Mitsubishi
Lancer Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in an 8th generation 2008-2015 Mitsubishi Lancer to upgrade the speakers.
2015 Lancer Door Panel |
Door Opener Handle |
Pry Out Screw Cover |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the eighth generation (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,
2014 & 2015) Mitsubishi Lancer in taking off 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 Mitsubishi vehicles such as the Mirage, Lancer Evolution ("Evo"), Outlander, 3000GT, Diamante, Eclipse, Endeavor, Galant, Montero, ASX, Triton L200 and Raider may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panel include a small flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver and a large flathead screwdriver or an automotive panel removal tool. No tools are needed to detach the OEM speakers from the door frames. |
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Screw Cover Removed |
Arm Rest Pull Handle |
Pry Open Screw Cover |
The first two steps
are to lower the power window all the way down and then open the door. Gently pry out the square screw cover located behind the door opener handle and next to the door lock switch. Set the screw cover aside in a safe place. Then move to the door pull handle in the center of the armrest. Gently pry open the hinged screw cover at the rear edge with the small flathead screwdriver. |
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Plastic Hinged Cover |
Remove Phillips Head Screw |
Remove Armrest Screw |
Remove the screw
behind the door opener handle by turning it counterclockwise with the
Phillips head screwdriver. Then remove the screw below the door pull handle in the center of the armrest by turning it counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. Set the two screws aside in a safe place. |
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Screw At Outer Edge |
Loosen Screw Counterclockwise |
3 Phillips Screws Removed |
Remove the screw
near the top outer edge of the door panel by turning it counterclockwise
with the Phillips head screwdriver. Set that screw aside with the other two screws. |
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Sail Panel - Top Left |
Pry Off Sail Panel |
Electrical Connector |
Then move to the
top inner corner of the door panel and gently pry off the triangular shaped
sail panel with a flathead screwdriver. On some Lancer trim levels, the sail panel may contain a tweeter speaker that needs to be disconnected. |
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Pull Out Power Plug |
Pry Out Bottom Edge of Panel |
Plastic Pop Rivet Fasteners |
The tweeter speaker
power plug on this Lancer just slid right out of the socket.
You might need to press a release tab before pulling the plug out of the socket. Insert a large flathead screwdriver or an automotive panel removal tool in between the bottom edge of the door panel and the metal door frame. Firmly pull out the pop rivets on the bottom edge of the door panel. Continue pulling out the pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. |
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Lift Door Panel Off Frame |
Tilt Top Edge Towards You |
Cables Bracket |
Lift the door panel
up and off the top of the metal door frame. Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself while supporting the bottom edge with your legs. The door lock and door opener handle cables can be detached from the door panel in two ways. One way is to remove the two Phillips head screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction and then pull off the entire assembly. |
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Pull Collar Out of Socket |
Swing Out Cable |
Pop Off Green "C" Socket |
The other method
for disconnecting the two cables is shown in the photos on this page. First pull the black plastic collar near the end of the cable out of the bracket. Then swing the cable away from the door panel. Pop the green plastic "C" shaped collar off the metal bar at the end of the cable. |
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Lift Out Metal Bar |
Disconnect Door Lock Cable |
Electrical Connectors |
Then lift the metal
bar out of the socket in the green plastic bracket. To disconnect the two electrical connectors, press in the release tabs before sliding the plugs straight out of their sockets. |
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Press Release Tabs |
Door Panel Removed |
Metal Door Frame |
Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place. | ||
OEM Door Speaker |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Pull Off Old Speaker |
To remove the OEM
speaker from the door frame, grasp the speaker and rotate it 1/4 turn
counterclockwise. Then pull the speaker straight out of the door frame. Press in the release tab on the speaker's white plastic power connector before sliding the plug straight out of the socket. |
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Disconnect Power Plug |
Hold Door Panel Near Frame |
Push In Door Lock Plug |
The OEM door
speakers can be replaced with aftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 5
1/4" (5.25"), 6 1/2" (6.5") and 6 3/4" (6.75").
I'd recommend purchasing new speakers from Amazon since you can verify that they will fit your vehicle and whether or not you'll need a mounting adapter bracket or not. To help reduce road noise and make your new speakers sound better, apply some Dynamat Sound Deadener to the metal door frame. It will stop vibrations and rattles when you crank up the volume. Push the small white plastic power plug for the door lock switch straight in to its socket. |
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Push In Switch Panel Plug |
Lower In Metal Bar |
Pop On Green Plastic Collar |
Then push the large
white plastic electrical connector for the switch panel straight in to its
socket. Re-insert the metal bar at the end of the door lock cable in to the top green plastic socket. Pop the green plastic "C" socket over the metal bar. |
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Push Cable In Bracket |
Re-Install Door Handle Cable |
Pop Cable In Bracket |
Push the black
plastic collar near the end of the cable in to the bracket. Repeat the process for re-installing the door opener handle cable in to the bottom part of the bracket. |
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Lower Door Panel On Frame |
Line Up Pop Rivets & Holes |
Firmly Tap In Pop Rivets |
Lower the top of
the door panel on to the upper lip 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. Firmly tap in the pop rivet fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. |
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Push In Power Plug |
Push On Sail Panel |
Sail Panel Replaced |
Re-insert the small
black plastic power plug in to the sail panel. Line up the friction fasteners on the back of the sail panel and firmly push it back in to place. |
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Replace Outer Edge Screw |
Replace Arm Rest Screw |
Tighten Clockwise |
Replace the screw
at the outer edge of the door panel by turning it clockwise with the
Phillips head screwdriver. Re-insert the Phillips head screw below the door pull handle at the center of the armrest and tighten it in the clockwise direction. |
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Push On Screw Cover |
Trim Piece Replaced |
Re-Insert Door Handle Screw |
Close the hinged
screw cover below the armrest and gently pop it back in to place. Re-insert the Phillips head screw behind the door opener handle and tighten it in the clockwise direction. |
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Tighten Screw Clockwise |
Pop In Screw Cover |
Door Panel Replaced |
Gently pop in the
small square plastic screw cover behind the door opener handle. Sit inside the vehicle, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, power door lock switch, power window switch and manual door lock rocker switch all still work properly. For more, check out my other
2008-2015 Mitsubishi Lancer DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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