Fitting another rear door 9-3ss 2003

[chris aka zaphod]

Following being the victim of a hit and run in a car park ( no CCTV ), the near side rear door of the car was damaged. I have the opportunity of buying a door, minus the gubbins, with a matching paint code. Seems a more sensible, if not cheaper route, than having the door repaired or filled, and repainted. The rest I can do myself.

So, what would be involved in fitting a replacement door. Has anyone done this on a 9-3SS? Any tips?

Thanks.

[sgould]

I've not changed a door, But I have had one apart.

You should keep the original door module.  I think that you will need a Tech 2 visit if you use the one from the other car.  You will probably be keeping the original door card, so you won't have to separate the card and door module.

Otherwise it should be OK.  If you have comfort closing on the windows, that door will need resetting, because electrical disconnection will disabled the comfort close/one-touch up.

Be very careful if you need to disturb the weatherproofing membrane.  It's fragile.  Gently unstick it where necessary and try not to let it stick to anything else....

[chris aka zaphod]

Thanks, Will, as always. The potential replacement is just the metalwork, and my aero is too old to have the comfort  closing option. I have a plan regarding the membrane.

[Petemate]

Be very careful if you need to disturb the weatherproofing membrane.  It's fragile.  Gently unstick it where necessary and try not to let it stick to anything else....

That is really good advice, and not just for a Saab. My chosen method, having had a few doors apart on different makes over the years, is to play a hair drier gently over the membrane as one peels it off. NOT a heat gun, even on the lowest setting!
HTH

[Audax]

I've replaced doors in the past and it is really a 3 man job (it can be done with 2) and getting it right can be a hassle so make sure you do it on a sunny day and start in the morning!    also the colours of the panels may not match exactly depending on what kind of a life they've had although it's usually worse on silver cars rather than metallic grey.

Nice of them to get the skirt and wheel arch too  If you're considering getting those repainted then get a quote for the whole job including the door, it probably won't be much more than just the arch and skirts.

[sgould]

I've just remembered that I thought I couldn't find the door module.  It's actually the same unit the that the window switches are in.

Comfort close is not a modern thing.  We have it on our 2003 (built Aug 2002) launch model.

The other thing that I would do is to leave the wiring loom alone and use the one already fitted in the replacement door.

The other tip is to open the window before removing the door card, and then to shut the window again before disconnecting the wiring.  Other wise the window glass could be in the way of the hinge access, if you need it.

[Audax]

You should keep the original door module.  I think that you will need a Tech 2 visit if you use the one from the other car. 

If you don't marry the door modules then I think (but I'm not certain) that you will get a theft alarm failure and the doors won't lock.

[chris aka zaphod]

Ours is the 2003 aero - and I've never got the comfort close to work. I have done doors before now, so i reckon two of us plus a spare will work on the car. Petemate stole my plan re the membrane! As the replacement is a stripped down to just the door itself, without bits bobs and glass then it ought to be a quicker job.

I have a friend in a bodyshop who can do the paint. It's just that I avoid filler at all cost. My first 9000 had a decent job when similar was done previous to purchase, but it showed its age after five or six years. Serves name right for keeping my cars for lengthy periods.

[Max Headroom]

I avoid filler at all cost.

Does that include Lead filling (sometimes called Lead loading, or Body Soldering)? It isn't like your usual U-Pol D type body filler, but does require specialist attention. It's more commonly used by those with classic cars.

[chris aka zaphod]

No. I meant stuff like plastic padding.

[chris aka zaphod]

Ok. Door has been secured. I'll do a photo story write-up when I get around to fitting.

[Audax]

One other useful thing when changing a door, is get a large bit of cardboard or carpet on the floor underneath so you can put it down carefully if you start to drop it.

[chris aka zaphod]

Yes indeed. Carpet tile and jack at the ready.

[chris aka zaphod]

Update.

Collected the door today - bonus was that the vendor let me have the complete door for the price paid - which will save me some time. The skin itself looks immaculate, and as someone mentioned above, is a better match for the rest of the car, than the original!

A very nice and chatty vendor, Saab enthusiast, and spares source.

[sgould]

That sounds good.  You will still have to use the original door module though.  But that's on the window switch pack attached to the door card.