Don’t let the inner door belt weatherstrip on your 05-07 S197 Mustang scratch your door window tint! Replace the weatherstrip with the updated version off the 08-09 Stangs. This updated weatherstrip featured felt material to protect your tint from scratches and tears!!
If you own an 2005-09 Mustang & have the windows tinted, you've experienced the frustration of having Scratched Window Tint. The reason for this is Ford (in their infinite wisdom) used a bare rubber Inner Door Belt Weatherstrip (the one on the left in the picture below). In previous Mustang model years (2004 & earlier), the Inner Door Belt Weatherstrip had felt bonded to it to protect the Window Glass & Window Tint. Us 05-06-07 Mustang owners are fortunate however because Ford (without ever admitting that they had a problem) started using a felt bonded Inner Door Belt Weatherstrip (the one on the right in the picture below) on the 08-09 Mustang.
If you have been lucky enough to have your Mustang Inner Door Belt Weatherstrip;replaced under warranty, consider yourself extremely lucky. For those of us that wish to replace our Scratched Window Tint & keep it from happening again, or prevent it from happening in the first place, follow along as I install the updated Inner Door Belt Weatherstrip on my 07 Mustang GT.
Start by removing the 8 screws around the perimeter of the Door Panel. Use a 7mm nut driver or equivalent.
Two on the back of the Door Panel..............
Two on the front of the Door Panel............
And 4 on the bottom.
Next, remove the Mirror Hole Cover by gently pulling it away from the Door.
On the drivers side (shown) the Mirror Switch needs to be un-plugged. Simply press down on the release tab on the connector & pull it away from the switch. This step is not needed for the passenger side.
Using a small flat blade screwdriver, remove the inner trim cover from the Inner Door Handle.
Using the 7mm nut driver (or equivalent), remove the single screw in the Inner Door Handle.
Once again, grab your small flat blade screwdriver & remove the trim panel from behind the Door Armrest.
When that is out of the way, remove the single screw with a T-30 torx screwdriver (or equivalent).
When that is done, remove the Door Lock & Window Switch assembly by firmly (but gently!) pulling it away from the Door Panel.
When it is loose, remove the electrical connector by depressing the release tab & pulling away from the switch.
With the Door Lock & Window Switch assembly out of the way, remove the single screw with the 7mm nut driver (or equivalent)
At this point you are ready to remove the Door Panel. Lift straight up on the Door Panel & pull away from the Door. There is no need to fully disconnect the Door Panel, so it can be left hanging.
Finally, remove the Inner Door Belt Weatherstrip by starting at the outer corner & lifting up until the Weatherstrip is free of the Door.
To install the new Inner Door Belt Weatherstrip on your Mustang, simply reverse the removal proceedure. These instructions are good for both the passenger & driver door. Once this is completed, there are no more worries about Scratched Window Tint on your Mustang!
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