Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.
Hosted by mcallihan.com
Home >> Cadillac >> 1996 >> DeVille V8-4.6L VIN Y >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Body and Frame >> Roof and Associated Components >> Convertible Top >> Technical Service Bulletins >> New Simulated Convertible Top - Service Procedure >> On-Vehicle Service

On-Vehicle Service

LH & RH FRONT DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY





Figure 1

Tool Required:
J 38778 Trim Pad Remover

Remove or Disconnect

1. These assemblies are attached to the door by a continuous strip of foam tape and 3 retainers.

2. Slowly pry upper edge of assembly away from the door frame.

3. Pry fasteners out of holes.

4. Panel assembly.

Clean

Wipe the door frame clean of grease and oil using a 50% solution of alcohol and water.

Install or Connect

1. Engage the initial 1/4 inch of each of the 4 retainers.

2. Slide the panel assembly so that the front of the roof trim panel and the front edge of the panel assembly forms a continuous curve.

3. Align the assembly vertically so that the rear edge of the assembly matches the height at the front edge of the rear door assembly.

4. Remove tape liner on back side of the panel assembly.

5. Push the assembly into the door frame until the tape engages.

6. Use a roller along the assembly directly in line with all tape locations.

LH & RH FRONT DOOR COVER

Remove or Disconnect

1. The cover is attached by adhesive to the panel assembly.

2. Beginning at the upper rear corner, unwrap the cover material from the back side of the panel assembly.

3. Peel the remaining cover from the assembly.

Install or Connect

1. Mask the area of the vehicle around the panel assembly.

Clean

Clean the panel with adhesive remover.

2. Apply cover adhesive to all external surfaces of the panel assembly and to the entire underside of the cover.

3. Beginning at the front corner of the panel, tack the cover to the panel so that the cover aligns with the front clip on the roof. Complete this operation along the entire length.

4. Stretch the cover over the panel progressing toward the top edge and smooth out any wrinkles.

5. Along the top and rear edge of the panel, tuck the excess material behind the panel assembly.

Clean

Clean any excess adhesive with adhesive remover.

LH AND RH REAR DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY








Figures 2 and 3

Tool Required:
J 38778 Trim Pad Remover

Remove or Disconnect

1. These assemblies are attached to the door by sections of foam tape, 4 retainers and 2 rivets under the quarter panel belt molding.

2. Remove the quarter panel belt molding by prying out the bottom edge while pushing downward on the upper edge of the trim section.

3. Drill out rivets.

Notice:
Be careful not to continue through the substrate and vehicle sheetmetal.

4. Retainer.

5. Slowly pry panel assembly away from the door frame.

6. Pry fastener out of door.

7. Panel assembly.

Clean

Wipe the door frame clean of grease and oil using a 50% solution of alcohol and water.

Install or Connect

1. Engage the initial 1/4 inch of the 4 retainers.

2. Position the panel assembly so that the vertical edge of the assembly is parallel to the roof trim panel assembly.

3. Align the assembly vertically so that the front edge of the assembly matches the height at the rear edge of the front panel assembly and the rivet holes align with the holes in the door frame.

4. Remove tape liner on back side of the panel assembly.

5. Push the assembly into the door frame until the tape engages.

6. Bright trim attachment clips.

7. Rivets.

8. Use a roller along the assembly directly in line with all tape locations.

9. Door molding.

LH AND RH REAR DOOR COVER





Figure 4

Remove or Disconnect

1. The cover is adhesively attached to the panel assembly and also by the rivets at the base.

2. Remove the quarter panel belt molding.

3. Drill out the rivets.

4. Pull the base of the panel away from the door frame, gently unwrap the cover material from the back edge of the assembly.

5. Peel the cover away from the assembly.

Install or Connect

1. Mask the area of the vehicle around the panel assembly.

Clean

Clean the panel with adhesive remover.

2. Apply cover adhesive to all external surfaces of the panel assembly and to the entire underside of the cover.

3. Beginning at the lower corner of the panel, tack the cover to the panel along the curved details on the inside edge of the panel. Complete this tacking operation along the entire length.

