Door Card Removal
Discussion
Having been playing around with my rear speakers prior to replacement of the 6x9s in the parcel shelf I noticed that the passenger side door speaker is noticeable by it's absense, so I thought I'd pull it out and have a look to see the problem is, since I intend to replace them soon anyway.
Turns out someone had the genius idea of mounting the speakers on the inside of the door and now one of the screws is stuck
Had a quick play and noticed that some of the tabs at the bottom aren't fitted in place either, so it looks like a slap-dash job was done
Having been unable to figure how to get the panel off I gave up and consulted the manual over a coffee and that says access to the securing nut is accessed behind the speaker - catch 22!
Any cunning plans on how I can get the panel off without damaging anything?
Turns out someone had the genius idea of mounting the speakers on the inside of the door and now one of the screws is stuck
Had a quick play and noticed that some of the tabs at the bottom aren't fitted in place either, so it looks like a slap-dash job was done
Having been unable to figure how to get the panel off I gave up and consulted the manual over a coffee and that says access to the securing nut is accessed behind the speaker - catch 22!
Any cunning plans on how I can get the panel off without damaging anything?
Logic dictates that if the speaker is mounted to the inside of the door panel then whoever put it back on wouldn't have been able to access the nut through the hole as the bible states and therefore it won't be attached.
Unless they did it by going up into the door from underneath and bending the doorcard though this would take an act of extreme contortion if mine is anything to go by....
Unless they did it by going up into the door from underneath and bending the doorcard though this would take an act of extreme contortion if mine is anything to go by....
This infamous securing nut holds the central section of the door card in place. If when you close the door using the finger groove / slot in the door card padding nothing moves then the nut is probably fitted. If the card moves a little as you pull the door shut then no nut.
Removal and re-fitting of said nut involves an arm through the speaker hole with (IIRC) an 8mm spanner. Its a bit of a bitch............. Even more of a bitch if you have a speaker that is fitted to the back of the door card.......
Some people......
Can you drill the head off the offending screw maybe ? If you are fitting new speakers you should get new spire nuts (those pressed steel jobbies that go over the edge of the hole cutout to provide a screw fixing) and screws with the speakers.
Removal and re-fitting of said nut involves an arm through the speaker hole with (IIRC) an 8mm spanner. Its a bit of a bitch............. Even more of a bitch if you have a speaker that is fitted to the back of the door card.......
Some people...... Can you drill the head off the offending screw maybe ? If you are fitting new speakers you should get new spire nuts (those pressed steel jobbies that go over the edge of the hole cutout to provide a screw fixing) and screws with the speakers.
tubbystu said:
Even more of a bitch if you have a speaker that is fitted to the back of the door card.......
Some people......
Looking at it when the speakers were changed (I'm loathe to say upgraded as the Goodmans speakers in the front a barely better than white noise!) the fitters didn't bother putting much of the dash back on properly, as the centre console is slightly out of line and doesn't fit properly so none of the screws line up.
Some people......It did feel as if there was something holding in the middle of the door, so I'm wondering if they swung the speaker out of the way to access the nut, will check the other side for inspiration to see if similar genious was utilised...
This could all have happened when the dash waa re-veneered though, whatever, a bit of a shoddy job
Bit too dark now to continue today, so will have to continue if I get a chance on Friday or when she returns from APM.
page3 said:
tubbystu said:
Removal and re-fitting of said nut involves an arm through the speaker hole with (IIRC) an 8mm spanner. Its a bit of a bitch.............
Have a 7mm spanner to hand too. One side of mine used that instead of an 8mm which took me ages to figure out
A handy hint ! when you refit the card replace the nut with a wing nut, save your knuckles next time !
Rower said:
page3 said:
tubbystu said:
Removal and re-fitting of said nut involves an arm through the speaker hole with (IIRC) an 8mm spanner. Its a bit of a bitch.............
Have a 7mm spanner to hand too. One side of mine used that instead of an 8mm which took me ages to figure out
A handy hint ! when you refit the card replace the nut with a wing nut, save your knuckles next time !
Another handy hint - tie a piece of string to the end of the spanner and the other end to an elastic band. Put the elastic band around your wrist. This will save 15 minutes fishing around inside the door for the spanner when you drop it - which you will.

Indeed, mine has two of the little buggers and only found that out after much moaning and groaning thinking I had already removed the one listed. As another tip though when replacing the nut or nuts if you cant find a wing nut to fit (I couldnt) then the metal screw cap that fits in the top of spark plugs (surplus to requirements) is the same thread and can also be done up and undone by hand.
dougc said:
Rower said:
page3 said:
tubbystu said:
Removal and re-fitting of said nut involves an arm through the speaker hole with (IIRC) an 8mm spanner. Its a bit of a bitch.............
Have a 7mm spanner to hand too. One side of mine used that instead of an 8mm which took me ages to figure out
A handy hint ! when you refit the card replace the nut with a wing nut, save your knuckles next time !
Another handy hint - tie a piece of string to the end of the spanner and the other end to an elastic band. Put the elastic band around your wrist. This will save 15 minutes fishing around inside the door for the spanner when you drop it - which you will.

Glad im not the only one
pies said:
dougc said:
Rower said:
page3 said:
tubbystu said:
Removal and re-fitting of said nut involves an arm through the speaker hole with (IIRC) an 8mm spanner. Its a bit of a bitch.............
Have a 7mm spanner to hand too. One side of mine used that instead of an 8mm which took me ages to figure out
A handy hint ! when you refit the card replace the nut with a wing nut, save your knuckles next time !
Another handy hint - tie a piece of string to the end of the spanner and the other end to an elastic band. Put the elastic band around your wrist. This will save 15 minutes fishing around inside the door for the spanner when you drop it - which you will.

Glad im not the only one
Seconded........
Have decided to leave my quandary to APM, as the car is down their right now, your tales of bleeding knuckles lost spanners was too much for me
Noticed yesterday as I coincidentally kicked off the drivers side speaker panel that they'd mounted that speaker on the outside of the door for that one, so I'm now convinced whoever fitted all the speakers is the one who left the dash panels out of line...
But on a positive note, I think I've decided on my speakers of choice...
Noticed yesterday as I coincidentally kicked off the drivers side speaker panel that they'd mounted that speaker on the outside of the door for that one, so I'm now convinced whoever fitted all the speakers is the one who left the dash panels out of line...
But on a positive note, I think I've decided on my speakers of choice...
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


