1. Remove the chrome plastic trim strip from the upper inside
edge of the door panel. It will snap up just before you think
it will break, unless it breaks first in which case it needed
replacing.
2. Do not remove the exterior chrome strip because it's not
necessary, you will scratch the paint and destroy the $40
trim piece irrevocably. Trust me.
3. Pull back sharply on the top of the inside door panel and
it will tip back enough so you can do the rest of the job.
4. Carefully snap off the textured black plastic trim piece
covering the vertical support strut between the big window
and the small triangular window. There will be 3 screws behind
it which must be removed carefully so as not to drop them
down inside the door.
5. After dropping the 3 screws down inside the door, carefully
unsnap the large textured plastic trim piece that runs around
the entire upper perimeter of the door on the inside.
6. Remove the rear rubber window track from the black aluminum
channel that you loosened by removing the 3 screws. Then maneuver
the aluminum part upward and outward till it's free.
7. Pull the front part of the rubber window track away from
it's channel inside the large black aluminum part at the front
edge of the door. This will expose 3 more tiny screws which
you must remove to get the front aluminum piece out. Now the
front most vertical part of the window track can be pulled
away from this aluminum piece.
8. Pull the old window track away from the rest of the door
frame.
9. Now apply a silicone based rubber dressing to all the parts
of the door frame where the new window track will have to
be pressed in. You will NEVER succeed without applying lube.
10. Starting from the rearmost edge of the door just at the
base of the small triangular window begin pressing the new
rubber into place. You will have to push very hard using a
tool with a hard but smooth edge. I used a bicycle tire removal
tool that had a small spoon shaped end that I could push with
without damaging the new part. The 1/4 inch rubber strip that
holds the triangle window in will wind up underneath the new
window track rubber. You will have to add some lube to this
area, and gently pry the 1/4 inch strip up and over the new
window track. You can do this last.
11. Next the rear black aluminum channel is slid back down
inside the door to mate with the silver colored channel that
is inside the door. There is a small tab at the top of the
silver channel that you need to catch with the bottom of the
black upper channel. Then with the black aluminum channel
loosely in place push the new rubber window track inside it.
At this point you may have to stretch and reposition the section
that you just installed around the rear triangular window
until the rubber window track falls in the right place. This
is why the lube is so important. Before you install the three
little screws from inside the door, make sure the position
of the aluminum channel is like the one on the other side
of the car.
12. Keep working the new window track into place along the
top until you get to the front edge. Now install the front-most
vertical rubber track (the one that seals the gap between
the front and rear doors) into the large black aluminum channel.
You will need lots of lubricant again.
13. Tighten the 3 screws of the black aluminum channel in
place. Install the front edge of the rubber window track now
by just sliding it into the receiving channel in the black
aluminum part.
14. Now roll the window up and down a few times CAREFULLY.
If anything is out of place and get jammed, it might be very
difficult to reposition correctly. Also shut the door and
make sure everything looks right. I had a minor problem at
the front most corner where the seal just touches the back
edge of the corresponding front door seal. When I first shut
the door this piece caught on the bright trim that it sits
against and folded back on itself. A little repositioning
of the front part of the window track and some lube on the
bright trim piece got everything working correctly. If I had
left that piece folded over that way for a few days I'm afraid
it would have taken a set that way.
15. Now you replace the large textured plastic trim around
the door frame making sure that the rubber window track at
the top goes UNDER this plastic trim. See the other side for
reference. 16. Next comes the vertical textured plastic trim
that covers the 3 little screws. The secret to this one is
to put the rear (of the car) edge in first and then snap it
around the front. Snap the top of the door panel back on,
replace the chrome plastic trim strip and you are done.
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