Chevrolet
Malibu Interior Door Panels Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in a ninth generation 2016 to 2023 GM Chevy Malibu.
2020 Malibu Door Panel |
Door Opener Handle |
Pry Out Trim Cover |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the ninth
generation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 GM Chevrolet
Malibu in taking off the plastic interior door panels in order to upgrade
the OEM speaker, add soundproofing material, fix a faulty electrical switch
or change a broken power window motor. The 9th generation Malibu was supposed to undergo a "facelift" in 2022 or 2023 and the refreshed vehicle may have continued being produced into the 2024 and 2025 model years but it will now apparently be discontinued after the 2023 model year. Owners of other General Motors vehicles from Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Holden such as the Impala, Corvette, Bolt, Sonic, Spark, Express, Trax, TrailBlazer, Equinox, Traverse, Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Silverado, Cruze, Volt, Camaro, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Regal, LaCrosse, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CT4, CT5, CT6 and Commodore may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to complete this procedure include a small flat head screwdriver, a plastic pry bar tool, a 7mm socket with an extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet. The first two steps are to lower the power window all the way down and then fully open the door. Use a small flat head screwdriver or a plastic automotive trim panel removal tool to gently pry out the small plastic cover located behind the chrome silver door opener handle. |
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Trim Piece Removed |
Armrest Well Pull Handle |
Pry Out Rubber Cover |
Gently remove the
trim cover and set it aside in a safe place. Move down to the door pull handle well in the armrest behind the switch panel. Pry out the rubber cover at the bottom of the well with the flat head screwdriver. |
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Armrest Well Cover |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Door Handle Screw |
Set the rubber
cover aside in a safe place. Loosen the screw located behind the door opener handle by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket, an extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet. Set the screw aside with its corresponding plastic trim cover. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Armrest Screw Removed |
Front Lower Edge Screw |
Then move to the
well in the armrest and loosen the screw by turning it in the
counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. Set the door pull handle screw aside with the rubber cover. Move to the bottom edge of the door panel and locate the black metal screw just below the speaker grille closer to the front of the door. |
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Loosen Lower Screw |
Lower Screw Removed |
Two Covers - 3 Screws |
Loosen the screw at the bottom edge by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. | ||
Pry Up Switch Panel |
Release Friction Fasteners |
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Use the plastic pry
bar tool to very gently lift up the switch panel. You will need to remove and re-insert the plastic pry bar tool in several locations along the front, side and rear edge of the switch panel to fully release all of the metal friction fasteners and plastic retaining clips. Avoid using excessive force to prevent from cracking or scratching the plastic switch panel. |
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Be Gentle & Careful! |
Switch Panel Removed |
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Just be patient and
take your time to loosen and lift up all of the retaining clips. Once all of the clips have been released, turn over the switch panel to access the electrical connector. |
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Electrical Connector |
Pry Out White Lock Tab |
White Lock Tab Released |
Use a flat head
screwdriver to gently slide the white plastic locking tab out and away from
the switch panel. You might also be able to use your fingernail to slide out the white plastic lock tab. |
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Push In Release Button |
Slide Out Power Plug |
Electrical Connector |
Then push in the
black plastic release tab on the electrical connector before sliding the
power plug straight out of its socket. If you are removing the driver side door panel, there should be an extra electrical connector or two that you will have to disconnect due to the additional buttons on that switch panel. Set the switch panel aside in a safe place. |
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Two Screws Exposed |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Remove Second Screw |
Once the switch
panel has been removed, you'll be able to see the last two screws that have
to be removed. Loosen the two black metal screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with a 7mm socket, an extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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Second Screw Removed |
Pull Out Bottom Edge |
Release Friction Fasteners |
Set the two screws
aside with the switch panel. Insert the plastic pry bar tool (or a large flat head 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 rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. The door panel is still held in place by five metal retaining clips situated along the top edge of the door panel by the rubber weatherstripping. |
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Top Inner Edge Pop Rivet |
Lift Door Panel Off Frame |
White Plastic Cable Clip |
Carefully lift the
door panel up and off the upper lip of the metal door frame.
