Door Panel vinyl/leather attachment
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New User
Joined: Apr 2006
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Door Panel vinyl/leather attachment
My daughter has a 2001 Ford Escape. The small panel insert around the door handle has the vinyl/leather coming off. How do I remove this without taking the whole door panel, the large one covering the window, off?? Any help would be appreciated. I do know what I have to do to reattach this fabric, just cant seem to get teh small panel to come off. Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,004
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From: North of Boston MA
Hey dadbrough,
Welcome to FTE. I have an '05 and a '06 so I am not sure they are the same. If you haven't figured out how to get it off by tomorrow, I can take a look at one of mine and see if I can figure it out.
Shouldn't matter but which door?
Welcome to FTE. I have an '05 and a '06 so I am not sure they are the same. If you haven't figured out how to get it off by tomorrow, I can take a look at one of mine and see if I can figure it out.
Shouldn't matter but which door?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 298
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From: Central Texas
I pulled the whole door pannel on my Gfriend's 2001 and the covered pannel does not detach form the back. She has the same problem with the leather/ vinyl comming loose. I am just going to try to glue it back on by pulling the entire door panel and working on the insert in place. I would like to find that the insert will pop out, but I have no evidence of that at this point.
New User
Joined: Oct 2004
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I had the same thing on my passenger door. Dadbrough is right, it's all one panel. I used some spray adhesive (masked of the rest of the door) to re attach the vinyl. Probably didn't last 2 weeks before it was loose again. The problem is in the layer of thin foam that gives up. There's no gluing foam to foam so I'll most likely have to find some replacement vinyl or fabric (custom!) to solve it for good.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 298
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From: Central Texas
did you "sand", or rough up the foam before you applied the addhesive? I am needing to do the same, but thought a fresher serface on the foam is needed.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2004
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We have a 2005 Escape and two doors have the same problem. Talked to the dealer today, was told to call the home office at Ford.
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Retucking the leather/vinyl inset panel on door
I corrected this today on my 2000 F-150. Did not remove door panel as the posts that I had referenced here indicated that removal would not have helped.
My vinyl "untuck" was isolated to the top edge of the passenger side door.
You will need an ALL PLASTIC PUTTY KNIFE. The one I used had a 3-4" blade, but again the blade and handle are all one piece - molded (moderately flexible) plastic. To be safe, I sanded down the outside corners of the blade, just enough to knock off the point.
Working from the center of the area that needs retucking, align the blade on top of the untucked vinyl, wedging along the edges of the two panels.
Slowly & firmly press the blade down, reseating the vinyl between the two panels.
Working from that spot, work to the left, repeating the process ... and to the right. You can continue process until all of the vinyl is retucked.
The tool left no marring or cuts. I would guess if you needed to work a tighter radius, you may want to use a smaller blade - maybe 1".
My vinyl "untuck" was isolated to the top edge of the passenger side door.
You will need an ALL PLASTIC PUTTY KNIFE. The one I used had a 3-4" blade, but again the blade and handle are all one piece - molded (moderately flexible) plastic. To be safe, I sanded down the outside corners of the blade, just enough to knock off the point.
Working from the center of the area that needs retucking, align the blade on top of the untucked vinyl, wedging along the edges of the two panels.
Slowly & firmly press the blade down, reseating the vinyl between the two panels.
Working from that spot, work to the left, repeating the process ... and to the right. You can continue process until all of the vinyl is retucked.
The tool left no marring or cuts. I would guess if you needed to work a tighter radius, you may want to use a smaller blade - maybe 1".
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 75
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I used putty knife to loosen trim fabric, I then cleaned up both halves(door and trim). I used contact cement on both halves, let them sit till slightly tacky, and then applied trim back to door panel. Did all this with panel on car, and it still looks good three years later.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 134
From: Burleson, Tx
Mine has started doing this on the passenger's door (2004 with 220k miles). I haven't taken it off yet but on other vehicles that I have done interior on it is about a $5 job to fix. You just have to tkae your time and use good glue.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 585
Likes: 2
From: Willis, Texas
IT just so happens this happened to our 2005 Limited. 
lol
would a scraper or a brush be better for getting the foam like crud off the panel?
I was thinking a stiff plastic bristle brush and a shop vac to keep the stuff from flying...get a good, rough surface to let the glue adhere to I am thinking.
lolwould a scraper or a brush be better for getting the foam like crud off the panel?
I was thinking a stiff plastic bristle brush and a shop vac to keep the stuff from flying...get a good, rough surface to let the glue adhere to I am thinking.
New User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
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2003 ford escape door trim falling off
AJ 7885 mentioned using contact cement..... Any particular brand? Does anyone have any other suggestions on a particular brand/product of glue to use? My 2003 Escape (leather interior) front passenger door has this issue. I had to tear the whole piece off and trash it. Where can I find a reasonably priced replacement piece (other than Ford dealer or website). What is the professional part name for this piece of trim (for ordering purposes)? Thanks for any and all help on this subject!!!
Last edited by jfre002; Oct 8, 2012 at 04:55 PM. Reason: Skipped important detail