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Toyota Avalon Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door panels in a 4th generation 2013 to 2017 Toyota Avalon to upgrade the speakers.

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2016 Avalon Door Panel
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Pry Off Sail Panel
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Sail Panel Removed
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the fourth generation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and also the refreshed 2018 model year) Toyota Avalon sedan 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 Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles such as the Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Prius, Camry, RAV4, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, Venza, Highlander, 4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, IS 250, IS 200t, IS 300, NX 200t, NX 300h, RX 350, RX 450h, LS 460, LS 600h, ES 350, ES 300h Hybrid, RC F, GS 350, CT 200h, LX 570, GX 460, tC, iA, iM, xB, xD, iQ and FR-S may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The tools needed to remove the door panel include a plastic automotive panel pry bar tool, a small flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver and a large flathead screwdriver.



 
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Door Opener Handle
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Pry Out Trim Piece
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Trim Cover Removed
The first two steps are to lower the power window all the way down and then open the door.

Use the plastic pry bar tool to gently remove the triangular shaped sail panel located at the top inner corner of the door panel.

On some models, the sail panel may contain a tweeter speaker that needs to be unplugged.

Set the sail panel aside in a safe place, such as on the floor mat inside the car.

Use a small flathead screwdriver to gently pry out the plastic trim piece located behind the door opener handle.

Set the door handle trim piece aside in a safe place.

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Switch Panel - Armrest
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Pry Up Switch Panel
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Plastic Pry Bar Tool
Move to the outside edge of the switch panel.

Insert the plastic pry bar tool in between the edge of the chrome colored switch panel and the plastic armrest.

Gently pry up the switch panel to release the retaining clips.

Try to avoid using excessive force, the switch panel should pop out relatively easily.

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Gently Pry Up Rear Edge
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Switch Panel Removed
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Push In Release Tab
You may need to re-insert the pry bar tool several times along the switch panel to fully remove it.

Be sure to gently pry out the small rear edge of the switch panel from the door pull handle in the center of the armrest.

Lift out the switch panel and turn it over to access the electrical connectors.

Press in the release tabs on the power plugs before sliding them straight out of their sockets.

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Disconnect Power Plugs
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Fastener - Top Inner Corner
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Push In Round Center
Set the switch panel aside in a safe place.

Move to the inner edge of the door panel and locate the black plastic pop rivet fastener.

Gently push in the round center part of the fastener with a small flathead screwdriver.

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Pry Out Base of Fastener
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Plastic Fastener Removed
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Remove Phillips Screw
Then gently pry out the base of the fastener.

Remove the screw located behind the door opener handle by turning it counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.

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Door Handle Screw Removed
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Remove Armrest Screw
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Phillips Screw Removed
Set the screw aside with its corresponding plastic trim piece so that you don't mix up the screws later on.

Remove the screw at the center of the arm rest by turning it counterclockwise.

Set it aside near the middle of the switch panel that you removed earlier.

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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Rear Armrest Screw
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Middle Outer Edge
Then remove the screw located at the bottom of the door pull handle near the rear of the armrest.

Set the screw aside near the smaller rear edge of the switch panel.

Move to the middle outer edge of the door panel and locate the black rubber bumper attached by a screw.

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Loosen Phillips Screw
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Rubber Bumper & Screw
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4 Screws & 1 Fastener
Remove the rubber bumper piece by turning the screw counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.

At this point, you should have removed the sail panel, switch panel, door handle trim cover, 4 screws and the plastic pop rivet fastener.

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Courtesy Step Light
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Pry Out Light Housing
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Light Housing Removed
Move to the bottom rear corner of the door panel and pry out the courtesy step light bulb housing with a small flathead screwdriver.
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Press Tab - Remove Plug
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Arrow & Handle
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Pull Out Bottom Edge
Press in the tab on the white plastic electrical connector before sliding the power plug straight out of its socket.

Locate the arrow and grab handle at the bottom inner part of the plastic door panel.

