Dodge Charger Interior Door
Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in a 7th generation 2011-2014 Dodge Charger to upgrade the OEM speakers.
2014 Charger Door Panel |
Pry Out Door Handle Trim Piece |
Plastic Screw Cover Removed |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the seventh generation (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & possibly
also the revised 2015) Dodge Charger sedan in removing the plastic
interior door panel in order to add soundproofing material, fix a
faulty electrical switch, replace a broken power window motor or
upgrade the OEM door speaker. Owners of other Chrysler, Dodge and RAM vehicles such as the Town & Country, 300, 200, Avenger, Challenger, Journey, Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan, Ram C/V Tradesman and 1500 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, a pair of needle nose pliers and an automotive panel removal tool or a large flathead screwdriver. To take out the OEM door speaker, you'll need a Torx T25 star bit screwdriver. |
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Pry Out Arm Rest Well Cover |
Screw Cover Removed |
Inner Upper Corner |
The first two steps are to lower the power
window all the way down and then open the door. Then gently pry out the plastic trim piece behind the chrome silver door opener handle with the small flathead screwdriver. Move to the arm rest well and pry out the plastic trim panel with the small flathead screwdriver. Set the two plastic trim panels aside in a safe place. |
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Push In Center of Fastener |
Pry Out Plastic Fastener |
Fastener Removed |
There is a round plastic fastener located near
the middle of the inner edge. Gently push in the small round center piece of the fastener with the flathead screwdriver and then pry out the outer edge to remove the fastener. |
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Lower Outer Corner |
Remove Phillips Screw |
Screw & Rubber Bumper |
Then move to the lower part of the outer edge and remove the screw surrounded by a rubber bumper by turning it counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. | ||
Remove Phillips Head Screw |
Remove Phillips Arm Rest Screw |
Screw, Fastener & Panels |
Remove the Phillips
head screw behind the chrome door opener handle by turning it
counterclockwise. Remove the Phillips head screw at the bottom of the door pull well in the arm rest by turning it counterclockwise. At this point, you should have removed 2 plastic trim panels, 2 bare screws, 1 screw with a rubber bumper attached, and a black plastic fastener. |
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Pry Out Bottom Edge |
Pop Rivet Fasteners Removed |
Lift Door Panel Off Frame |
Insert a large
flathead screwdriver or an automotive panel
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 rivet fasteners. Continue pulling out the pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. Check that all of the pop rivets have been released and then lift the door panel off the top edge of the metal door frame. |
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Tilt Away Top of Panel |
Press Release Tab |
Disconnect Power Plug |
Tilt the top edge
of the door panel towards yourself while supporting the bottom with your
legs. Press the release tab on the white plastic power plug and slide it out of its socket. |
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Disconnect Green Power Plug |
Squeeze Together Two Prongs |
Pull Out Black Plastic Collar |
Press the release
tab on the green plastic power plug and slide it straight out of the bottom
of the switch panel. To disconnect the door opener handle cable, squeeze together the two prongs on the black plastic collar with a pair of needle pliers. Pull the black plastic collar out of the bracket and swing the door opener cable away from yourself. |
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Lift Out Metal Cylinder |
Disconnect Courtesy Step Light |
Plastic Door Panel Removed |
Lift the metal
cylinder at the end of the door opener cable out of its socket. Press the release tab for the white plastic step/courtesy light near the bottom of the door panel and slide it out of its socket. Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place. |
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Metal Door Frame |
OEM Door Speaker |
Remove Torx T25 Screws |
The OEM speaker is
located at the bottom inner corner of the metal door frame. Remove the four screws holding the door speaker in place by turning them counterclockwise with a Torx T25 star bit screwdriver. |
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4 Torx T-25 Screws |
Pull Off OEM Speaker |
Disconnect Speaker Plug |
Pull the speaker
out of the door frame and press the release tab to disconnect the power
plug. The OEM door speakers can be replaced with aftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 6"x9", 7", 6 1/2" (6.5"), 6 3/4" (6.75") and 5 1/4" (5.25"). I'd recommend purchasing new speakers from Crutchfield since they usually include any necessary wiring harnesses, electrical connector adapters and mounting brackets. If you'd like to reduce road noise and make the speakers sound better, I'd recommend using Dynamat Sound Deadener on the metal door frame to stop any unwanted vibrations or rattles. |
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Hold Panel Near Frame |
Push In Step Light Plug |
Push In Switch Panel Plug |
To re-install the door panel, hold it near the frame and tilt the top towards yourself while supporting the bottom edge with your legs. Push in the small white plastic power plug for the door step / courtesy light near the bottom of the panel. Then re-insert the green plastic electrical connector in to the underside of the switch panel. |
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Re-Insert Metal Cylinder |
Push In Plastic Collar |
Pop In Two Plastic Prongs |
Re-insert the metal
cylinder at the end of the door opener handle cable in to its socket. Then pull the black plastic collar away from the bracket, re-insert the metal cable in to the bracket. Slide the black plastic collar in to the bracket until the two plastic prongs snap securely in to place. |
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Push In White Plastic Plug |
Re-Insert Door Lock Stalk |
Lower Panel On To Frame |
Push the white
plastic plug in to the socket above the door opener handle cable. Re-insert the chrome colored door lock stalk in to the hole at the upper outer corner of the door panel. Lower the door panel on to the lip at the top of the metal door frame. |
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Line Up Pop Rivets |
Black Plastic Spike |
Firmly Tap In Fasteners |
Line up the white
plastic pop rivets and the black plastic spike or "peg" on the back 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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Replace Rubber Bumper Screw |
Replace Arm Rest Screw |
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Replace the screw
attached to the rubber bumper piece at the lower outer edge of the door
panel by turning it clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. Replace the Phillips head screw at the bottom of the arm rest well by turning it clockwise. |
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Replace Door Handle Screw |
Inner Edge Plastic Fastener |
Pop In Fastener |
Replace the
Phillips head screw behind the door opener handle by turning it clockwise. Push in the black plastic fastener near the middle of the inner edge of the door panel. |
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Re-Insert Armrest Trim Panel |
Pop In Trim Panel |
Door Panel Replaced |
Push in the trim
panel at the bottom of the arm rest well. Pop in the plastic trim piece behind the door opener handle. Sit inside the vehicle, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock switch, door lock stalk and the power window switch all still work properly. For more,
check out my other
2011-2014 Dodge Charger DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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