Body

Section

• General information 1
• 2 Body- maintenance
• 3 Vinyl trim - maintenance
• 4 Upholstery and carpets - maintenance
• 5 Body repair - minor damage
• 6 Body repair - major damage
• 7 Hinges and locks - maintenance
• 8 Windshield and fixed glass - replacement
• 9 Radiator grille - removal and installation
• 10 Hood - removal, installation and adjustment
• 11 Hood latch and release cable - removal and installation
• 12 Bumpers - removal and installation
• 13 Front fender - removal and installation
• 14 Cowl cover - removal and installation
• 15 Door trim panels - removal and installation
• 16 Door - removal and installation
• 17 Door latch, lock cylinder and handles - removal and installation
• 18 Door window glass - removal and installation
• 19 Door window glass regulator- removal and installation
• 20 Mirrors- removal and installation
• 21 Tailgate (pick-up models) - removal and installation
• 22 Tailgate latch and handle (pick-up models)- removal and installation
• 23 Liftgate and liftgate glass (SUV models)- removal and installation
• 24 Liftgate panels, lock cylinder, latch and support struts (SUV models) removal and installation
• 25 Center console - removal and installation
• 26 Dashboard trim panels - removal and installation
• 27 Stee ring column covers - removal and installation
• 28 Instrument panel and cowl support structure - removal and installation
• 29 Seats- removal and installation

1 General information

**WARNING:

The models covered by this manual are equipped with Supple› mental Restraint Systems (SRS), more commonly known as airbags. Always disable the airbag system before working in the vicinity of any airbag system components to avoid the pos› sibility of accidental deployment of the airbags, which could cause personal injury (see Chapter 12).

The vehicles covered by this manual are built witll body-on-frame construction. The frame is a hydroformed, ladder-type, consisting of C -

2 Body - maintenance

•

• 1 The condition of your vehicle' s body is very important. because the resale value depends a great deal on it. It's much more difficult to repair a neglected or damaged body than it is to repair mechanical components. The hidden areas of the body, such as the wheel wells, the frame and the engine compartment, are equally important, alt11ough they don't require as frequent attention as the rest of the body.
• 2 Once a year, or every 12,000 miles, it's a good idea to have the underside of the body steam cleaned. All traces of dirt and oil will be removed and the area can then be inspected carefully for rust, dam› aged brake lines, frayed electrical wires, damaged cables and other problems. The front suspension components should l)e greased after completion of this job.·
• 3 At the same time, clean the engine and the engine compartment with a steam cleaner or water-soluble degreaser.

3 Vinyl trim - maintenance

Don't clean vinyl trim with detergents, caustic soap or petroleum› based cleaners. Plain soap and water works just fine, with a soft brush to clean dirt that may be ingrained. Wash the vinyl as frequently as the rest of the vehicle. After cleaning, application of a high-quality rubber

4 Upholstery and carpets - maintenance

• 1 Every three months remove the floormats and clean the interior of the vehicle (more frequently if necessary). Use a stiff whiskbroom to brush the carpeting and loosen dirt and dust, then vacuum the uphol› stery and carpets thoroughly, especially along seams and crevices.
• 2 Dirt and stains can be removed from carpeting with basic house› hold or automotive carpet shampoos available in spray cans. Follow the directions and vacuurn again, then use a stiff brush to bring back the "nap" of the carpet.
• 3 Most interiors have cloth or vinyl . upholstery, either of which can be cleaned and maintained with a number of material-specific cleaners or shampoos available in auto supply stores. Follow the directions on the product for usage, and always spot-test any upholstery cleaner on an inconspicuous area (bottom edge of a backseat cushion) to ensure that it doesn't cause a color shift in the material.
• 4 After cleaning, vinyl upholstery should be treated with a protec› tant.

.

shaped center rails welded to boxed front and rear sections, with both welded-in and bolt-in crossmembers.

The Pick-up body is in two separate sections, the cab and the bed, while the SUV body incorporates the cab, back-seat area and cargo compartment in one unitized structure.

Certain components are particularly vulnerable to accident damage and can be unbolted and repaired or replaced. Among these parts are the hood, doors, seats, tailgate, liftgate, bumpers and front fenders.

Only general body maintenance practices and body panel repair procedures within the scope of the do-it-yourselfer are included in this Chapter.

• 4 The wheel wells should be given close attention, since under› coating can peel away and stones and dirt thrown up by the tires can cause the paint to chip and flake, allowing rust to set in. If rust is found, clean down to the bare metal and apply an anti-rust paint.
• 5 The body should be washed about once a week. Wet the vehicle thoroughly to soften the dirt, then wash it down with a soft sponge and plenty of clean, soapy water. If the surplus dirt is not washed off very carefully, it can wear down the paint.
• 6 Spots of tar or asphalt thrown up from the road should be removed with a cloth soaked in tar remover or kerosene lamp oil.
• 7 Once every six months, wax the body and chrome trim. If a chrome cleaner is used to remove rust