Jeep Compass
Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels and upgrade the OEM speakers in a 2017 to 2022 Jeep Compass.
2017 Compass Door Panel |
Door Opener Handle |
Pry Out Trim Piece |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the second
generation (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and facelifted 2022) Jeep Compass
SUV in taking off the plastic interior door panel 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 Jeep, Dodge and RAM vehicles such as the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Renegade, Gladiator, Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer, Wagoneer, Charger, Challenger, Durango, RAM 1500, Promaster, 2500 and 3500 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to complete this procedure include a flat head screwdriver, a plastic pry bar tool, a 10mm socket, a 7mm socket, a 1/4" drive ratchet, a Phillips head screwdriver and a Torx T25 star bit screwdriver. The first two steps are to lower the power window all the way down and fully open the door. For this guide, I'll be taking off the front passenger side door panel. Use a flat head screwdriver to carefully pry out the rear edge of the plastic trim piece located behind the chrome silver door opener handle. |
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Trim Cover Removed |
Silver Bolt Exposed |
Pry Out Rubber Cover |
Try to avoid using
excessive force. The trim cover behind the door opener handle should pop out
relatively easily. Set the trim cover aside in a safe place. Move to the door pull handle in the center of the armrest. Use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry out the rubber cover at the bottom of the storage well. |
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Rubber Cover Removed |
Outside Edge Door Panel |
Pry Out Plastic Cap |
Set the rubber
cover aside with the other trim piece. Move to the outside edge of the door panel. Locate the two small rectangular shaped plastic screw covers. |
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Screw Cover Removed |
Pry Out Lower Cover |
Second Cap Removed |
Use the flat head
screwdriver to gently pry out the two screw caps. Set the two screw caps aside with the other trim covers. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Silver Bolt Removed |
Remove Armrest Screw |
Loosen the silver
metal bolt located behind the door opener handle by turning it in the
counterclockwise direction with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. Set the silver bolt aside in a safe place. Move to the middle of the armrest. Remove the black metal screw in the center of the door pull handle well by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with a 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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Black Screw Removed |
Move To Bottom Edge |
Remove Bottom Screw |
Set the black screw
aside in a safe place. Move to the very bottom edge of the door panel and locate the small black metal screw situated near the center. Loosen the screw by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screw aside in a safe place. |
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Remove Top Outer Screw |
Bottom Outer Screw |
Outer Screws Removed |
The move to the
outer edge of the door panel and remove the two small black metal screws by
turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the Phillips head
screwdriver. Set the two screws aside with their corresponding plastic trim caps. |
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1 Bolt, 4 Screws, 2 Plastic |
Pry Off "Sail" Panel |
Sail Panel Removed |
At this point, you
should have removed the plastic trim piece, the rubber trim cover, the two
small rectangular shaped screw caps, four black metal screws and one silver
metal bolt. Move to the very top inner corner of the door panel near the side view mirror. Use the plastic pry bar tool to gently pry off the triangular shaped "sail panel". On some Jeep models, the sail panel will contain a tweeter speaker that needs to be disconnected. Set the sail panel aside in a safe place. |
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Pry Out Bottom Edge |
Release Pop Rivets |
Tilt Away Top Edge |
Next, move to the
bottom edge of the door panel. Slide a large plastic pry bar tool in between the plastic door panel and the metal door frame. Firmly but carefully, pull out the white plastic pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself and support the bottom edge with your legs. |
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Disconnect Power Plugs |
Electrical Connectors |
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Push in the release
tabs on each of the electrical connectors and pull them straight out of
their sockets. Their might be more electrical connectors on the front driver side door panel due to the additional switches. |
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Two Metal Cables |
Swing Out Cable |
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Locate the two
metal cables that operate the door lock rocker switch and the door opener
handle. The upper cable (located closer to the top of the door panel) operates the door lock rocker switch. The lower cable is attached to the door opener handle. Pull the black plastic collar near the end of the upper cable out of its bracket and swing it away from the door panel. |