Firmly pull out the bottom edge of the door panel to disengage the plastic pop rivets.



 

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Or Use Large Screwdriver
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Pull Out Plastic Pop Rivets
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Lift Door Panel Off Frame
If you have trouble pulling out the pop rivets, use a large flathead screwdriver or the plastic pry bar tool.

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

Lift the door panel up and off the top lip of the metal door frame.

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Tilt Away Top Edge
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Cables & Bracket
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Gently Lift Retaining Clip
Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself and support the bottom edge with your thighs.

Locate the two cables for the door opener handle and the door lock switch attached to a black plastic bracket.

Use the pry bar tool to gently lift up the retaining clip at the top edge of the bracket.

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Bracket Removed
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Handle & Lock Mount
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Door Panel Removed
Pull the bracket off the back side of the door panel and lift out the door opener handle.

Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place.

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Metal Door Frame
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Remove Stuck Pop Rivets
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Disconnect Speaker Plug
If any of the plastic fasteners remained attached to the metal door panel, use a pop rivet removal tool to extract them.

Replace those pop rivets on to the plastic door panel.

The OEM door speaker is located at the bottom inner corner of the metal door frame.

Press in the release tab on the speaker's electrical connector before pulling the power plug straight out of its socket.

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Phillips Head Screws
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Hold Panel Near Frame
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Push On Cables Bracket
To remove the OEM door speaker, loosen the Phillips head screws by turning them counterclockwise.

I recommend applying some Dynamat Sound Deadener to the metal door frame so that your new speakers will sound their best. It will help stop any vibrations or rattles when you really crank up the volume.

To replace the plastic door panel, hold it near the door frame and tilt the top edge towards yourself.

Line up the plastic bracket for the door opener handle and door lock switch cables.

Push the bracket back in to place on the mount at the rear of the door panel.

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Pull Wires Through Opening
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Lower Panel On Frame
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Pull Out Courtesy Light Wire
Pull the wires for the switch panel through the opening in the door panel near the armrest.

Lower the top edge of the door panel on to the upper lip on the metal door frame.

Pull the power plug for the courtesy step light through the opening near the bottom outer edge of the door panel.

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Line Up Pop Rivets
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Firmly Tap In Pop Rivets
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Courtesy Light Power Plug
Line up the white 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 rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom and both sides of the door panel.

Push the power plug for the courtesy step light bulb housing back in to its socket.

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Re-Insert Wires First
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Gently Pop In Housing
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Door Pull Handle Screw
Re-insert the wires and then pop in the courtesy step light bulb housing back in to place.

Replace the smaller silver Phillips head screw in to the bottom of the well in the armrest by turning it clockwise.

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Tighten Phillips Clockwise
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Longer Armrest Screw
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Tighten Clockwise
Replace the longer Phillips head screw in to the center of the armrest by turning it clockwise until it is snug.
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Door Opener Handle Screw
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Tighten Phillips Clockwise
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Replace Rubber Bumper Screw
Replace the smaller black metal screw behind the door opener handle by turning it clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.

Replace the rubber bumper and screw at the middle outer edge of the door panel by turning it clockwise until it is snug.

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Replace Plastic Fastener
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Plastic Trim Cover
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Pop In Plastic Piece
Push the plastic fastener back in to place at the inner edge of the door panel.

Line up the plastic trim piece behind the door opener handle and gently snap it back in to place.

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Push In Power Plugs
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Line Up Yellow Plastic Clips
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Push On Switch Panel
Push the power plugs back in to their sockets on the underside of the switch panel.

Line up the yellow plastic retaining clips and push the switch panel down in to place.

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Line Up Sail Panel
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Push On Sail Panel
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Door Panel Replaced
(If your Avalon has a tweeter speaker attached to the sail panel, re-insert the power plug.)

Line up the friction fastener on the back side of the sail panel and push it back in to place.

Sit inside the car, close the passenger door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock switch, power window switch, power door lock switch and speaker all work properly.

For more, check out all of my Toyota Avalon DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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