Mazda Mazda6 Interior Door
Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in a 3rd generation 2014 to 2018 Mazda 6 to upgrade the OEM speaker.
2016 Mazda 6 Door Panel |
Pry Out Plastic Trim Piece |
Trim Cover Removed |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the third generation (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018)
Mazda Mazda6 sedan in taking off the plastic interior door panels in
order to upgrade the OEM speaker, add soundproofing material, fix a
faulty electrical switch or replace a broken power window motor. Owners of other Mazda vehicles such as the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, CX-3, CX-5, CX-7, CX-9, and the MX-5 Miata may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panel include a small flathead screwdriver, a plastic pry bar tool and a Phillips head screwdriver. To remove the OEM door speaker, you'll need a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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Pry Out Rubber Cover |
Armrest Phillips Screw |
Pry Off Sail Panel |
The first two steps
are to lower the power window all the way down and then open the door. Use a small flathead screwdriver to gently pry out the plastic trim piece located behind the door opener handle. Set the trim cover aside in a safe place. Then use a flathead screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool to remove the rubber cover at the bottom of the door pull well in the center of the armrest. Set the rubber cover aside in a safe place. Move to the top inner corner of the door panel. Use the plastic pry bar tool or the flathead screwdriver to gently pry off the sail panel. The sail panel is held in place by two plastic pop rivets. It resembles two triangles attached by a small plastic strip. |
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Sail Panel Removed |
Remove Door Handle Screw |
Phillips Screw Removed |
Set the sail panel
aside in a safe place. Remove the screw located behind the door opener handle by turning it counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screw aside with its corresponding plastic trim piece. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Armrest Screw Removed |
2 Screws & 3 Trim Pieces |
Remove the screw at
the bottom of the door pull well in the armrest by turning it
counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screw aside with the rubber cover. At this point, you should have removed two plastic pieces, one rubber cover and two Phillips head screws. |
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Pull Out Bottom Edge |
Release Plastic Pop Rivets |
Lift Panel Off Frame |
Insert the plastic
pry bar tool or a large flathead screwdriver in between the bottom edge of
the plastic door panel and the metal door frame. Firmly pull out the bottom edge of the door panel to release the plastic pop rivets. Continue pulling out the pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. Gently lift the top of the plastic door panel off the upper lip of the metal door frame. |
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Door Handle & Lock |
Gently Pull Off Assembly |
Two Electrical Connectors |
Then gently pull
the black plastic assembly with the door opener handle and door lock switch
cables off the back side of the door panel. Locate the grey plastic and white plastic electrical connectors on the underside of the switch panel. |
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Press In Release Tab |
2nd Power Plug |
Pull Out White Power Plug |
Push in the release tab on each electrical connector before sliding them straight out of their sockets. | ||
Plastic Door Panel Removed |
Metal Door Frame |
Remove Stuck Pop Rivets |
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. (If any of the white plastic fasteners remained attached to the metal door frame, use a pop rivet removal tool or a flathead screwdriver to pry them out. Then re-attach them to the back side of the plastic door panel.) |
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OEM Door Speaker |
Disconnect Power Plug |
10mm Speaker Bolts |
Press in the
release tab on the black plastic electrical connector before sliding the
speaker's power plug straight out of its socket. The OEM speaker is held in place by four 10mm bolts. Remove the bolts by turning them counterclockwise. You can replace the OEM speaker 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 stop vibrations or rattles when you crank up the volume and allow your new speakers to sound their best. |
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Window Motor 10mm Bolts |
Replace Handle & Lock |
Push In Grey Power Plug |
If you need to
replace the power window motor, it is held in place to the door frame by
10mm bolts. To re-install the plastic door panel, hold it near the door frame and support the bottom edge with your legs. Push the plastic assembly for the door opener handle, door lock switch and the two cables back in to the bracket on the back side of the door panel. Push the two power plugs back in to their sockets on the underside of the switch panel. |
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Push In White Plug |
Lower Panel On Frame |
Line Up Pop Rivets |
Lower the top edge
of the door panel on to the upper lip of the metal door frame. Line up the white 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 |
Replace Armrest Screw |
Re-Insert Rubber Cover |
Firmly tap in the
plastic pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both
sides of the door panel. Replace the screw at the bottom of the door pull well in the center of the armrest by turning it clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. Re-insert the rubber cover back in to the door pull well. |
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Replace Door Handle Screw |
Re-Insert Plastic Trim Piece |
Trim Piece Replaced |
Replace the
Phillips head screw behind the door opener handle by turning it clockwise
until it is snug. Gently snap in the plastic trim piece behind the door opener handle. |
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Push On Sail Panel |
Sail Panel Secured |
Door Panel Replaced |
Line up the two pop
rivets on the back side of the sail panel with their corresponding holes at
the top inner corner of the door frame and push it back in to place. Sit inside the car, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock switch, power window switch, power door lock switch and the new speaker all work properly. For more,
check out my other
2014-2018 Mazda Mazda6 DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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