What causes the crack on the passengers side door trim?

[sidonsbones]

I have a 99 Trans Am WS6, but I think this is an issue with a lot of F-bodies. The interior door panel has a crack that appears at the top towards the rear. I've looked around for the panel, only to find others that are cracked in the same location. What is happening here?:thinkin:

[PontiacFan]

Not just the passenger side, ...
'Been there, done that', ...
Don't really know the answer yer lookin' for tho.

[redls1bird]

my drivers door has this also. i to dont have an answer for you.

[02 Blk T/A WS6]

both my doors did this on my ta.
my service guy claims its from the cold.then when i cut the heat on the quick change in panel temp weaken them and eventually they crack. atleast thats what i was told and they were both changed for free.

so i didnt complain or question it

[calb80]

both mine are like that as well. i dont think it really has much to do with the temperature as much as it does with the window torque when you roll it up and down. ive noticed when my window is traveling up or down it either pulls or pushes the door skin in or out... i think that might actually have a bit more to do with it than the temp... but not for sure...

[1 badblack transam 01]

Same problem here on the drivers side. Do any of you think that new weather stripping would help? Thanks, Keith

[sidonsbones]

Well, I feel better about it now that I know I wasn't imagining the problem. Another problem I'm noticing is the seat belt guide on the head rest. I broke mine getting out of the car recently, and remembered this happened a lot on the second generation f-bodies as well. I'm thinking of milling a new piece out of aluminum. :hmm:

[zman1969]

my 99 has both panels cracked at top when i got it window motors been replaced allready maybe happened while removing them? :hmm:

[ButchN]

both mine are like that as well. i dont think it really has much to do with the temperature as much as it does with the window torque when you roll it up and down. ive noticed when my window is traveling up or down it either pulls or pushes the door skin in or out... i think that might actually have a bit more to do with it than the temp... but not for sure...Exactly, it's the flex of the door panel from the window in the fully down position.
My '00 has both sides cracked about 1/2" or so.

[227HAWK]

Exactly, it's the flex of the door panel from the window in the fully down position.
My '00 has both sides cracked about 1/2" or so.

DING DING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!A winner, it's a combo
of the power window motor and heat. The door panel will actually
'Torque'. this is not a good thing.:brick:

[calb80]

is there by chance anyway to keep this from happening if say the door panels were replaced or is it inevitable??? does anybody know?

[227HAWK]

If replacing the door panels =Remove the 4th staple from the front of the panel.
Then super glue the holes.
Hawk

[Flobeast385]

Same thing is happening to mine, looks like poor design along with the window and the heat thing. Seems like something is putting a lot of stress on that same area and it just starts to crack, maybe not enough door clips or something.

[Honboy1]

Isn't the paint warrantied for like 5 years or something for rust?? So why isn't there some kind of extended warranty for workmanship on interior parts? My ws6 looks new with only 22,000 miles on it. But yet I have a small crack where the window molding is like you guys. The crack is so small nobody else would notice. But I'm worried about it getting worse or spreading!!!

[sidonsbones]

The one's I've seen (and the one I have) are about an inch, or inch and a half. I've seen several in the junkyard this way. Probably isn't a lot you can do about it though. :brick:

[Silverbird01]

The crack is so small nobody else would notice. But I'm worried about it getting worse or spreading!!!

Unfortunately it will get worse.
Mine started out the same way with just a small hairline crack. Now it has gone almost all the way down to the door panel insert. I have a bad feeling that new door panels are EXPENSIVE! No I haven't priced one yet but knowing GM.......:cry:

[02 Blk T/A WS6]

not sure if there expensive but i do know that you might have to wait awhile to get them.

when i had my replaced for free they had a passanger side in stock but they couldnt find a driver side one and i was told i had to wait till gm made some more so it took me 2 months to get the driver one, which sucked but i cant complain too much as i didnt have to pay for them at all

[JKERN]

MY 02, THAT I BOUGHT NEW, HAD BOTH PANELS CRACK. LIVING IN NEW YORK I WOULD PARK AND STORE THE CAR THROUGH THE WINTER. LAST YEAR I PARKED THE CAR UP ON BLOCKS IN THE COLD WITH NO DAMAGE. WHEN I PULLED THE COVER 3 MONTHS LATER, GET IN THE CAR AND BOTH PANELS ARE CRACKED. CAR ONLY HAD 7K ON IT. STAY LIKE NEW IN UNHEATED GARAGED NEVER TOUCHED, WRAPPED UP IN A COVER. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FOR FREE BUT GAVE ME NO EXPLANATION.:dunno:

[BIG D's SS]

Cheap ass parts and the door flex from the window motors is what cracks them. Pieces of shit.

[Tonys99RamAir]

I wonder.....do the Camaros have the same problem with their door panels?--Tony

[Kyle C]

Both of mine were cracked when I bought it. Still had factory warranty at that point so both were replaced. I'm sure they will crack again.

[Transamapleleaf]

No cracks on my T/A. I read several reviews of the 4th generation f-bodys that hurled insults at the interior quality. One reviewer suggested the engineers went on a lunch break and the janitors designed the interior. One reviewer said "...a $12,000 Daiwoo has a better quality interior and more attention paid to detail". I love the 1985 Sunbird switches for the windows and door locks. I love the 1979 Chevy Citation turn signal switch and heater controls.

[black_bart]

I have a 99 Trans Am WS6, but I think this is an issue with a lot of F-bodies. The interior door panel has a crack that appears at the top towards the rear. I've looked around for the panel, only to find others that are cracked in the same location. What is happening here?:thinkin:

Just have some custom fiberglass door panels made... problem solved!

[sidonsbones]

Just have some custom fiberglass door panels made... problem solved!


Probably will end that way. I bet if you marketed some type of 3m Trim to cover the entire top of the door panel it would sell well! That would pretty much solve the problem. :shots:

[00Firehawk475]

I have no cracks yet.. could someone set some pictures up here.. I'd like to see exactly where they're coming through... this could make for good project for me sometime over the winter while she's hybernating in the garage...

I'm a wizz with fiberglass so I'm thinking a little extra backing for support to the area that keeps cracking for everyone might prevent the flexing that is causing the cracks and better distribute the stress to the center of the panel where a crack is less likely to start.

If someone can send me a pic of where the crack is in detail.. I could possibly work up a solution and how to prevent - and possibly how to at least stop it from getting worse in the case that it already exists on your cars.

[screamin chicken]

both of mine are cracked, and also my dash, along with bubbles on my roof, and my sun visor also broke.All are common.........

[Honboy1]

MY 02, THAT I BOUGHT NEW, HAD BOTH PANELS CRACK. LIVING IN NEW YORK I WOULD PARK AND STORE THE CAR THROUGH THE WINTER. LAST YEAR I PARKED THE CAR UP ON BLOCKS IN THE COLD WITH NO DAMAGE. WHEN I PULLED THE COVER 3 MONTHS LATER, GET IN THE CAR AND BOTH PANELS ARE CRACKED. CAR ONLY HAD 7K ON IT. STAY LIKE NEW IN UNHEATED GARAGED NEVER TOUCHED, WRAPPED UP IN A COVER. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FOR FREE BUT GAVE ME NO EXPLANATION.:dunno:
Is the warranty up at 3yrs 36k miles for the interior????