98-02 firebird question
 

I have always owned camaros and recently picked up a 2000 WS6 trans am. The interior is leather, in very good condition but the drivers side door panel plastic on top has a crack down it. After doing some research, I found out that many other people who have these cars have the same issue. A friend of mine has a mint condition 02 WS6 with about 50k miles and both of his are this way. I am wondering what causes this and how many of you that own these cars have the same issue?

Very common... Just no support underneath.

My 107k maile TA doesnt have it...

roll your window down all the way, and you'll see that when it gets to the very bottom the panel pushes "out" just a hair. it has something to do with the spacers/clips that hold the panel on or something, there's a writeup around somewhere that's supposed to prevent it

I have them bad on the passenger side, but the driver's side was just starting when I got the car. I don't roll the window down all the way (leave 1/2 inch sticking up) and they haven't gotten any worse over the last 2 years

do not lower your windows all the way... doing this will prevent that crack, especially during very hot or very cold days

I always thought it was due to the tq of the car and the twisting of the frames. Especially with the M5/M6. My 98 after I added the N20 my door panels cracked and it was a 5speed and my 02 the door panels cracked and its a 6 speed. My 95 Firehawk has no cracks at all ( Thank God because it has the red Leather door panels) and it is 16 yrs old but its a Auto but yet my buddies 95 T/A has the cracks and his car is a 6speed.. Very strange.. Thats just my observations.

my 98 trans am i sold with 65k crack free miles, was an A4... meanwhile my 95 formula i sold with 170k crack free miles, was an M6

I don't have this on mine, and never seen it on others. Where does the crack(s) usually occur? Down middle, on the sides?

Top of the panel, vertical crack about 3/4 way towards the back ofthe door. My 01 has the problem but my 96 doesn't.

Both of mine are cracked. Heres a write up and a way to fix it.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/pontia...uote-pics.html

When the annoyance of the crack out weighs the dred of pulling the door panel I'll fix it.

my 96 doesnt have the problem and its got 105,000 on it. its an m6 and its got a heads cam motor and i always have my windows down all the way since Ive had the car and nothing has happened, not even stress marks.

The thickness of the plastic (and other materials) decreased over the 4th gen run. The later models are more prone to warping than the earlier years.