Jeep Wrangler
Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in a fourth generation JL 2018 to 2023 Jeep Wrangler SUV.
2020 Wrangler Door Panel |
Door Opener Handle |
Plastic Trim Cover |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the "JL"
fourth generation (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023) Jeep Wrangler
SUV in taking off the plastic interior door panels in order to install door
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, Compass, 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 small flat head screwdriver such as from a precision screwdriver set, a plastic pry bar tool, a Torx T30 star bit screwdriver, a Torx T20 screwdriver and needle nose pliers. The first two steps are to fully lower the power window and open the door. Locate the small black plastic trim piece situated behind the door opener handle. |
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Insert Flat Head - Pry Out |
Trim Piece Removed |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Insert a small flat
head screwdriver into the notch at the top of the plastic trim cover. Gently pry out the trim cover and set it aside in a safe place. Loosen the single bolt behind the door opener handle by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with a Torx T-30 star bit screwdriver. |
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Torx T-30 Removed |
Bolts Under Armrest |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Set the Torx T30
bolt aside in a safe place. Move to below the door pull handle and locate the two T30 bolts. Remove the two T-30 bolts by turning them in the counterclockwise direction. |
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Two T30 Bolts Removed |
Bottom Edge - T20 |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Set the two Torx
T30 bolts from below the armrest aside in a safe place. Move to the bottom edge of the door panel and locate the two smaller black metal screws. Remove the two screws at the bottom edge by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with a Torx T-20 screwdriver. |
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3 Bolts & 2 Screws |
Pry Out Bottom Edge |
Loosen Side Pop Rivet |
Set the two T20
bolts aside in a safe place. At this point, you should have removed one plastic trim cover, three large T30 bolts and two smaller T20 screws. Insert a plastic pry bar tool in between the door panel and the metal door frame. Firmly but carefully pull out the bottom edge and both sides to release the pop rivet friction fasteners. |
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Loosen Outer Edge |
Pop Rivets Released |
Lift Panel Off Frame |
Once all the pop rivets have been released, carefully lift the plastic door panel up and off the top of the metal door frame. | ||
Tilt Away Top Edge |
Lock & Handle Cables |
Pull Out Black Collar |
Tilt the top edge
of the plastic door panel away from the metal door frame. There are two metal cables on the back side of the door panel that operate the door opener handle and the door lock rocker switch. The cable with the black plastic collar operates the door lock rocker switch. Lift the black plastic collar out of the bracket, swing the cable away from the door panel and lift the metal cylinder out of its socket. |
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Lift Out Metal Cylinder |
Door Lock Cable |
Squeeze Two Prongs |
To release the
white plastic collar from the bracket, you'll need to use a pair of needle
nose pliers. Pinch the two white plastic prongs together with the needle nose pliers with one hand. Use your other hand to slide the white plastic collar out of the bracket. |
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Pull Out White Collar |
Swing Out Cable |
Lift Out Metal Cylinder |
Swing the cable out
and away from the door panel.
Lift the metal cylinder out of its socket. |
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Wire Harness |
Slide Back Red Lock Tab |
Push In Release Tab |
Locate the wire
harness and the black electrical connector. Slide the red locking tab back away from the electrical connector. Push in the release tab and slide the power plug out of its socket. |
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Disconnect Power Plug |
Door Panel Removed |
Metal Door Frame |
Set the plastic
door panel aside in a safe place.
The silver metal power window motor is now easily visible. If you'd like to add some soundproofing material to the door frame, I recommend using Dynamat or Kilmat sound deadener. |
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Pull Out Stuck Pop Rivet |
Pop Rivet Removed |
Reattach Fastener To Panel |
Check the door
frame to see if any of the black plastic pop rivets are stuck in place.
Pry them out with a pop rivet removal tool and reattach them to the back side of the plastic door panel. |
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Push In Power Plug |
Slide In Red Lock Tab |
Lower In Metal Cylinder |
Once you are done
adding soundproofing, fixing an electrical switch or replacing the power
window motor, hold the door panel near the door frame. Push the black plastic electrical connector into its socket. Slide the red plastic lock tab in towards the electrical connector. Lower the metal cylinder for the door opener handle cable (white plastic collar) into the lower socket. |
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Pop In White Prongs |
Lower In Metal Cylinder |
Secure Black Plastic Collar |
Push the white
plastic collar into the back side of the bracket until the two prongs are
secured in place. Lower the metal cylinder for the door lock rocker switch (black plastic collar) into the upper socket. Pop the black plastic collar into the upper slot in the bracket. |
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Lower Panel On Frame |
Push Down Top Edge |
Line Up Pop Rivets |
Carefully lower the
top of the plastic door panel on to the upper lip of the metal door frame. Push down on the top edge of the door panel to secure it in place. Line up the pop rivets on the back side of the door panel with their corresponding holes in the door frame. |
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Firmly Tap In Fasteners |
Replace Bottom Screws |
Tighten Clockwise |
Firmly tap in the
pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the
door panel. Replace the two screws on the bottom edge by turning them in the clockwise direction with the Torx T20 screwdriver until they are snug. |
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Armrest T30 Bolts |
Tighten Clockwise |
Replace Door Handle Bolt |
Then replace the
two bolts located below the armrest by turning them in the clockwise
direction with the Torx T30 screwdriver until they are snug. Replace the bolt behind the door opener handle by turning it in the clockwise direction with the T30 screwdriver. Try to avoid over tightening the screws or bolts to prevent from damaging the plastic door panel. |
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Push In Trim Cover |
Trim Piece Secured |
Door Panel Replaced |
Gently pop in the
plastic trim piece behind the door opener handle. Sit inside the vehicle and close the door. Verify that the door opener handle, door lock rocker switch, power window switch and power door lock switch are still all working properly. Be sure to write down any repair procedure that you performed in your car's service records. For more,
please check out all of my
2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler DIY Maintenance Guides. |
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