CRAP!! (Missing Lower Door Moulding Trim)

Park in the driveway after work and see this when I get out:



It's just gone! Somehow the lower door trim piece came off. There are 7 empty fastener holes, and one remaining still in the hole. There was no earlier indication that this thing was loose at all, which would lead you to think someone ripped it off? But that seems very unlikely to me. 6 months ago the body shop had it off to do a repaint of the lower door panel, so I can believe they F'd up some of the fasteners, but I don't understand why I wouldn't have noticed this thing getting loose.

Anyways... I've looked up the part # and GM list, and it's not SO bad, a tad under $50 list price. I should be able to get it from the dealer for around $30 I'm guessing, plus 8 new fasteners at over a buck each. I actually did notice the front hole in the door at noon, from the inside when I opened the door, but it didn't occur to me that it was not right. Had to run back to work tonight too, so I watched the road for it, but no luck, probably scratched all to hell anyway. I could try the local yard that has a couple Rivs, but I doubt they would be in shape to look good on my car, so the dealer it is.

Probably what happened is the fasteners in the middle were shot, being held on by the two on the edges. You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it. Then, when the front edge decided to break (while you were driving), the wind grabbed it and ripped it off.

When you order, I think there were light and dark greys, so check which you have. I'd guess light?

I would imagine it is light gray, but I don't recall the RPO codes indicating this difference. Will have to check into that.

i've heard there are 2 colors options, but you have the same color as mine and it looks more like dark grey to me
depending on how dry and faded

You know what's ironic, someone was just looking for one of these a few weeks ago on this site.

racinfan wrote:

You know what's ironic, someone was just looking for one of these a few weeks ago on this site.

Really? I missed that post.

After looking at this gray again, I agree it does appear it would be the darker gray, if there are 2 shades. My parts list only gives one part # though, it may not even come painted. I replaced an interior trim piece on my former 89 F150 a few years ago, and Ford only supplied unpainted replacements for plastic trim. GM may be the same. I'll have to call the dealer Thu or Fri.

I've got a spare from my '95 parts car, if you want to take a chance on the shade and pay the shipping I'll send it to you. I have the part number for the clips for it too, I would have to get it from one of my receipts and let you know. I can look at the paint code of the one I have and see if it was the same shade as yours. PM me if you are interested.

Randall, my 95-99 parts list shows a different part # for the 95 model year, IIRC. I'll double check it tomorrow, but am pretty sure that's what I read. Thanks for the offer though.

Hey post back if you ever confirm that there in a lighter and darker trim. I have two rivs and they both look the same, but I never took a really close look.

1998 Riv wrote:

Randall, my 95-99 parts list shows a different part # for the 95 model year, IIRC. I'll double check it tomorrow, but am pretty sure that's what I read. Thanks for the offer though.

Checked again, and the 95 models do in fact carry a different part # for the lower molding. And almost double the price! 96-99 use the same #. I'll post whatever I find out from the dealer about shades of gray.

Just talked to my dealer. I'll save about 5 bucks compared to gmpartsdirect prices, after shipping is figured. But the molding comes in unpainted, probably just in primer. Their body shop can paint it, I'll have to get a quote. For an exterior trim piece, I'm not sure I'd want to risk doing a rattle can job in my garage.

I'm pretty sure the color is molded into the plastic, not painted. The dealer can't find you the original part?

1998 Riv wrote:

1998 Riv wrote:

Randall, my 95-99 parts list shows a different part # for the 95 model year, IIRC. I'll double check it tomorrow, but am pretty sure that's what I read. Thanks for the offer though.

Checked again, and the 95 models do in fact carry a different part # for the lower molding. And almost double the price! 96-99 use the same #. I'll post whatever I find out from the dealer about shades of gray.

The book I have shows the '95 dark moulding as part #16632432-3 and that is the same part number for the '96-'99. I'm thinking that the only difference is that in '95 they also offered a light one, but I can't say I have ever seen one that is lighter than the three I have? The moulding is moulded the gray color and does not require any paint.

Called the dealer back. He goofed up. He had looked up the mid-door molding at first, saw it was unpainted, then assumed the lower molding was also unpainted, like the mid door part. It should come in the proper gray for 96-99. # 16632433 GM $53.68, my cost $40.29.

So we can assume 16632432 is the light grey, while 16632433 is the dark. Is this correct?

AA wrote:

So we can assume 16632432 is the light grey, while 16632433 is the dark. Is this correct?

I listed it wrong the first time

What I show is:
1995
Dark Gray R/L 16632432-3......Right side is 16632432/Left side is 16632433
Light Gray R/L 16618450-1......Right side is 16618450/Left side is 16618451

1996-99
..................R/L 16632432-3......Right side is 16632432/Left side is 16632433

Thanks. Good to know!

99Rivman wrote:

AA wrote:

So we can assume 16632432 is the light grey, while 16632433 is the dark. Is this correct?

