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*********** THE 2003 SAAB 93 SPORT SEDAN DOOR BUZZ FIX PAGE *********** The front door problem areas. The worst is probably the inner door window trim. The bottom edge vibrates against the inner door skin. The fix is to put a couple of layers of double-sided foam tape between the trim and the door as shown below... but first, remove the door trim panel. The hardest part is popping off the inner door pull handle trim - Grasp it from underneath the pull up and slightly outward - you must exert a fair bit of effort - luckily it's pretty tough plastic! It will come off with a bit of a bang! Then remove the two Torx head screws - the screwdriver in the spare tire toolkit has the correct size bit - check in the trunk inside the spare tire. Carefully pry the door trim panel away from the door along the rear edge below the door latch - use a couple of taped-up putty knives to protect the door paint and the door trim panel, insert a prying tool (preferably a door trim removal tool). Once again, it will take a fair bit of effort to pop the panel off the first retaining pin. The rest come off fairly easy by pulling the panel off using clean hands. The problem areas are: 1/ Inner window trim at bottom rear corner of front door window opening. 2/ Across the door panel where the door weathershield (grey foam) is unsupported. 3/ Inside trim at forward end of window opening where the door mirrors and controls are. Fix #1 with double-sided foam tape. Fix #2 with strip of foam rubber (moderately dense and about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. Fix #3 with a small piece of foam rubber. The only noise remaining after these fixes is a slight sound of door movement against the rather extensive system of door seals. These will hopefully relax over time. For now, I have lightly lubricated them all with silicone.
The trim just pops out with a gentle pull, install the tape, them press it back into place.
Then press the trim back into place firmly seated against the sticky foam tape...
While you are at it, stuff some foam under the loose edge of the forward inner door window trim...
Here's the door panel fitted with a band of foam rubber (attached with strips of double-sided foam tape)...
Reinstall the door trim panel and enjoy your hopefully buzz-free 93 Sport Sedan!
While you're in the mood, why not fix the rear wheel liner rattle! If you tap on the rear wheel liners just ahead of the rear wheels, you'll hear a nasty rattle. This is likely the cause of "rear door" or "rear suspension" rattle complaints. The solution is simple. Remove the forward lower attach screw, pull the liner rearward, and stuff in a 1.5" piece of foam rubber about 6" square. Push the liner back into place and reinstall the screw. Repeat for the other rear wheel liner. You should notice the improvement right away.
Here's where the liner attach screw is...
Here's a closeup - it's a hex head screw...
Pull back on the liner about 4 inches (liner will pull past the fender flange)...
Stuff a 6" X 6" X 1.5" piece of foam rubber up between the plastic liner and the metal wheel well structure) then put it all back together...
Next is the rear center-mounted brakelamp unit. There are two rattle source from the rear center brake lamp. 1/ The plastic cover rattles against the lamp assembly. Fix: Place a sticky sided felt pad (about 3/4" square) near the rear edge of the cover to stabilize it against the lamp assembly. (These pads (about 1/8" thick) are available from hardware stores - used for the bottom of furniture legs to prevent floor scratches) 2/ The lamp assembly "floats" in its two mounting clips. Fix: Add two sticky sided felt pads to each end of the lamp assembly - half of the pads stick to the rear window glass, the other half to the ends of the lamp assembly. This stabilzes the lamp assembly so it won't bounce around in its clips. The rear center brake lamp cover comes off by pulling it downward to disengage the mounting clips (2) and then sliding it rearward to disengage the tabs on the forward edge that mates with the headliner. When the three felt pads are in place, slide the cover forward to engage the three tabs on the cover with the headliner and then press the cover upwards to re-engage the two mounting clips. Another rattle bites the dust!
The lamp assembly "floats" in its two mounting clips. Fix: Add two sticky sided felt pads to each end of the lamp assembly - half of the pads stick to the rear window glass, the other half to the ends of the lamp assembly. This stabilzes the lamp assembly so it won't bounce around in its clips.
The plastic cover rattles against the lamp assembly. Fix: Place a sticky sided felt pad (about 3/4" square) near the rear edge of the cover to stabilize it against the lamp assembly. (These pads (about 1/8" thick) are available from hardware stores - used for the bottom of furniture legs to prevent floor scratches)
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All Pictures Copyright 2003 - Dave Petherick