jarabanos

I've had my 4GS for about a month now and I just noticed this gap between the door panel and the actual door assembly near the top of the panel. Is this normal?
















Seems like the panel should be flush with the door assembly and I this foam should be hidden. I'm wondering if the tint shop pulled the door panels back to install the tint film and left it like this. The problem is I can't recall if it looked like this before I got my windows tinted.

ItzFilyO

Mine was like that too after tinting the windows. Try pushing it hard along the door panel it should click back into place. Don't push on the aluminum trim it will bend. Mine is still a little loose but not that bad.

vinnier6

Tint shops don't usually pull door panels anymore these days...

Looks like the door was insulated with that foam for some rattles...

Was this a pre owned car?

For the record, I have a small ticking rattle in that same area where I placed some foam in the same area

jarabanos

I'll give it a shot and see how it goes!

Technically, yes. It was supposedly an auto manager's vehicle at the dealership I got it at and had 2k miles on it. So you're saying that insulation is not standard application behind the panel like it's pictured? The front passenger side door is loose and rattles so that's how I began to notice he loose panel. I'm a little disappointed with how much this car rattles. Got some pretty wicked rattling coming from the window switch panels too. Had similar issues with my 3IS and Lexus tech fixed it using some foam I think. I'll be taking it into the dealership next week to have all this assessed so if I can't get the panels snapped back in place myself, I'll have them do it.

vinnier6

Correct....you can see they used what Honda calls ept which is a product they use to insulate rattles...

ItzFilyO

I have the same foam behind my door panels too.

jarabanos

I don't mind the foam and don't really care what it looks like behind the panel if it's deadening rattles, but it looks terrible exposed like that I want that sealed up and flush with the door!

vinnier6

Did you ever take your car in for a door rattle

bclexus

I agree - looks like the tint shop failed to fully re-fit the door panels flush. They should snap closed with a little pressure.

ItzFilyO

No and mine hasn't rattled yet. But I do have some on the seatbelt area.

jarabanos

Alright I just tried to secure the panels back into place. Neither one really locked tight into place. Let's see what Lexus can do about it.

Thanks for all the input everyone!

vinnier6

Yep, take it in for sure....the ept is to thick and is keeping the clips from locking....no doubt they will fix it up right...

SSTG

Sorry to hijack your thread OP.
I'm getting my windows tinted Monday... I'm afraid of removing my door panels and having noise issues, my car is dead quiet right now.
Can anyone say for certain if they must be removed?

vinnier6

I can't remember the last time I had a car tinted where they removed the door panels...park place for sure didn't

bclexus

Who did Park Place use to tint your car?

ProTint in Plano removed my door panels, and they're back just like before. I watched him for a few minutes and it's no big deal to remove them. ProTint has a guy in their shop that is an ex-Lexus body man who knows exactly what he's doing.