Door Panel Removal / Speakers

[jackkpts]

I need to remove the front door panels on my daughters 2002 DX. I am going to be treating and encapsulating the rust on the bottom of the driver door and possibly upgrading the speakers. Does anyone have or seen a pictorial step by step instructions on how to remove the panels? I have page 09-17-9 from the Mazda shop manual, but it is not very descriptive. I am assuming this is a fairly easy task - 30 minutes or so??

BTW - Are the standard speakers of poor quality or did Mada use fairly decent ones? I have a new pair of 5x7 Infinity Reference speakers I was thinking of replacing the stock ones with. Have to see if they will fit first, etc.

Thanks!

[XelderX]

I'm doing this from ancient memory so please don't follow it step by step. There may be a fastener or two that I've forgotten. The window controls if you have them should just pop out and unplug from the wiring harness. There is a single phillips head screw that holds the trim behind the door handle. Once that is out of the way you can get behind the handle and disconnect the small actuator rod. The large door "pull" handle is held on by two larger phillips head screws behind two little cosmetic plugs. There is another phillips head screw under the mirror with a little cosmetic cover on it. The last thing I can remember is that there are several push pins on the door on the side where the latch is located.

Maybe this picture will work...

[meGrimlock]

doors are relatively easy. make your life a LOT easier by getting a door panel removal tool. it looks like a flat 2-pronged crowbar end attached to a handheld screw driver. any tool with similar multi-pronged end will aid in removal of the panels.

1st you must remove all the screws. there is 1 screw at the door handle, which is the one i overlook the most when removing these panels. remove the door handle but be careful as it is attached to the locking mechanism via metal wire linkages. you may have to pop the plastic caps off the other screws and if i recall, there are 3 or 4 more screws.

once the screws are out use your panel removal tool to pull the door panel off. the reason it works better than a screw driver is it gives you leverage, easier to get under tight spots, at the same time reduces potential for damage of any surfaces. you can use your hands but we're top of the food chain here...tools are what separates us from the animals!

you will see a clear plastic door screen. held on by a black sticky adhesive. you can leave this here (or remove it if you plan on applying sound dampening to the entire door). this will not interfere with speaker wiring or installation.

the stock speakers are nothing special. 6x8 paper cones with foam surrounds. there is a factory option with tweeters in the sail panels. and mazda offered a kenwood upgrade too. any aftermarket system will be much better; 5x7 should fit but you might need some minor modification like drilling a new screw hole. i recommend harness adapters from crutchfield to make wiring a cinch.