I just bought a 94 and have only had it a week.

The door panel on the right side keeps popping off at the top when closing the door. I have put it back on at least 4 times now and after a few time closing the door is slips off the top again.

My procedure has been as follows:

1. Remove one screw and the 4 or 5 pop-in connectors along the bottom of the panel.
2. Remove screw for hand bezel.
3. Remove screw that holds door handle and lock hardware.
4. Lift door panel our from bottom and slide up.
5. Place top of door panel over inside lip of door and slide down.
6. Push bottom of panel against door.
7. Put all screws back in place.

I have noticed on Step 5 that the panel does NOT seem to 'snap' in place or seem to have much of a lip to secure to and in general can 'slip out' easily.

I also noticed that there are no places to secure this panel on the side at all....that seemed odd to me.

So, any one have a similar problem......some advice on this?

Thanks,

K.C.

 

My 87 driver side door does the same. I attribute it to it being a 22 year old car. I also would like to hear of any fixes to this. If anyone can help, great. I will just keep popping it back on as it isn't that big of a deal.

 

Could be that the ribs in the panel are cracked - if so, here's a couple of solutions:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...wire-ties.html

 

Seems to me having to pop the panel back on 4 times a week is a problem. Check to see if there is any damage to the clips that slip down into the retainers inside where the window seal is. Also there is a velcro strip glued to the forward part of the panel that if it is still adhered will make it a real pain to get the panel off. Check and see if it has come unglued.

 

I thought it might be the ribs on my '87 coupe door panel but when I took it off I found the panel was cracked and someone used duct tape to hold the crack together. Needless to say I bought new door panels from Willcox and replaced all the plastic screw inserts, they were all cracked and broken and only 4 screws were actually doing their job. Been 9 months since the door panels were replaced and they havent come off once. The doors sound good and solid when they are shut.

 

If there is a velcro strip on the forward part of the panel, it is not doing very much. So I assume that it is either gone or wore out.

"The clips that slip down into the retainers..." I will check that as soon as I get some time.....I am thinking now that those clips are just not working if they are even there at all.....

Will Chevy dealership have those clips or are they aftermarket only.....and if aftermarket, any suggestions on where to get them?

Thanks.

K.C.

 

I too am having some issues with my driver side door panel coming off at the base of the window. I'll post pictures this week if the temp is high enough to work.

 

There is/was a real good tip on how to fix this as it is a common problem with the door panel warping over time.
But, the tech tips for C4, https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti....php?TopicID=2
isnt working now for me at least.
It was a simple l shaped piece of metal you use to get the top of the door panel(couple on top) to hook over it as you install the panel. Then when you tighten all the screws etc, voila, door panel is tight on the door.
Wish I could help more, but tech tips is not working.
This thread is missing the pictures, but maybe you can understand.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...oor-panel.html
The bracket I used is 1" long by 1/2" wide on each end, so it doesn't matter which way you put it on -- both sides of the "L" are identical. There are several 10mm screws that run the length of the door frame on the top. Choose 2 screws to secuire your "L" brackets -- I used the ones that hold the felt-covered window rub brackets. Just unscrew the screws, place an "L" bracket on top of the hole, and reattach the screw. Screw them on with the open part of the "L" facing the inside of the car, i.e. if you are sitting in the car (drivers side), the "L" will go like you would write it on paper. Now, once they are on, SLIGHTLY bend the "L" towards the inside of the car (1 or 2 light whacks with a hammer is all). The door panel itself has a lip on it -- the top of the panel bends over on the inside. There are no special parts or attachment points on the door panel, as it was designed to fit over the tiny raised edge of the door frame that runs the length of the door frame. Just place the door panel on top of the "L" brackets (coming at it from above the door, working the panel over the door frame), line up the edges and the screw holes, and it will be held by the curved top part of the door panel.
Half way down in this thread is an L shaped bracket on door panel
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...indow-fix.html

 

I am going to go ahead and try some plastic weld epoxy I bought, along with adding a zip tie to the biggest rib. I hope it does the trick...