Questions and Answers
Rattling Camaro
Q. Hi Vince, Your advice is great and your answer's timely. Your information on the Smoking Camaro was on the mark - the valve seals will be replaced this week.
Here's another one on the 94 Camaro - V6, PW and Locks, solid top (not the conv. or the t-top).
The driver's side door window is fine when closed. That is, it closes solid, has no leaks and does not rattle. When the window is open partially, the window rattles in the track. When the window is down all the way, the rattle is unbearable. When the door is slammed with the window down (partial or fully), I'm afraid the window will fall out of the door.
I have looked at the repair manual and am considering a DIY here! My questions are numerous.
Is this a good DIY project? Is the door trim easy to remove and replace? Can I reuse the inner plastic seal? and if not where do I find one? Is the rattle just a loose track or something more complex? If done professionally, what is the typical cost? one hour or 5? What can the parts cost?
Don
A. I don't believe this job is beyond the average persons abilities. The trickiest part of the job is taking the door panel off. There are only about 2 or three screws and a bunch of plastic clips that hold it on. The power window switch just pops out and there's a hold down screw behind it. There's usually two screws in the door pull that have to come out also.
If there is a remote manual mirror control, there is a small hex set screw holding it that has to come out. There is a special tool to remove the clips, but you can use a screwdriver between the door panel and the door to pry them out. Get as close to the clip as possible when you pop them and don't be surprised if they break or get left in the door when the panel pops out.
That plastic is to keep water from getting to the door panel, after all, it's basically just a thick piece of cardboard. If it rips and tears when you take it off, and it probably will if you're not really, really careful. If it comes off intact, by all means, reuse it. What I do when they rip up too badly to be reused is to put a bead of 3M Weatherstrip Cement around the door, cut open a plastic garbage bag and slap it in. After the cement sets up, about 30 minutes, I take a razor blade and trim the excess off.
Now that we have that out of the way, we have to find the rattle. Chances are that a track or window guide is loose or broken. It can also be a loose or missing bolt. You're going to have to do a little detective work here. Look at everything carefully. If you're unsure, you can take the other door panel off and use it as a reference. Of course the power window regulator is going to be in the way so that'll make it more difficult to see things.
If worse comes to worse and you can't find the problem, at least the car is drivable and you can take it in and have a mechanic look at it. The hardest thing about replacing parts in this door is that everything is riveted. To replace anything you'll need to drill out the rivets, replace the parts and Pop Rivet them in. You can use nuts, bolts and lock washers, but some will require you bend your hands and arms in ways they were not designed to.
Worst case scenario; pulling the door panel off, locating and repair the problem and putting everything back together can be a three to four hour job.