Lifting the top edge of the door panel will remove the five metal retaining clips from their slots on the top of the door frame. Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself to access the back side. Locate the white plastic clip that secures the door opener handle cable to the back side of the door panel. |
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Push Down Release Tab |
Pull Off Plastic Clip |
Pull Ball Out of Socket |
Push down the
release tab on the white plastic retaining clip before pulling it off the
black plastic bracket. Swing the metal cable out of the slot and away from the door panel. Lift the ball at the end of the cable out of its socket. |
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Power Door Lock Plug |
Pry Out Red Lock Tab |
Push In Release Button |
Locate the small electrical
connector for the power door lock switch near the top inner area of the door
panel. Gently slide out the red locking tab. Push down the release button on the connector before sliding the power plug straight out of its socket. |
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Remove Connector |
Door Panel Removed |
Metal Door Frame |
Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place. | ||
Slide Out Weatherstrip |
Rubber Strip Removed |
Metal Track / Clip |
According to my
recent experiences with new GM vehicles, they all have a new door panel
setup for the rubber weatherstripping. In order to re-install the plastic door panel later on, you must slide the rubber weather strip out of the metal retaining clips on the door panel, detach the five metal clips and re-attach them to the metal door frame. |
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Metal Clip Removed |
Pop Out Other Clips |
Five Metal Clips Removed |
Pry out the five
metal retaining clips out of the back side of the door panel near the top
edge. Use a flat head screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool to pop out the five clips. Be careful when you pry out the clips since they might come flying out into your face or become lost. The clips also act as the guide slot for the rubber weather strip. |
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Metal Clip & Slot |
Slide Clip Down In Slot |
Five Clips Replaced |
Then take the five
metal clips over to the metal door frame. Lower the metal clips into the metal slots on the top edge of the door frame close to the glass window's slot. Please take a look at the picture above to make sure you have re-installed the metal retaining clips in the correct orientation. |
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Rubber Weather Strip |
Lower Strip Into Clips |
Weather Strip Secured |
Then carefully
lower the rubber weather strip down into the slots on the metal retaining
clips. Make sure the weatherstrip is fully seated and properly installed by checking the picture above. Note - If you do not remove the weather strip and metal retaining clips from the plastic door panel and re-attach them to the metal door frame, you will NOT be able to properly re-install the plastic door panel later on. |
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OEM Door Speaker |
One Speaker Screw |
Speaker Screw Removed |
The OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) front door speaker is located at the front bottom
corner of the door frame. The speaker is held in place by one 7mm screw located at the top of the bracket. Remove the screw by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket, a short extension bar and the 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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Pull Out Old Speaker |
Slide Out Red Lock Tab |
Push In Release Tab |
Pull the top of the
speaker out of the door frame and lift out the plastic bracket on the bottom
edge. Slide the red locking tab out away from the speaker. Then push in the release button on the electrical connector before sliding it straight out of the socket. The OEM front door speaker can be replaced with aftermarket car speakers in the following sizes: 6 1/2" and 6 3/4". I highly recommend applying some Dynamat sound deadener to the metal door frame and the back side of the plastic door panel to help reduce vibrations and rattles when you crank up the volume. There is nothing more frustrating than installing awesome new car speakers and having the experience ruined by a rattling plastic panel or a vibrating metal door frame. |
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Slide Out Speaker Plug |
Pry Out Stuck Pop Rivets |
Re-Attach To Door Panel |
Check the door
frame for any pop rivet fasteners that remained stuck in place.
Pry them out with a pop rivet removal tool and re-attach them to the back side of the plastic door panel. |
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Yellow Pop Rivet |
Re-Attach Yellow Fastener |
Pop Rivets Replaced |
I found one red pop rivet and one yellow pop rivet that were still stuck to the door panel. | ||
Line Up Door Panel |
Door Lock Switch Plug |
Slide In Red Lock Tab |
Once you are done
replacing the speaker or any other repair procedure, hold the door panel
near the door frame. Make sure you have already transferred the rubber weather strip and the five metal clips back on to the door frame. Push the small electrical connector for the power door lock switch into its socket. Slide the red lock tab in to secure the connector in place. |
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Lower Ball In Socket |
Move Cable Into Slot |
Push On Retaining Clip |
Lower the ball at
the end of the door opener handle cable into its socket. Swing the cable towards the door panel and into its slot. Push the white plastic retaining clip on to the black plastic bracket until it "clicks" securely into place. |
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Line Up Slots & Clips |
Metal Clips - Plastic Slots |
Push To Secure Clips |
Line up the metal
retaining clips on the top edge of the door panel with the plastic slots on
the back side of the door panel. Push the top of the plastic door panel towards the door frame to secure the clips into the slots. |
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Line Up Pop Rivets |
Firmly Tap In Fasteners |
Two Armrest Screws |
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 rivets all along the top edge and both sides of the door panel. Replace the two armrest screws by turning them in the clockwise direction with the 7mm socket and the 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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Tighten Clockwise |
Pull Out Electrical Cable |
Push In Power Plug |
Pull the connector
and cable for the switch panel out of the opening in the armrest. Push the electrical connector straight into the socket on the underside of the switch panel. |
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Slide In White Lock Tab |
Line Up Metal Clips |
Push Down Switch Panel |
You should hear the
or feel the electrical connector "click" securely into place. Slide the white lock tab in towards the switch panel to secure the connector in place. Line up the retaining clips on the underside of the switch panel with their slots on the armrest. Push down the switch panel to secure it into place. Make sure every edge of the switch panel is flush with the armrest. |
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Replace Well Screw |
Door Handle Screw |
Pop In Trim Cover |
Replace the screw
into the bottom of the door pull handle well by turning it in the clockwise
direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. Replace the screw behind the door opener handle by turning it in the clockwise direction until it is snug. Try to avoid over tightening the screws to prevent from cracking the plastic door panel. Gently pop the plastic trim cover back into place behind the door opener handle. |
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Replace Rubber Cover |
Tighten Bottom Screw |
Door Panel Replaced |
Lower the rubber
cover down into the armrest well. Replace the screw into the bottom edge of the door panel by turning it in the clockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. Sit inside the car, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, power door lock switch, power window switch and speaker are all working properly. Be sure to record the speaker upgrade or any repair procedure in your vehicle's service records. Please check out all of the
2016-2023 GM Chevrolet Malibu DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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