4. Stretch the cover over the panel progressing toward the top edge and smooth out any wrinkles.

5. Along the top, front, and rear edge of the panel, tuck the excess material behind the panel assembly.

6. Clean any excess adhesive with adhesive remover.

LH AND RH ROAR DOOR WINDOW MOLDING





Figure 5

Remove or Disconnect

1. This molding is retained by two retaining clips riveted through the roof trim panel into the door frame.

2. Remove by prying out the lower edge of the molding while pressing downward on the upper edge of the trim.

Install or Connect

1. By rocking the molding outward at the bottom, engage the upper clip taper with the upper rolled edge of the molding.

2. Rock the molding down and snap the lower edge into the lower taper.

LH AND RH QUARTER PANEL BOLT MOLDING





Figure 5

Remove or Disconnect

1. This molding is retained by 6 clips riveted into the vehicle quarter panel.

Install or Connect

1. Beginning at the clip closest the decklid opening, engage the upper clip and snap the molding onto the lower taper.

2. Continue this process toward the front of the vehicle.

REAR WINDOW LOWER GARNISH MOLDING





Figure 5

Remove or Disconnect

1. The molding is attached by a strip of double-sided foam tape and 2 screws at the end of the molding.

2. Pry the tape away from the decklid a short section at a time (1 inch).

Clean

Clean the front edge of the decklid with a solution of 50% alcohol and water.

Install or Connect

1. Remove the tape backing.

2. Lightly position the decklid molding on the closed decklid while retaining alignment with the ends of the quarter molding and centering the decklid molding on the closed decklid.

3. Using a soft roller, apply the molding to the decklid.

4. 2 screws at the ends of the molding.

ROOF PANEL REAR COVER ASSEMBLY





Figure 6

Remove or Disconnect

1. The roof panel rear cover assembly is retained by 3 6-inch strips of dual-lock tape. They are located at each end and the center of the panel.

2. Pull the upper edge of the cover assembly away from the center strip.

3. Pull the outside sections.

4. The panel can then be bowed out in the middle which will disengage the end from the root trim panel.

Install or Connect

1. Insert one end of the assembly into the recess on the roof trim panel.

2. Bow the valence assembly so that the other end can be inserted into its recess.

3. Position the assembly so that the rear window trim is fully visible.

4. Engage the dual-lock patches between the cover assembly and the body.

ROOF PANEL REAR COVER





Figure 7

Remove or Disconnect

1. Roof panel rear cover assembly. Refer to the procedure in this section.

2. Peel back cover material.

Clean

Clean the roof rear panel with adhesive remover.

Install or Connect

1. Apply adhesive to both the panel and cover.

2. Tack the binding to the panel along the upper edge.

3. Stretch the cover around the panel and wrap the excess around to the backside of the part.

Clean

Clean any excess adhesive from the cover.

ROOF PANEL COVER UPPER MOLDING ASSEMBLY





Figure 8

Remove or Disconnect

1. The roof panel cover upper molding is retained by 12 flat nuts attached to studs in the assembly.

2. These nuts are only accessed from the inside of the cap assembly. Refer to roof trim panel assembly procedure.

Install or Connect

1. Roof panel cover upper molding into trough.

2. Retaining nuts.

3. Roof trim panel assembly.

UPPER ROOF PANEL COVER





Figure 9

Remove or Disconnect

1. Roof panel cover upper molding assembly.

2. Peel back cover material.

Clean

Clean root panel cover upper with adhesive remover.

Install or Connect

1. Apply adhesive to both the panel and the cover.

2. Stretch the cover around the panel.

Clean

Clean excess adhesive.

ROOT PANEL COVER UPPER MOLDING ESCUTCHEON





Figure 8

Remove or Disconnect

1. The escutcheon is attached to the roof trim panel assembly by an oval head screw and a flat nut on the inside surface of the cap assembly.

2. Removing this screw will free the flat nut.

Install or Connect

1. Apply adhesive to thread insert.

2. Install insert into hole in cap.

3. Position escutcheon.

ROOF TRIM PANEL ASSEMBLY











Figures 10 through 12

Remove or Disconnect

1. The roof trim panel assembly is retained by 4 cleat assemblies on the forward edge of the roof panel cover pad, 2 rivets positioned on the front roof corners, 12 rivets underneath the quarter panel belt molding, and a length of foam tape running vertically along the sail panel.

