Mark944na86

The door card on the passengers side of my S2 seems to be loose and separating from the door -- pulling the door shut with the handle from the inside shows a lot of flex in the card, as if it has become detached or is becoming detached somewhere inside. The door card on the drivers side seems to be much more securely attached.

Anyone know what the cause might be, and have addressed this problem? I've never had reason to try to dismantle the doors from the inside -- any tips for late model cars?

Luis de Prat

There are 3 phillips screws that attach the door panel (or card) to the door frame right at the arm rest, plus several more throughout the panel. Coincidentally, all 3arm rest screws recently came loose on the passenger door of my S2 as well and my father called me with this very same issue.

I found 2 of the screws on the carpet between the passenger seat and the door sill, and the 3rd inside the door pocket. Hopefully, yours will be there as well. I refit them tightly and all is well.

Mark944na86

So to retighten these screws, you don't need to actually remove the panel? Cool! Thanks Luis!

I thought this was going to be a PITA job...

KuHL 951

Sounds to me like the metal tab at the top of the inner handle has slipped past the slot in the door frame. This will make the door panel bulge in and cause everything else on the door panel to work loose. You have to remove the panel and realign the metal tab if this is the problem.

Mark944na86

OK... I'll have to be prepared for this possibility as well.

Is removing the panel tricky on S2s? Clark's write-up looks like it's for an early model...

KuHL 951

Removing a door panel is one of the easiest tasks on these cars. I can have one off in less than 5 minutes. Early and late are pretty similar. The key is to use a flat trim tool to keep from damaging the card and plastics buttons. You'll see the trim ring screw for the door handle. Once every thing is loose you just 'slide' the whole panel up to disengage it at the window slot. It's easy for that metal tab to miss the slot in the door so test it before you start putting the rest of the screws back in.

Mark944na86

Thanks, KuHL, that's encouraging.

I'm always a bit nervous regarding messing around the interior trim on these old cars... tiny (yet important) brittle plastic bits always seem to want to break at the slightest provocation...

But it sounds like this isn't such a big dealio after all.

Luis de Prat

In case you do need to remove the whole door panel, Tom M'Guinn has the best explanation on Rennlist:

http://members.rennlist.com/tom86951/Lock%20Linkage.htm

elf89

Tom and I took almost the exact same picture of the old and new lock connector.

http://www.elfners.com/944/lockfix.html

There's a link to Clark's garage procedure for this as well. It was pretty easy, just picky, but helpful to know where all those screws are. Good luck.

Mark944na86

Thanks everyone, those write-ups with photos are awesome! Makes a job go much more quickly if you actually know what you're getting into...

WizPorsche944

I need to replace my central locking connectors. What do you guys use to put the plastic sheet back ?

FRporscheman

Why is everyone calling them cards lately? I've always (only) heard them called panels?

YOU WILL CONFORM WITH MY VOCABULARY SO I FEEL NORMAL!

Mark944na86

FWIW, I've only seen "door card" reasonably recently too, but thought it was a useful term since it was not easily confused with the sheet metal exterior door panel. Although I must admit I didn't quite know what it was referring to when I first saw it... had to think about it.

Luis de Prat

You just tug on it gently and it comes off. The glue is meant to be reusable.

To remove the panel, however, it's best to use a proper tool for this purpose (Snap on makes a nice one). If you use a screwdriver or similar, you're more likely to bend the panel and break the retaining tabs.

FRporscheman

Sometimes the glue is still sticky, but for when it's not, I got a can of 3M spray adhesive from the auto parts store. It's a little expensive, like $11 per can, but it works on all kinds of upholstery, like leather, vinyl, carpet, etc.