Honda Pilot
Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in a 2nd generation 2009-2015 Honda Pilot to upgrade the speakers.
2012 Pilot Door Panel |
Pry Off Sail Panel |
Sail Panel Removed |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the second generation (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
& 2015) Honda Pilot SUV in removing the plastic interior door
panels in order to upgrade the OEM door speakers, add soundproofing
material, fix a faulty electrical switch or replace a broken power
window motor. Owner's of other Honda or Acura vehicles such as the Odyssey, Insight, Ridgeline, CR-V, Fit, Civic, CR-Z, Crosstour, Accord, MDX, RDX, RLX, TL, TSX and ILX may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panel include a small flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver and a large flathead screwdriver or a plastic automotive panel pry bar. To remove the door speaker, you'll need an 8mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet or a Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Door Opener Handle |
Push Down Release Tab |
Screw Cover Removed |
The first two steps
are to lower the power window all the way down and then open the door. Gently pry off the triangular shaped sail panel at the top inner corner of the door panel with a plastic automotive pry bar tool or a flathead screwdriver. On some models, the sail panel may contain a tweeter speaker that needs to be disconnected. Set the plastic sail panel aside in a safe place. Then move to the door opener handle and press down the release tab on the trim piece to remove the screw cover. Set the screw cover aside in a safe place. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Remove 2nd Phillips Screw |
Screw Below Armrest |
Loosen the two
screws behind the door opener handle by turning them counterclockwise. Set the two screws aside in a safe place. The third and final screw that needs to be removed is located just below the armrest. |
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Remove Phillips Head Screw |
2 Panels & 3 Screws |
Pull Out Bottom of Panel |
Remove the arm rest
screw by turning it counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. At this point, you should have removed 3 screws, one plastic screw cover and the sail panel. Insert the plastic automotive pry bar tool in between the bottom edge of the door panel and the metal door frame. Firmly pull out the bottom edge of the door panel to disengage the plastic pop rivet friction fasteners. |
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Release Plastic Pop Rivets |
Courtesy Step Light |
Slide Out Wire Fastener |
Continue pulling
out the pop rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door
panel. Look behind the bottom part of the door panel and remove the courtesy step light bulb socket by rotating it 1/4 turn counterclockwise. Then slide out the black plastic fastener that secures the bulb wiring to the back of the panel. |
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Lift Panel Off Door Frame |
Two Cables |
Pull Off Plastic Collar |
Carefully lift the
door panel up and off the top of the metal door frame. Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself and support the bottom edge with your legs. The two metal cables attached to the back of the door panel operate the door opener handle and door lock rocker switch. |
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Rotate Out Cable |
Pull Out Metal End Piece |
Release Plastic Collar |
Pop the black
plastic "C" shaped socket off the door lock switch cable. Pull the cable out of the metal bracket and swing it away from the door panel. Pop off the small white plastic collar and lift the metal elbow piece out of the socket. Pull the white plastic "C" socket off the door opener cable. |
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Rotate Cable Away |
Pry Open Plastic Clip |
Lift Out Metal Bar |
Pull the door
opener handle cable out of the metal bracket.
Gently pry open the plastic retaining clip that secures the barbed metal bar with a small flathead screwdriver. Lift the barbed metal bar out of the white plastic socket. |
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Switch Panel Power Plug |
Push Down Release Tab |
Swing Open Lever |
To release the
electrical connector for the switch panel, first push down the small white
plastic tab to release the locking lever. Swing open the locking lever and slide the power plug straight out of its socket. |
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Remove Electrical Connector |
Other View of Plug |
Metal Door Frame |
If you have trouble
removing the electrical connector, make sure you are pushing the release tab
towards the switch panel. Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place. |
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Plastic Panel Removed |
OEM Door Speaker |
Hold Panel Near Frame |
The OEM door
speaker is located at the bottom inner edge of the door frame. To remove the speaker, you'll need an 8mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench or a Phillips head screwdriver. The OEM front 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 purchasing new speakers from Crutchfield since they usually provide any necessary power plug adapters, wiring harnesses and/or mounting brackets. If you'd like to reduce road noise and allow the new speakers to sound their best, apply Dynamat Sound Deadener to the metal door frame 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 Plug |
Rotate In Latch To Lock |
Re-Insert Metal Bar |
Slide the
electrical connector for the switch panel straight in to its socket. Close the white plastic lever to lock the power plug in place. Re-insert the barbed metal bar for the door opener handle cable in to the white plastic clip. |
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Snap Closed To Lock |
Plastic Collar In Bracket |
Metal Bar In Socket |
Snap the hinged
cover closed to secure the barbed metal bar in place. Pop the white plastic collar near the end of the cable in to the metal bracket. Re-insert the metal elbow piece at the end of the door lock switch cable in to its socket. Snap the white plastic "C" collar over the metal bar. |
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Close Plastic Collar |
Push Collar In To Bracket |
Lower Panel On Frame |
Snap the white
plastic piece near the end of the cable in to the metal bracket. Close the black plastic "C" shaped collar over the cable. Lower the top of the door panel on to the upper lip of the metal door frame. |
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Replace Step Light Socket |
Line Up Plastic Pop Rivets |
Firmly Tap In Fasteners |
Look behind the
door panel and re-attach the wire harness for the courtesy step light. Re-insert the step light bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place. Line up the plastic pop rivets on the back of the door panel with their corresponding holes in the metal door frame. Firmly tap in the pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. |
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Re-Insert Arm Rest Screw |
Tighten Screw Clockwise |
Replace Door Handle Screws |
Re-insert the screw
below the arm rest and tighten it in the clockwise direction until it is
snug. Replace the two screws behind the door opener handle by turning them clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Tighten Screws Clockwise |
Pop In Plastic Screw Cover |
Line Up Sail Panel |
Pop in the plastic
trim piece behind the door opener handle that hides the two screws. Line up the two plastic hooks at the bottom edge of the sail panel with their slots. |
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Hooks On Bottom Edge |
Push On Sail Panel |
Door Panel Replaced |
Re-insert the hooks
in to their slots and then push the sail panel back in to place to secure
the pop rivet fasteners. Sit inside the SUV, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock rocker switch, power door lock switch and power window switch all still work properly.
For more, please check out my other
2009-2015 Honda Pilot DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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