I know there have been countless threads through the years about how hard it is to close the doors after installing new weatherstripping, but I don't think the weatherstripping is my issue at all. I have adjusted my windows properly so that they're not pushing hard against the weatherstripping, but if both windows are all the way up I have to slam the doors. If I crack the window, the doors shut like a brand new car. Even with the driver window all the way up, it still shuts just fine if the passenger window is cracked, and vice versa.

So this leads me to believe it's a pressure issue inside the car. Where is the vent supposed to be, or is there one at all? And I'm sure I'm wrong, but I swear I read something years ago saying the rear hatch is supposed to raise slightly when the doors are opened, and then snug back down when they are closed. Maybe I'm getting that confused with another kind of car, I'm not sure. It just seems like there's nowhere for the air to escape.

 

Can't say for sure on the vent thing. But there definitely isn't an electrical setup that does the rear hatch like that. Not all cars came with the soft close hatch motor anyways.

 

yeah I'm probably thinking of something else. It still seems like there should be a way for the pressure to escape when you close the door with the windows closed.

 

Just realized I asked this question 12 years ago. Not much has changed. Lol

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...-pressure.html

 

For what it is worth at work we have got several new trucks over the last year. The 2024 F150 I drive full time and two 2024 Dodge Ram 1500s. All of which you have to make sure to put some force into shutting the doors when the windows are up.

 

Yes, there are two vents in the door striker area. This size and style have been used since the Camaro was born. I would suppose they are designed to be big enough for normal ventilation but shutting a door might be over powering them. It seems I can remember the hatch on mine would jump up a little if it wasn't latched when the door was shut.

 

Aren;t the vents those little vents inside the door jambs below (?? Or was it above???)...The strikers?

try pop the hatch and close the doors with the hatch open

 

oh if I pop the hatch my doors close with ease, like a brand new car. Same thing if I crack the window on the opposite side.

I may pull one of those vents and just see what's on the backside. Seems like those vents would be on the wrong side of the weatherstripping though to relieve any pressure from closing the doors.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...here-goes.html

 

You're absolutely right! But, I remember seeing a ventilation diagram and IIRC, those vents were actually the outlet end of the system. If that's the case, however, I don't know why there are rubber flaps acting as check valves to keep air from going in that direction...

I'll try to find that diagram.

 

I can't find it but I remember the flow starting inside the cabin, through the trunk and then out the vents. See what happens you remove one of the vents and then shut a door. With no check valve, air might flow easier.

 

I just don't understand the purpose of the check valves. If air is supposed to flow in that direction, especially when shutting the doors, they would impede flow.

Maybe I saw that diagram in my body service manual...

 

I haven't had my 83 apart that far yet so I'm not sure how those valves function.

 

I'm going to be pulling my fender liners soon to paint them, so I'll see what shape my vent is in. Who knows, maybe some dirt dobbers clogged it up years ago.

 

Just to update this, I was reading on a corvette forum about how GM designed the car to use the rear speakers as pathways to relieve interior cabin pressure. This got me curious, so I pulled one of my rear speakers, and the baffle (or whatever it's called) that goes down into the B-pillar, and sure enough there are holes designed in them right near the jamb vents. Of course, when I fiberglassed over mine because they were falling apart, I covered those holes. I opened them back up, and I do feel like it helped a little.

So basically, be careful when sealing holes or doing any sound deadening. Some of them are necessary.

 

To close the hatch on my '83 T/A, I open the driver's door a little. Do not have to slam the hatch. Doors closed (&windows up), have to slam hatch.

 

Those go on the side of the cowl for water drainage.