Nissan Altima
Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels of a 5th generation 2013, 2014 or 2015 Nissan Altima with photos.
2014 Altima Door Panel |
Door Opener Handle |
Pry Out Trim Piece |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the fifth generation (2013, 2014, 2015 and possibly also
the updated 2016 model year) Nissan Altima sedan in removing the
plastic interior door panels in order to upgrade the OEM speakers,
add soundproofing material, fix a faulty electrical switch or change
a broken power window motor. Owners of other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles such as the Versa, Maxima, Juke, Rogue, Murano, Xterra, Pathfinder, Sentra, Cube, Armada, Leaf, Quest, Frontier, 370Z, GT-R, Titan, G25, G37, M35 and M37 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panels include a small flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver and a large flat head screwdriver or an automotive panel removal pry tool. |
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Trim Piece Removed |
Pry Off Trim Panel |
Door Pull Handle Cover |
The first two steps
are to lower the power window all the way down and then open the door. Gently pry out the plastic trim piece behind the door opener handle with the small flathead screwdriver. Set the trim piece aside in a safe place. Then pry off the outer trim piece all along the door pull handle that extends from the top left of the panel down to the arm rest. There is a hook at the rear edge of the trim cover, so begin prying off the panel near the middle or the top edge. |
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Plastic Retaining Clips |
Pull Up Switch Panel |
Turn Over Switch Panel |
Set the trim cover
aside in a safe place. Gently pull up the electrical switch panel out of the armrest. Turn over the switch panel to access the electrical connector. |
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Press Release Tab |
Disconnect Power Plug |
Remove Phillips Head Screw |
Press in the
release tab on the white plastic power plug before sliding it straight out
of its socket. Set the switch panel aside in a safe place. Remove the screw behind the door opener handle by turning it counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screw aside with its corresponding trim piece. |
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Door Pull Handle Screw |
Phillips Screw Removed |
Remove Armrest Screw |
Remove the Phillips
head screw at the top of the door pull handle by turning it
counterclockwise. Remove the Phillips head screw located at the center of the armrest that was underneath the switch panel by turning it counterclockwise. |
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Armrest Screw Removed |
3 Screws & 3 Panels |
Pull Out Bottom Edge |
Set the armrest
screw aside by the bottom of the trim cover that you removed earlier. Firmly pull out the bottom edge of the door panel to disengage the pop rivet friction fasteners. You may be able to pull out the pop rivets with just your fingers or you may need to pry with a large flathead screwdriver or an automotive panel removal tool. |
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Pop Rivets Removed |
Pull Out Step Light |
Push In Release Tab |
Continue pulling
out the pop rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door
panel. Gently pop out the red plastic courtesy step light bulb housing at the bottom of the door panel. It can be pushed out from the rear of the panel or you may pry it out from the outside. Push in the release tab on the white plastic power plug and slide it straight out of its socket. |
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Door Step Light Removed |
Lift Door Panel Off Frame |
Tilt Top Edge Towards You |
Lift the plastic
door panel up and off the top lip of the metal door frame. Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself and support the bottom with your legs. |
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Pop Out Top Cable |
Swing Out Cable |
Lift Out Metal Bar |
The door lock
switch cable is located at the top of the bracket and the door opener handle
cable is located at the bottom of the assembly. Pop out the black plastic collar on the door lock switch cable from the bracket. Swing the cable out away from yourself and lift the metal bar out of its socket. |
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Pop Out Bottom Cable |
Swing Out Lower Cable |
Lift Out Metal Ball |
Pop out the black plastic collar near the end of the door opener handle cable from the bracket. Swing the cable out away from the panel. Lift the metal ball at the end of the cable out of its socket. |
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Plastic Door Panel Removed |
Metal Door Frame |
Disconnect Speaker Plug |
Set the plastic
door panel aside in a safe place. The OEM door speaker is located at the bottom inner corner of the door panel. Press in the release tab on the speaker's white plastic power connector and slide the plug straight out of its socket. |
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Remove Phillips Head Screws |
3 Speaker Screws Removed |
Pull Out Old Speaker |
Remove the three
Phillips head screws that hold the OEM door speaker in place by turning them
counterclockwise. Pull the OEM speaker out of the door frame. The OEM door speakers can be replaced with aftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 5 1/4" (5.25") and 6 1/2" (6.5"). I'd recommend buying new speakers from Crutchfield since they usually include any necessary wiring harnesses, electrical connector adapters or mounting brackets. To make your new speakers sound better, I suggest applying some Dynamat Sound Deadener to the metal door frame around the speaker to help stop unwanted vibrations or rattles when you crank up the volume. |
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Hold Panel Near Frame |
Re-Insert Metal Ball |
Pop In Plastic Collar |
To replace the door
panel, hold it near the door frame and support the bottom with your legs. Re-insert the metal ball at the end of the door opener handle cable in to its socket. Pop the black plastic collar near the end of the cable in to the bracket. |
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Re-Insert Metal Bar |
Pop In Plastic Collar |
Pull Out Wire Harness |
Re-insert the metal
bar at the end of the door lock switch cable in to its socket. Pop the black plastic collar near the end of the cable in to the "C" shaped socket in the bracket. Pull the wiring harness for the switch panel out of the opening in the armrest. |
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Lower Panel On Frame |
Pull Out Wire Harness |
Plug In Courtesy Step Light |
Lower the door
panel on to the lip at the top of the metal door frame. Pull the wire harness for the courtesy step light out of the opening in the bottom of the panel. Push the power plug in to the socket on the courtesy step light housing. |
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Gently Pop In Bulb Housing |
Line Up Pop Rivets |
Firmly Tap In Fasteners |
Gently pop in the
step light housing. Line up the plastic pop rivets on the back of the door panel. Firmly tap in the pop rivet fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. |
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Replace Armrest Screw |
Tighten Upper Screw |
Replace Door Handle Screw |
Replace the screw
in the armrest below the switch panel by turning it clockwise with the
Phillips head screwdriver. Replace the Phillips head screw at the top of the door pull handle by turning it clockwise. Replace the Phillips head screw behind the door opener handle by turning it clockwise. |
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Plug In Switch Panel |
Replace Switch Panel |
Trim Panel Mount |
Push the electrical
connector for the switch panel straight in to its socket. Pop the switch panel down in to place over the arm rest. |
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Re-Insert Rear Hook |
Line Up Retaining Clips |
Gently Tap On Trim Panel |
Re-insert the
plastic hook at the rear edge of the door pull handle trim cover. Gently tap the door pull handle trim cover back in to place to secure the retaining clips. |
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Pop In Trim Piece |
Door Opener Handle |
Door Panel Replaced |
Pop the trim piece
back in to place behind the door opener handle. Sit inside the vehicle and close the door panel. Verify that the door opener handle, door lock rocker switch, power window switch and power door lock switch all still work properly. For more,
check out my other
2013-2015 Nissan Altima DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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