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Chevrolet Colorado Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door panels in a second generation 2015 to 2022 GM Chevy Colorado truck.

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2019 Colorado Door Panel
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Pry Out Trim Cover
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Trim Piece Removed
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the second generation (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) GM Chevrolet Colorado truck in taking off the plastic interior door panels 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 General Motors vehicles from Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick and Holden such as the Trax, Equinox, Traverse, Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Sonic, Cruze, Trailblazer, Spark, Malibu, Impala, Volt, Bolt, Corvette, Camaro, Silverado, Express, Regal, LaCrosse, Cascada, Encore, Enclave, Envision, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CT5, CTS, XTS, CT6, ATS, Astra and Commodore may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The tools needed to remove the door panels include a small flat head screwdriver, a plastic pry bar tool, a large flat head screwdriver, a 7mm socket, an extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

The OEM door speaker is held in place by a single 7mm screw.

The first two steps are to lower the power window all the way down and open the door.

Then locate the small black plastic trim cover located behind the chrome silver door opener handle.

Insert the blade of the small flat head screwdriver into the notch at the rear edge of the trim cover.

Gently pry out the trim cover and set it aside in a safe place.



 

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Pry Out Armrest Trim
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Trim Panel Removed
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Armrest Screws Near Rear
Next, use a large flat head screwdriver or the plastic pry bar tool to gently loosen the silver plastic trim cover on the outside edge of the armrest.

You may need to re-insert the tool in several locations around the trim cover to loosen all of the metal retaining clips.

Once all of the friction fasteners have been loosened, pull the trim cover off the armrest.

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Remove Stuck Metal Clip
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Retaining Clip Removed
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Re-Attach Clip To Cover
If any of the metal retaining clips remained attached to the armrest, pry them out with the flat head screwdriver.

Then re-attach the metal clip to the back side of the trim cover.

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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Door Handle Screw
Loosen the single screw located behind the door opener handle by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

Set the screw aside with its corresponding trim piece.

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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Loosen Second Screw
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Remove Two Screws
Loosen the two screws located near the center of the armrest (under the switch panel) by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket, an extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

You may need to use a magnet pickup tool or a magnetized screwdriver tip to retrieve the two screws from inside their wells.

Set the two armrest screws aside in a safe place.

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Bottom Edge - Two Screws
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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Remove Second Screw
Move to the bottom edge of the door panel and locate the two small black metal screws.

Remove the two screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

Set the two screws aside with the other fasteners.

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2 Trim Pieces & 5 Screws
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Pry Out Bottom Edge
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Pull Out Pop Rivets
At this point, you should have removed two plastic trim covers and five screws.

Insert the plastic pry bar tool 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 rivet fasteners.

Continue pulling out the pop rivets all along the bottom and both sides of the door panel.

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Lift Panel Off Frame
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Pull To Pop Out Top Clips
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Metal Clips Released
The door panel is still held in place to the door frame by five metal retaining clips on the upper edge along the rubber and felt window seal.

Firmly pull the top edge of the door panel away from the door frame to pop out the metal retaining clips.

Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself to access the electrical connectors and the door handle opener cable.

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Door Handle Cable
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Press Release Tab
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Pull Mount Off Bracket
Push down the release tab on the white plastic mount attached to the door opener handle cable.

Pull the mount off the black plastic bracket on the back side of the door opener handle assembly.

Swing the metal cable out away from the door panel.

Lift the ball at the end of the cable out of its socket.

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Lift Ball Out of Socket
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Push In Release Tab
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Pull Out Power Plug
Reach in behind the cotton noise insulation cover and push in the release tab on the electrical connector for the switch panel.

Slide the power plug straight out of its socket.

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Door Lock Switch Plug
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Slide Out Red Locking Tab
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Remove Connector
Then move up to the electrical connector for the power door lock switch.

Slide out the red locking tab.

Push in the release tab and slide the electrical connector straight out of its socket.

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Door Panel Removed
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Pry Out Stuck Pop Rivet
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Re-Attach Pop Rivet
Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place.

Check to see if any of the grey plastic pop rivets have remained attached to the metal door frame.

Pry them out with a pop rivet removal tool and re-attach them to their slots on the back side of the door panel.

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Metal Door Panel
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OEM Door Speaker
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Loosen Counterclockwise
The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) front door speaker is situated at the front bottom corner of the door frame.

Remove the single screw at the top of the old speaker by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

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Single Speaker Screw
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Remove OEM Speaker
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Disconnect Power Plug
Set the screw aside in a safe place.

Gently pull the old speaker out of the door frame.

Pry out the red lock tab on the electrical connector.

Push in the release tab on the power plug before sliding it straight out of its socket.

The original front door speakers can be replaced with aftermarket car speakers in the following sizes: 6 1/2" (6.5"), 6 3/4" (6.75") and 6" x 9".

I highly recommend applying some Dynamat sound deadener to the metal door frame and the back side of the plastic door panel to help stop vibrations and rattles when you really crank up the volume.