I listed it wrong the first time

What I show is:
1995
Dark Gray R/L 16632432-3......Right side is 16632432/Left side is 16632433
Light Gray R/L 16618450-1......Right side is 16618450/Left side is 16618451

1996-99
..................R/L 16632432-3......Right side is 16632432/Left side is 16632433

WELL, here's what happened today. Picked up the piece from the dealer. Before I left, opened the box to inspect it. It is most definitely NOT the darker gray. I took it back into the parts desk to have THEM look up what part # they would have ordered if I simply asked them to order the correct part for my car, and they also came up with 16632433 for a 98 Riv driver side. Problem is, he also tells me HIS book shows this part # is good for all 95-99 cars, and is specified for 98 for sure. But does agree there are different numbers available for a 95, for the darker gray I suppose. He wasn't the guy I ordered from, so I'm going to stop back in tomorrow to talk the right guy.

The piece I picked up is a dark gray on the uncoated backside, but almost silver in color on the outside surface, apparently painted. I suspect I'll have to reorder the 95 dark gray part # if I want a new GM part that matches the car. Don't understand why the listed 98 part # would not match the trim on my 98. ALL of the lower trim on my car is darker gray. My first move may be to simply return this one, and check out the 2 Rivs at the local yard. I think the trim was pretty good when I looked at them last fall. Otherwise, I may take Randall up on his offer. Shipping would be expensive though, that long piece will take a big box. You should have seen the dealer box, it was Huge.

Shouldn't be that bad to ship. I once ordered the grey lower side moulding (even longer), and it was reasonable. Best of luck with the color matching issue. For as much as we pay the dealer for parts, they should be able to get it right!

1998 Riv wrote:

99Rivman wrote:

1995
Dark Gray R/L 16632432-3......Right side is 16632432/Left side is 16632433
Light Gray R/L 16618450-1......Right side is 16618450/Left side is 16618451

1996-99
..................R/L 16632432-3......Right side is 16632432/Left side is 16632433

I suspect I'll have to reorder the 95 dark gray part # if I want a new GM part that matches the car. Don't understand why the listed 98 part # would not match the trim on my 98. ALL of the lower trim on my car is darker gray. My first move may be to simply return this one, and check out the 2 Rivs at the local yard. I think the trim was pretty good when I looked at them last fall. Otherwise, I may take Randall up on his offer. Shipping would be expensive though, that long piece will take a big box. You should have seen the dealer box, it was Huge.

The number for the 96-99 is the same number as the dark gray on the '95. Not sure if there is something different about them now though?
Let me know if you don't find one, like I said all that I have are the same shade two of them are '95's and one is a '99, and I'll get it to you.

Ok, here's the morning news:

Talked to the parts mgr first thing today, and confirmed that we did in fact order the correct part #. He figures that at this point, with the car going on 10yrs old, GM doesn't necessarily have the different parts in separate parts bins. He is reordering the same #, but with an RFI attached to the order (Request For Inspection). This is supposed to mean the warehouse person will look thru the pieces in the bin, and try to find the correct unpainted part. I'm 100% certain that if the one they sent me had the paint stripped, it would be a perfect match. The unpainted backside is a nice color match. He'll take this one back for credit, no problem.

Once we see what they send this time around, I'll either be happy, or will stop by the local yard and see what shape the 2 Rivs are in now. Spacebar is looking for a part from the yard too, so maybe I can help him out, if I can figure out what he's looking for!

Randall, I really do appreciate your offer, and would be happy to accept it if I am unable to get a decent piece at the yard here. I'd rather get it here, than trust a carrier to not damage yours in transit. Been down that road before...

BTW, the parts mgr says the 95 has 2 different descriptions for the gray. Once is charcoal, the other was a weird description, something "warm" or some such terminology. I'd call my car's trim charcoal.

Good news, dealer called and has another now, and says it looks like it is the correct one. Hope he has my hood insulation and license plate bezel too.

The bad news continues, I'm afraid. Went to pick up the door trim after work, and this time it's even in the GM plastic bag, looking about 30 yrs old. It is correct, darker gray, unpainted surface. Problem is, it is warped pretty badly. Looks like it was not stored laying flat, and maybe got a little too warm while laying over the top of 1 or 2 other things. It does not look like it will appear flat and smooth when mounted to the door... This one is also much softer/floppier than the first one that came in. The first one was pretty rigid and perfectly flat. This one just flops back and forth. Not a happy camper. I left it with the after hours parts guy, didn't even bring it home. Going to call the parts mgr in the morning for an opinion. I want him to order another with an RFI note, and ask for a FLAT one.

Stopped back at noon today, and the picture has changed. After laying flat overnight, the trim is no longer warped and mis-shapen, and will be perfect. Also found out that GM didn't even have any of these. They had to search among their dealers to find one for me. All in all, very happy with the dealer parts mgr going the extra mile to find the correct piece.

Good to hear. The things Riv owners do for their cars...