2002 Door Panels

[jscheublein]

I have a 2002 TA NHRA Convertible produced on the last day of production. At a show a man said I should re-do the door panels to keep them from cracking ( they are perfect as of now). Something about the skins on the panel were stretched to tight and would crack even know the car is covered and rarely driven. Does anybody know something about a problem?

Thanks - Jim

[tajunkman]

Here is a thread about the door panel problem on ls1tech

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/pontia...uote-pics.html




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[Rocky Rotella]

This may help too.

http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...air/index.html

[sleepy]

Mine both cracked with 200 miles left on the warranty. The dealer said they couldn't get it in for 2 weeks. when they finally got it in it was 120 miles over warranty and they wouldn't cover it. $500 each for the plastic + labor to switch the speakers and switches.
I told them to stick it up their a$$. I'll live with the cracks and NEVER buy another GM.

[David Holmberg]

Rocky, have you noticed this more with the 00-02 black int, over the gray panels?

My 99 WS6 Convertible has perfect panels, with only 34K miles.

BTW, you should have advised that while the panel are off, they should swap out the window motors too.

[Rocky Rotella]

I haven't noticed that any specific color is more susceptible, but it seems the LS1 years are more affected by this. It's all in the way the felt strip was attached to the panel, however. If it was twisted when the staples were installed, it can never fully relax and will eventually crack. Mine looked perfect with 18,000 miles, but it was apparent that a stress crack was forming. Fortunately I caught it in time!

Good point about the window motors!

[pontiac6269]

From what I read off LS1Tech it is 98 -02. The 96 I just bought has 120,000 miles and the door panels are perfect.

[Father&Son73T/A]

My friends have done about 8 4th gen door panels,they did mine too.
Remove panels and remove every other staple,I had a hairline crack starting,hasn't progressed since we did it two yrs ago,neither has any of the other 7 4th gens.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by David Holmberg

Rocky, have you noticed this more with the 00-02 black int, over the gray panels?

My 99 WS6 Convertible has perfect panels, with only 34K miles.

BTW, you should have advised that while the panel are off, they should swap out the window motors too.

'x 3,luckily mine was under warrenty

[Cammer-6]

I have several 4 th gens and many are cracked
One 02 and one 99 are both garage queens and still have cracks.
A 99 parts car I had,which had led a hard rough 140k life before it was totaled,had a good passenger side. My 97 has no cracks,my 94 has no cracks. I do believe that the lighter colors and early years help but theres no guarantee its not going to happen.
Ive seen a mod of removing the staples,cutting a slot and putting a rivet in. I think Ill try that on any uncracked ones.On the PW motor I would wait until it goes out,only takes 10 min to remove a door panel.