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Lift Out Metal Cylinder |
Squeeze Together Prongs |
Swing Out Cable |
Lift the metal
cylinder at the end of the cable out of its socket. To release the lower cable, use needle nose pliers to squeeze together the two white plastic prongs and then push it out of the rear of the bracket. Swing the cable out away from the door panel. |
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Lift Out Metal Cylinder |
Door Panel Removed |
Metal Door Frame |
Lift the metal
cylinder at the end of the cable out of its socket. Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place. |
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Pry Out Stuck Fasteners |
Reattach Pop Rivet |
Speaker Bottom Inner |
Check the metal
door frame for any white plastic pop rivets that remained stuck in place. Use a pop rivet removal tool or a large flat head screwdriver to pry out the stuck pop rivets and reattach them to the appropriate location on the plastic door panel. The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) front door speaker is located at the front bottom corner of the metal door frame. The compatible replacement aftermarket speaker sizes include the following: 5 1/4" and 6 1/2". If you are upgrading to more powerful speakers, I highly recommend applying some Dynamat sound deadener to the metal door frame and the back side of the plastic door panel. The sound deadener will help prevent rattles and vibrations when you crank up the volume. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Power Window Motor |
Hold Panel Near Frame |
To remove the door
speaker, turn the four screws in the counterclockwise direction with a
Torx T-25 star bit screwdriver. The power window motor is also held in place by Torx T25 screws. To replace the door panel, hold it near the door frame and tilt the top edge towards yourself. |
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Push In Power Plugs |
Electrical Connector |
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Replace the
electrical connectors by sliding them straight into their sockets. The power plugs should "click" securely into place. |
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Lower In Metal Cylinder |
Push In Two Prongs |
Lower In Metal Cylinder |
The metal cable
with the two prongs on a white plastic collar operates the door opener
handle and should be reattached to the lower part of the assembly. Lower the metal cylinder into the socket, rotate the cable towards the door panel, and pop the white plastic collar into the hole to secure the two prongs. Then lower the metal cylinder for the door lock rocker switch cable into its socket. Swing the cable towards the door panel and pop the black plastic collar into the "C" shaped socket. |
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Pop In Black Collar |
Line Up Top Pop Rivets |
Top of Panel Secured |
Line up the white
plastic pop rivets on the back side of the door panel with their
corresponding holes in the metal door frame. Push on the top of the door panel to secure the pop rivets. |
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Line Up Bottom Fasteners |
Firmly Tap In Pop Rivets |
Replace Bottom Screw |
Continue tapping on
the bottom and both sides of the door panel to secure all of the pop rivet
friction fasteners. Replace the small black metal screw at the bottom of the door panel by turning it in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Top Outer Edge Screw |
Bottom Outer Screw |
Pop In Plastic Caps |
Replace the two
black metal screws into the outer edge of the door panel by turning them in
the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver until they are
snug. Then pop in the two rectangular shaped plastic screw covers. |
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Replace Bottom Cap |
Replace Armrest Screw |
Replace Rubber Cover |
Replace the larger
black metal screw into the bottom of the well in the armrest by turning it
in the clockwise direction with a 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet until
it is snug. Lower the black rubber cover down into the bottom of the well in the door pull handle. |
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Replace Silver Bolt |
Line Up Trim Cover |
Trim Cover Secured |
Replace the silver
metal bolt behind the door opener handle by rotating it in the clockwise
direction with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet until it is snug. Line up the plastic trim cover and carefully pop it back into place behind the door opener handle. |
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Line Up Sail Panel |
Push To Secure Panel |
Door Panel Replaced |
Line up the
friction fasteners on the back side of the sail panel with the openings on
the door panel. (If your sail panel has a tweeter speaker, be sure to reconnect the electrical connector. Push the sail panel back into place. Sit inside the vehicle and make sure the door opener handle, door lock rocker switch, power window switch, power door lock switch and speaker are all still working properly. Don't forget to write down the speaker change or any other maintenance procedure in your vehicle's service records. Please
check out all of my
2017-2022 Jeep Compass DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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