All four door inner panels are having the dreaded problem with bubbles and pulling away from the panel. Anyone finding a new cure or someone who actually fixes then?

Thanks,

dick

This sordid topic has been discussed many times over the years. From what I can tell, no one has ever found a satisfactory home-made solution. You have to buy new inner door panels from a Volvo dealership, and even the new panels may begin to separate after a few years. I took my car to an upholstery place, and the owner said there was nothing he could do because of the way the vinyl is stretched into the pocket where the arm rest is located. It shrinks and pulls away. Volvo NA was really rotten in their response to this bit of low-end engineering.

The way it comes apart, it cannot be re-glued. I wonder if that small panel can be taken out and then an upholstery shop should be able to attach a new one? One that won't shrink? The R model doesn't have that problem :)

Klaus
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Please answer, we need to know if the advice is good or bad. The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are 2 turbos :)

I got two good used ones so will be experimenting. The door panel is two pieces glued together and with some work will most likely come apart. I tried a heat gun and the plastic will become pliable but once cooled it shrinks again. Was thinking of a few upholstery buttons properly placed to stretch or even make up a device to hold the plastic down. Not one of Volvo's better ideas.

dick

You will find that it is not the glue, but the backing on the vinyl that has separated. Take one of the panels out and start playing with it. I know you will come up with a good solution we can all benefit from.

Klaus

PS. No buttons, please.
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Please answer, we need to know if the advice is good or bad. The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are 2 turbos :)

I'd suggest gettng quotes to replace the inserts from a reputable auto upholstery shop. If you pull and replace the door panels yourself, they might give you a break on the price.

The material doesn't have to be OEM Volvo. In fact, it's probably best if it's not. As such, the possibilities are endless.

BTW, I have a velour interior and, just like the Alcantara on the R models, the velour inserts don't shrink.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 173k mi, heated velour cloth comfy chairs, factory HD suspension, Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, IPD stuff, lots of JB Weld, Original Duck tape, zip-ties, two '06 Honda license plate nut impressions in back bumper (gift from daughter), Mobil-1 since new.

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." - Douglas Noel Adams (1952 - 2001)

I purchased a couple of good used panels so I have the old to play with. I managed to separate the inner panel from the main panel. This inner panel has only the portion that pulls loose. You mentioned velour---is this backed with quarter inch foam? Anyway, I will go to our local upholstery joint and see what they say. The panel really separated quite easily.

dick

The velour-cloth inserts are backed with foam. It remains squishy and soft to this day.

On the 3 Hondas in our driveway, the cloth inserts are glued directly to the door panels. There is no foam. No doubt it never, ever fails the way Honda does it.

I'm pretty confident a good upholstery shop could pick a good color match and material that won't shrink.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 173k mi, heated velour cloth comfy chairs, factory HD suspension, Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, IPD stuff, JB Weld, Original Duck tape, zip-ties, two '06 Honda license plate nut impressions in back bumper (gift from daughter), Mobil-1 since new.

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." - Douglas Noel Adams (1952 - 2001)

My original front door panels did the same thing, fortunately under warranty. Now though the driver panel has completely pulled away in the area where my elbow fits. Like the vinyl has shrunk, as it's completely taunt. So much for 'green' adhesives.

I haven't tried heating up the vinyl with a hot air gun or blow-dryer. Perhaps there's a way to get some spray adhesive in there? Maybe from the backside of the door panel, through a couple of holes?

I'm curious if someone else has a solution to this (short of buying another door panel).
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1998 V70 T5 138Kmi; Previous car: 1985 SAAB 900T, 254kmi