I recently removed almost everything from inside my Fit and put Dynamat soundproofing wherever I could. I also installed four new speakers and another 12v outlet. Based on what I did, here are some tips for when you work on your car's interior.

Fit Interior Work

Some suggestions if you plan to remove the interior and install Dynamat, speakers, wiring, switches, or anything else.

1. Take pictures of everything before disassembly. If you don’t take enough pictures during disassembly, you’ll realize which ones you should have taken when you try to put everything back together. You can take them before the next disassembly.
2. Have boxes and zip lock bags available.
3. Put all fasteners into zip locks and label them with a marker.
4. Put larger plastic pieces into boxes.
5. Get a couple of sets of plastic panel removal tools. This will prevent damage and make the job easier. I have two sets of four tools, but I seldom have all eight at one time.

6. Get another Fit to see how things should go back together. My son’s Fit came in handy a couple of times.
7. It will be easier leaving the thick rubber weather seal around the doors in place as much as possible. I removed some and left some. Removing only what you need makes it much easier to put it back on.
8. There are lots of sharp edges, so be careful, and have Band Aids handy. Blood can stain. The clear plastic liner on the doors is held in place with an incredibly sticky, gooey black adhesive. It will get on your hands and everything your hands touch. Alcohol is a good remedy. Just don’t drink too much, or you might mess up the job. Rubbing alcohol works well for removing that goo from your hands, but it will really, really hurt when it gets into all those little cuts you got from the sharp edges.
9. When you remove plastic body panels, label them on the inside. You can use stick-on computer labels or paper and Scotch tape. You can also go out and buy a nice label maker and use that. These pieces look very similar after they’ve been off the car for a while.
10. When you remove panels, those green clips may stay in the body of the car. Remove them immediately and put them back into the panel.

11. It can be very difficult to get the door panels back on. The door handle is loose to float around, and it must line up with the opening in the door panel and the hole and threads in the door to attach it with a single screw. It can go on quickly, or it can be a nuisance.
12. Save all the leftover bits. You might find where they belong during your next disassembly.
13. Save the vacuuming till after the work is done, although vacuum under the seats, if you remove them.

 

13b. Make sure you found all the hardware you took off before you vacuum!

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Thanks SilverEX, those are some very helpful points and suggestions. It often happens that when you're ready to put everything back together you look at all the parts and have to really stretch your memory to recall how they go back together.

 

Yeah, like finding that some bolts are short and some are long. I have a jar with some "extra" parts.

I hate not having a manual available. manufacturers must make money selling them, but they probably figure that they make even more servicing cars when owners can't. GREED!

 

Yeah the whole no manual thing is pretty dam annoying. So was it worth it? Did your changes make a difference?

 

Definitely! It was like I was riding with muffled ears. I've been meaning to write an article and post some pictures. When I put Dynamax in a car, I like to wait till the whole job is done before driving it so I get the full effect. I was able to keep my car off the road for about ten days to do everything.

 

So do you feel any difference in sound isolation? I was planing but i am also thinking to change my honda fit for the new mazda 2(not in sale in the usa).

 

Yes! Big difference. It was like driving with muffled ears. I'm going to do a post about the job. I'll start on it now. Look for a "Dynamat Soundproofing" topic.

EDIT: Whoops! All the info and pictures are on the other computer. I'll do it later.

 

Awesome. Glad it was worth it. I have only done it to one car and it was a lot of work. And yes please do a write up if you have time.

 

Yes, it is a lot of work, and it took longer without a manual and because I installed another 12v outlet, rewired some things, replaced the speakers, and put more lights in the trunk area. Definitely worth it, though.

Yes, I'll try to post details about the job today.