Problems installing new outer door window felts/weatherstrip

[super_kev]

I have a '03 4Runner I've been working on and the original widow felts were cracked and failing, so I removed them, got genuine Toyota brand outer window felts/weatherstrip, but for the life of me I cannot get the J hook to grab onto the metal. Is there something I'm missing? The felt just wants to pop out and won't stay - I've tried installing with window up, window down, and using a flat blade screwdriver to help push it in but it just doesn't want to stay. And now that rainy season has begun, I need to get these fixed. All 4 doors are like this.

 

[88Center]

Factory Repair Manual downloadable here

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3895755-post7.html

Attached pdfs from Repair Manual for replacing weather stripping on the front and back doors of 4th gen 4Runner.

• Exterior - Front Door Glass Weatherstrip - Components
• Exterior - Front Door Weatherstrip - Removal Installation
• Exterior - Rear Door Glass Weatherstrip - Components
• Exterior - Rear Door Weatherstrip - Removal Installation

 

[ArthurKotb]

I just slid mine in from the edge of the door towards the front. They went in fairly easily. Make sure you clean the bottom of the window glass and get all the old crud off. I forgot and had to do it after I finished the installation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEKfOmIiMnc&feature=youtu.be

 

[AuSeeker]

I have a '03 4Runner I've been working on and the original widow felts were cracked and failing, so I removed them, got genuine Toyota brand outer window felts/weatherstrip, but for the life of me I cannot get the J hook to grab onto the metal. Is there something I'm missing? The felt just wants to pop out and won't stay - I've tried installing with window up, window down, and using a flat blade screwdriver to help push it in but it just doesn't want to stay. And now that rainy season has begun, I need to get these fixed. All 4 doors are like this.

It's seem to be clear in a couple of the photos that the screws securing the one end to the door were never reinstalled.

Not sure what we're seeing in the third photo.

 

[super_kev]

Yes, looking at the photos again, that's my fault; I should have wiped the rain down so you folks can see better. I'll take some better photos tomorrow. I did take the screw off for the pictures - but the plastic shaped "J" which goes down the entire length of the weatherstrip is not grabbing the door sheet metal. That's my issue... all it's being held in by is the screw, and you can see in the first photo that there is a gap on the passenger door (the drivers door has the screw removed, the passenger does not, but there's not much difference) between the outer felt wipe and the door trim, as well as the window glass itself. This is because that J is not grabbing the sheet metal, is my guess.

 

[ArthurKotb]

You don't push the new weather strip down. You have to slide it into the channel from the edge, by the end of the door that has the screw. Then you slide it all the way forward to the front and put the screw back in. I did both of mine in about 10 minutes.

 

[SocalSam]

I replaced mine with an assist from the great teacher, youtube. Joking aside, it was not difficult.

 

[super_kev]

Alrighty, so I found out that when the bedliner was sprayed on the rig, the masking was a little too close and the weatherstrip was hanging on up on the bedliner when trying to place it. Little filing and smoothing down and they went in like ya'll say they did. Thanks!