panel up and off the top of the metal door frame. Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself to access the back side. |
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Two Cables & Bracket |
Push In Release Tab |
Lift Bracket Out of Mount |
Locate the black
plastic bracket for the door opener handle and door lock switch cables. Push the release tab on the rear of the bracket in towards the front edge of the door panel. Lift the rear edge of the bracket off the mount on the rear of the door panel. |
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Push In Release Tab |
Disconnect Power Plug |
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Next, push in the
release tab on the white plastic electrical connector on the underside of
the switch panel. Slide the power plug straight out of the socket. |
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Remove Speaker Screws |
Power Window Motor |
Hold Panel Near Frame |
To remove the OEM
(original equipment manufacturer) front door speaker, loosen the four screws
by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with a
Torx T20 star bit screwdriver. If you need to replace a broken power window motor, you'll need a Torx T25 screwdriver. The OEM front door speakers can be replaced with aftermarket car speakers in the following sizes: 6 1/2" (6.5") and 6 3/4" (6.75"). I highly recommend applying some Dynamat sound deadener to the metal door frame and the back side of the plastic door panel to help stop vibrations and rattles when you crank up the volume. To re-install the door panel, hold it near the frame and tilt the top edge towards yourself. |
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Push In Power Plug |
Lower In Front of Bracket |
Push Down To Secure Clip |
Push the electrical
connector straight into the socket on the underside of the switch panel. Lower the front edge of the bracket for the door opener handle and door lock switch cables into the mount on the back side of the door panel. Lower the rear edge of the cables bracket and push on it to secure the retaining clip. |
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Lower Panel On Top Lip |
Push Down To Secure |
Line Up Pop Rivets |
Lower the top of
the door panel on to the metal lip on the top of the door frame. Line up the plastic pop rivets on the back side of the door panel with their corresponding holes in the metal door frame. |
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Firmly Tap In Fasteners |
Line Up Sail Panel |
Push Into Place |
Tap in the pop
rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the
door panel. Move to the top front corner of the door panel. Push the sail panel back into place. (If the sail panel contains a tweeter speaker, be sure to re-connect the power plug.) |
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Replace Armrest Screw |
Door Handle Screw |
Line Up Trim Piece |
Replace the screw
into the bottom of the armrest well by turning it in the clockwise direction
with the Phillips head screwdriver. Then replace the screw behind the door opener handle by turning it in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. Snap the plastic trim piece back into place behind the door opener handle. |
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Pop In Trim Cover |
Replace Rubber Cover |
Door Panel Replaced |
Lower the rubber
trim cover back into place at the bottom of the well in the armrest. Sit inside the vehicle, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock rocker switch, power window switch, power door lock switch and speaker are all still working properly. Be sure to write down the speaker change, power window motor replacement or any other procedure in your vehicle's service records. For more, please check out all of my
2014-2019 Kia Soul DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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