Toyota Tacoma
Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panel and upgrade the OEM speaker in a 2005 to 2015 Toyota Tacoma truck.
 2013 Tacoma Door Panel |
 Pry Off Sail Panel |
 Sail Panel Removed |
| This
automotive maintenance DIY tutorial was specifically written to
assist owners of the second generation (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,
2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 or 2015) Toyota Tacoma pickup
truck 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 Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles such as the Yaris, Matrix, Prius, Camry, Corolla, Sienna, RAV4, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, Venza, Highlander, Avalon, Sequoia, Hilux, Land Cruiser, IS 250, ES 350, GS 350, tC, xB, xD, iQ and FR-S may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panel include a small flathead screwdriver, a plastic automotive pry bar tool, a Phillips head screwdriver, a 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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 Pry Open Screw Cover |
 Screw Behind Door Handle |
 Armrest Screw Cover |
| The first few steps
are to lower the power window and open the door.
Move to the top inner corner of the door panel and gently pry off the triangular shaped sail panel with the plastic automotive panel removal tool or a small flathead screwdriver. Set the sail panel aside in a safe place. Then gently pry open the square plastic screw cover located just behind the door opener handle with a small flathead screwdriver. Pry open the rectangular shaped screw cover located below the center of the armrest near the door pull handle with a small flathead screwdriver. |
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 Screw Below Arm Rest |
 Gently Pry Up Switch Panel |
 Carefully Pry At Front |
| Gently pry up the rear and front parts of the electrical switch panel with a plastic tool to release the friction fasteners. | ||
 Switch Panel Removed |
 Press Release Tab |
 Push In Tab To Release |
| Gently pull out the
switch panel and turn it over to access the electrical connectors. Press in the release tabs on the power plugs before pulling them straight out. You might need to use a screwdriver to push in the release buttons. They can sometimes be too stiff to push in with your finger tip. |
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 Power Plugs Disconnected |
 Remove Phillips Head Screw |
 Door Handle Screw |
| Set the switch
panel aside in a safe place. Remove the Phillips head screw behind the door opener handle by turning it counterclockwise. Set the screw aside in a safe place. |
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 Screw Below Pull Handle |
 Loosen Counterclockwise |
 Two Screws & 2 Panels |
| Remove the screw
below the armrest and near the door pull handle by turning it
counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screw aside with the other screw and the two plastic panels. |
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 Pull Out Bottom of Panel |
 White Plastic Pop Rivets |
 Lift Door Panel Off Frame |
| Move to the bottom
edge of the door panel. Insert either a large flathead screwdriver or a plastic automotive panel removal 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 release the pop rivet friction fasteners. Continue to release the pop rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. Lift the door panel up and off the top lip of the metal door frame. |
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 Plastic Door Panel Removed |
 Metal Door Frame |
 OEM Door Speaker |
| Set the plastic
door panel aside in a safe place. The OEM door speaker is located at the bottom inner corner of the metal door frame. To remove it, loosen the four 10mm bolts by turning them counterclockwise. It can be replaced with aftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 5 1/4" (5.25") or 6 1/2" (6.5"). I'd recommend purchasing new speakers from Amazon since you can verify that they will fit your vehicle and whether or not you will need a mounting bracket. |
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 Loosen 10mm Bolts |
 Tweeter - 10mm Botls |
 Lower Panel On Top Lip |
| The tweeter speaker
is held in place by two 10mm bolts. To replace the door panel, lower it down on to the metal lip at the top of the metal door frame. |
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 Pull Out Electrical Connectors |
 Line Up Friction Fasteners |
 Firmly Tap In Pop Rivets |
| Pull the two power
plugs for the switch panel out of the opening in the armrest.
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. |
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 Replace Armrest Screw |
 Tighten Phillips Clockwise |
 Pop In Screw Cover |
| Replace the screw
below the armrest by turning it clockwise with the Phillips head
screwdriver. Snap in the plastic screw cover. |
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 Replace Door Handle Screw |
 Tighten Clockwise |
 Snap In Plastic Screw Cover |
| Re-insert the screw
behind the door opener handle and tighten it in the clockwise direction
until it is snug. Close the plastic screw cover. |
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 Push In Power Plugs |
 Lower Switch Panel |
 Push To Secure Clips |
| Push the two power
plugs in to their sockets on the underside of the electrical switch panel. Lower the switch panel to the door panel and push on it to secure the friction fasteners. |
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 Line Up Sail Panel |
 Push To Secure Clips |
 Door Panel Replaced |
| Line up the clips
on the back side of the sail panel and firmly push it back in to place. Sit inside the truck, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock switch, power window switch and speakers all still work properly. For more,
check out my other
2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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