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Hold Panel Near Frame
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Insert Switch Panel Plug
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Connector Replaced
Attention: Before you attempt to re-install the plastic door panel, take a look at the instructions and pictures near the bottom of this page for detaching the rubber window seal and metal retaining clips.

I found it very difficult to re-attach the door panel with the rubber window seal still attached to the plastic door panel.

While removing the door panel on a Chevy Cruze, I found it much easier to detach the rubber window seal and metal retaining clips from the door panel and then attach them directly to the metal door frame before replacing the door panel.

After you have completed transferring the metal retaining clips and rubber / felt window seal to the metal door panel, continue with the following steps.

Hold the plastic door panel near the metal door frame and tilt the top edge towards yourself.

Push the electrical connector for the switch panel back into its socket. It should "click" securely into place.



 

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Push In Door Lock Plug
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Slide In Red Lock Tab
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Line Up Metal Ball
Push the small electrical connector for the door lock switch back into its socket.

Slide the red locking tab back in towards the plug to secure it in place.

Line up the metal ball at the end of the door opener handle cable with the socket.

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Lower Ball Into Socket
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Push Mount On To Bracket
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Door Lock Stalk & Hole
Lower the ball down into the socket.

Swing the cable towards the door panel and push the white plastic mount on to the bracket.

The white plastic mount for the cable should "click" securely on to the black plastic bracket.

Re-insert the door lock stalk into the hole in the rear top corner of the door panel.

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Push To Secure Metal Clips
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Push In Pop Rivets
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Replace Bottom Screws
Lower the top of the plastic door panel on to the metal door frame.

If you followed my directions below as shown on a Chevy Cruze, it should be very easy to re-attach the door panel to the top of the frame.

If you did not remove the rubber window seal and metal retaining clips, you will need to line up the top of the door panel and carefully lower the metal retaining clips into their slots on the metal window sill. This can be very difficult to accomplish.

I highly recommend following the directions at the bottom of the page. In summary, slide out the rubber window seal from the plastic door panel, pry out the metal retaining clips from the door panel, re-attach the metal clips to the door frame and slide the rubber / felt window seal into the metal clips with the felt side facing towards the glass window.


Line up the plastic pop rivets on the back side of the door panel with their openings in the door frame.

Firmly tap in the pop rivets all along the bottom and both sides of the door panel.

Replace the two screws on the bottom edge of the door panel by turning them in the clockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

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Replace Second Screw
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Replace Top Screw
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Attach Screw To Socket
Then replace the screw situated behind the door opener handle by turning it in the clockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

To replace the two deep set armrest screws, I recommend lightly attaching the screw to your 7mm socket with some painter's tape.

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Tighten Screw Clockwise
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Line Up Armrest Trim
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Pop In Retaining Clips
Tighten the two 7mm screws into the armrest by turning them in the clockwise direction until they are snug.

Line up the silver plastic trim cover with the outside of the armrest.

Push the armrest back into place to secure the metal retaining clips.

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Plastic Trim Cover
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Pop In Plastic Cover
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Door Panel Replaced
Line up the small plastic trim piece and push it back into place behind the door opener handle.

Sit inside the vehicle, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, power door lock switch, door lock stalk, power window switch and speaker are all working properly.

Be sure to record the speaker upgrade or any other procedure in your truck's service records.

Please check out all of my 2015-2019 GM Chevrolet Colorado DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.


Chevrolet Cruze Window Seal Removal & Re-Installation

If you have trouble re-attaching the plastic door panel for your Chevrolet Colorado to the metal door frame, it may be necessary to first remove the rubber and felt window seal or "weather stripping" from the back side of the plastic door panel along with prying out the metal retaining clips. Then re-attach the metal clips and rubber seal to the metal door frame.

Please view the instructions and pictures for this procedure as demonstrated on a Chevy Cruze below.

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Slide Out Rubber Seal
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Seal Detached From Panel
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Rubber Track & Felt Trim
Slide the rubber and felt window seal out from the side of the plastic door panel.

You'll notice that the felt side of the window seal faces towards the glass.

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Rubber Seal Removed
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Metal Retaining Clips
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Pry Out Metal Clips
Set the rubber window seal aside.

Use a large flat head screwdriver to firmly pry out the metal retaining clips from the back side of the door panel.

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Loud "POP" Sound
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Metal Clips Removed
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Line Up Clips & Slots
It may sound like you are breaking something when you pry out the metal clips.

They should pop out with moderate force. Try to avoid using excessive force to prevent from cracking the plastic door panel.

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Re-Attach Clips To Frame
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Metal Clips Replaced
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Line Up Rubber Seal
Lower the metal retaining clips down into the slots on the top edge of the metal door frame.

Then slide the rubber window seal into the openings at the top of the retaining clips.

The felt side should be facing towards the glass window and the outside of the vehicle.

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Felt Facing Glass Window
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Slide Edge Into Place
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Rubber Seal On Frame
The rear edge of the rubber window seal should be seated into the crevice at the rear lower corner of the window frame.

Now you can very easily lower the plastic door panel back over the top edge of the door frame.

Follow the directions above to finish re-installing the door panel on your Colorado.

Please check out all of my 2015-2019 GM Chevrolet Colorado DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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