2. Remove main door seals for all four doors.

3. Peel back cover material glued to the door opening surfaces.

4. Peel back cover locally to expose the 2 rivets at the front corner of the roof.

5. Drill out rivets.

6. Remove quarter panel belt molding.

7. Drill out rivets through retaining clips.

8. Peel back the cover assembly adhering to the body at the front outboard corners of the decklid.

9. Raise the rear sail portion of the cap assembly, and carefully slide forward watching that the front binding slides up over the windshield molding.

10. Remove the main weather seal along the roof and sail edge.

Install or Connect

1. Position the cap assembly on the roof so that the cap halves of the cleat assemblies are aligned and just forward of the roof halves of the assemblies.

2. While applying downward pressure at each cleat location, push the cap assembly rearward to engage the cleats. This effort can be aided by moving the cap at the sail simultaneous to the rearward motion.

3. Push the cap rearward as far as possible.

4. 2 rivets securing the cap at the front roof corners.

5. Molding clips and rivets along the quarter panel belt.

6. Apply adhesive to the door opening surfaces and secure the excess fabric to this face.

7. Reinstall the main weather seal.

8. Fold and glue the cover at the end of the decklid.

ROOF PANEL COVER











Figures 10 through 12

Remove or Disconnect

1. Roof trim panel assembly. Refer to procedure in this section.

2. Roof panel cover upper molding assembly.

3. Peel back roof cover material.

Clean

Clean the roof trim panel assembly so that it is free of all adhesive and other surface contaminants.

Install or Connect

1. Apply adhesive to the cover interior surface and the cap exterior surface and the overwrap areas around the rear window opening and at the base of the sail.

2. Roof panel cover (isolator) pad in the roof panel cover upper molding trough.

3. Beginning at the centerline of the rear window opening, position and tack the cover to cap up to the roof panel cover upper molding trough.

4. Stretch the cover so that the seams lie in the recesses.

5. Stretch the cover around the remaining rear window opening.

6. Pull the remaining portion of the cover toward the front of the vehicle while maintaining alignment of the cap and cover centerline registers at the front of the assembly.

7. Tack the centerline surfaces together and from the centerline outward, work the cover down to the cap eliminating gathering and wrinkles while maintaining longitudinal seam symmetry.

8. Tuck the front edge of the cover under the front edge of the cap.

9. Tuck the excess cover material under the cap at the base of the sail panel.

10. Roof panel cover upper molding and escutcheon (both sides).

11. Wreath and crest emblem (both sides).

12. Roof panel trim front lace.

13. Roof trim panel assembly. Refer to procedure in this section.

WREATH AND CREST EMBLEM





Figure 12

Remove or Disconnect

1. Raise roof trim panel assembly. Refer to procedure in this section.

2. Nuts retaining emblem.

Install or Connect

1. Emblem into holes.

2. Nuts.

3. Cut studs on emblem 1 mm beyond the final position of the push nuts.

ROOF PANEL TRIM FRONT LACE





Figure 12

Remove or Disconnect

1. The roof panel trim front lace is adhesively attached to the underside of the cap.

2. Insert a thin, sharp edge between the cap and front lace, and work the adhesive loose from one end to the other.

3. Pull out front lace.

Install or Connect

1. Apply adhesive to the upward surface of the front lace.

2. Pry the cap assembly away from the roof surface and tuck the front lace under the front edge.

3. Apply pressure between the front lace and the roof trim panel from the underside of the assembly to set the adhesive.

REAR WINDOW TRIM (BLACKOUT) PANEL





Figure 13

Remove or Disconnect

1. The roof trim panel assembly needs to be loosened and raised. Refer to procedure in this section.

2. Peel rear window trim (blackout) panel from rear window.

Install or Connect

1. Apply the rear window trim (blackout) pane to rear window.

2. Roof trim panel assembly. Refer to procedure in this section.
pro multis · About Operation CHARM