We weren’t very motivated to work on the van lately, but our recent day trip seemed to do the trick and the next day we set to fix the annoying rattling sliding door. The sliding door in the Carado Banff was a thorn in our sides for a while. The cabinet is a bit in the way and we seem to grab the window area and pull it towards us to close the door shut.
This resulted in the window frame separating from the vinyl panel; you can see the two lines where it rubs against the cabinet.
The panel rattles a bit when we drive so we finally opened it up to see what’s happening in there.
Reattaching the Frame
The panelling opens up easily. Just pop the screw covers and unscrew some of the screws around the frame so that you can pry it open a bit.
You can see in the photo below that the window frame is loose.
We used Scotch Extreme Mounting Tape
which is a very strong double-sided tape
and installed it in several areas inside the cavity to reattach the paneling and window frame together.
You can cut the tape to the width and length that you need for the space.
It is a bit tight in there and using an exacto knife to peel the red tape and tweezers to pull if off may make it easier.
The tape holds the frame in place securely.
Tony added another screw for more hold (now we just need to clean these lines).
Now that the we fixed the loose window, we wanted to make sure that it won’t happen again.
Pull Handle
Naturally, Tony manufactured a door handle/pull from a piece of U channel
He used a grinder
sculpted the handle,
drilled holes in the wrong place.
but quickly fixed with a couple of new holes in the right locations. Now the holes fit the existing screw holes .
Voilà, a new handle to pull the door with!
The handle is now situated high above the cabinet and is allows for easy closure.
Of course you can buy some other kind of handle and may even be lucky enough and the holes will fit, but what’s the fun in that? Just make sure that it clear the opening when the door opens.
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Sweet! Contractors find a way to solve just about any issue. As you imply, if it is a simple fix, then they don’t get the joy out of solving the problem.
They do, don’t they 🙂 It is very satisfying to be able to solve a problem and create an item by yourself!
looks like good teamwork and I admire your clever solution. Me – I would have brought it to someone to fix… 🙂
Haha, we all have our different strength or the will to jump into adventures that may not end well 🙂
such adventures would likely ending up costing me much more than if I had just hired someone from the start! 🙂
Haha, that can certainly be the case 🙂
If you’re a traveller something is bound to come up.
Exactly!
Good thinking 💡
Indeed!
I love the way Tony[s mind works.
Haha, me too!
Thank you for sharing. I was just driving the van yesterday and was annoyed at the rattling of the door. I noticed all the other panels rattle too. It seems like the panel hits against the van frame. You can pull and push the panel back and forth on all the window panels and can see where the noise is coming from. Even the rear windows. I think it should have been siliconed in or attached somehow instead of it just floating. I see that the double stick tape reattached the panel to the window frame but from my observation, a lot of the rattle comes from the window frame hitting the metal frame from the van. Could you let us know if the panel still makes noise when you tap on the panel repeatedly?
Margie Kenedy ok, glad it’s not just me. 🤣 I was at Home Depot the other day and saw foam window insulation. One side has double stick tape and the other is 1/2 inch of foam. Since i can pull back the panel, I’m going to try to double stick the foam around the perimeter of the frame. I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks for adding an extra layer to help us unrattle the van 🙂 We will try and add this too!
Nice work! You want to make me one of those handles for my Carado? 🙂
Next time we are in Texas 🙂
By the way, after securing my door panel, I used rubbing alcohol to try and remove the black marks and it seems to have worked quite well!
Oh, good to know!