Well, since I managed to solve the last issue with the i30, I've got another one. Take care of the major stuff first, right?

2000 Infiniti i30, and the driver's window doesn't roll down. Motor, switch, alignment, right? Nope. Weatherstripping.

The weatherstripping on the inside of the car gets bound up by the glass of the window as it's rolling down, and rolls down with the glass, making it almost impossible to roll it down more than a crack.

Best course of action? I obviously probably have to remove the interior door trim to get to the strip that's causing a problem, but I don't know what to do after that. Remove it? Replace it? Use a razor blade and cut it? Re-align the weather stripping with the channel it's supposed to be in? Florida summer is coming, and I'd love some fresh air before I asphyxiate in my car.

 

You could try gluing the weatherstrip in place. Depending on the glue you use, it may not last real long.

But the fact that it is pulling down means that it somehow broke/tore. The weatherstrip is one big piece, like a up-side-down letter U.

 

Oh, I apologize. I'm not referring to the weatherstripping on the body of the car that seals with the door. I'm referring to the very top of the interior door trim panel that seals with the window on the inside of the car.

Here's a picture: http://imgur.com/hfeaJAN

I just don't know the name for this specific part, and I can't seem to find a replacement anywhere online.

 

OK, you are right, I had a different weatherstrip in mind. But what I had in mind is not the one you mentioned in your second post.

Anyway, the piece you refer to that is on the inside door trip panel is not available as a separate item for purchase. It only comes with the trim panel. Exactly what you might be able to do depends on how it has "failed". You don't want to just remove it and throw it away. That stripping keeps air from blowing into the car. I don't know how powerful or weak a draft you might have. You might also hear a little more road noise if you remove it.

The rubber is L shaped and stapled (I think) onto the edge of the door panel. If a staple has come out, you could get it re-stapled. If the rubber is tearing, I doubt if there is much you can do.

You could take the car to an automotive trim/upholstery shop and see what they say.

 

So, I've taken apart the door trim panel and the strip itself is in good shape, it's actually held in not with staples, but weak metal shims that bend into several slots along the panel. The rubber isn't cracked or deformed in any way. The only issue is that, for whatever reason, the rubber part in contact with the window rolls down with it. I can't figure out the cause of it beyond the rubber just... getting old and having too much friction against the window. Any ideas how I can re-condition the rubber, maybe soften it up so that it doesn't roll down with it? My father used to treat his tires with xylene, maybe something similar would work in this case? Then again, I don't exactly want paint thinner fumes in my cabin...

 

Check this out. Multiple options presented.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1918802

I have used Sil-Glyde in the past, as one person suggested, for a similar problem with good success. The drivers window in my old accord was starting to work really slowly, partially because of friction on the weatherstripping and seals, so I removed the door panel and lubed up all the seals and weatherstripping and the problem went almost entirely away.

 

If you but anything on that door panel stripping, you stand a good chance that it will leave smear marks on the glass. Maybe it will stop smearing after a while as it gets absorbed by the stripping. But I really don't know of a solution.