Crystal Lite Blind Repair

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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

I'm starting to take my roof apart to repair one of my blinds. I was following the couple of posts I could find and have a simple question for those who have gone before me. The main section where the light is is held in by what appear to be plastic inserts of some kind. They don't unscrew, I haven't been able to get hold of them when needle nose pliers I need a few suggestions besides drilling them out and buy new ones.

Any technique that works would be appreciated. I've added a picture to show where it is.

Thanks

Larry
Attachments
The little black thing is the problem!!
The little black thing is the problem!!
100_8004a.JPG (343.2 KiB) Viewed 11257 times
TieMyShoe
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by TieMyShoe »

the center piece unthreads then the plastic clip becomes free to release. Sometimes the threads strip and it wont unthread. You may need to get a pick under the screw portion to help coax it out.
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by thelazygreenfox »

Larry
They look like barb fittings. If so rip them out and buy more from Amayama. Go to their website, describe the fitting and they'll find them and send you a quote. Delica uses lots of them to hold plastic panels on.

MD :-D
Wear your mask, it keeps others from seeing the parsley in your teeth
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north54
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by north54 »

I have 3 blinds that don't work. Please post your process of repair if you can! Will be following this thread closely...
TRUSTY RUSTY
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

Well I spent the day carefully taking things apart and only have the rear half left to get access to the blinds. I confirmed that my problem is the plastic clips which I think is most common. The plastic pieces I referred to above are now out and as expected are in pieces as well. I'll get organized to see about getting some as well as other little push-in pieces once I've figured out how many I need. Amayama has them you think MD - we'll find out next week. I'm using the 2 posts below to take things apart and to build the clips. If anyone has comments or needs a few pictures let me know. I'll post what I've taken once I'm finished In the meantime below are the plastic inserts.
http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.ph ... ade+repair
http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 8e8#p80520
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100_8007a.JPG
100_8007a.JPG (676.05 KiB) Viewed 11229 times
DCS
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by DCS »

I've got two that are also broken. my buddy sent me this link.

http://thedelicapage.blogspot.ca/2007/0 ... tions.html

Does anybody knows the best place to grab these motors and how much do they run?

I will also be following.
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tomaboyd
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by tomaboyd »

Those clips are not Delica specific. They are very common. A good parts store should have them in different sizes.
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

The blind repair is now done and tested. The clips that Jamie made work fine BUT it certainly is not as simple as he made it seem. I will put together the pictures I took as well as comments in the near future. For now I have the following observations:

1. Don't bother if you only have 1 problem blind especially if it is the one adjacent the sliding door.

2. Be prepared to remove the entire roof from front to back and have a place to put it as there are a lot of pieces.

3. Don't hurry the process as bad things can happen.

4. Make sure you have a good metric socket set and correct size of phillips screw driver for the various screws.

5. Make sure to use a proper autobody tool to remove all the plastic push in clips.

6. I removed the blind to practice the clip manufacture. This may not be necessary but it's easier to see what happens if it's on a work bench.

7. Use an alternate fused ( 5A ) source to test so you don't burn out any motors. A large supply of fuses is also a good idea.

Larry
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

The one blind I needed to fix was @ the passenger door so I began removing the ceiling and window treatment based on the idea that the rest of the roof could remain intact. It didn't take long to figure out this was not going to work as the center light covered bolts I needed to remove as well the cross duct covered some. This meant all but the rear would need to be removed. As it turned out to remove the shade I needed to remove the rear portion as well. If your problem blind is any of the other 3 and you think you can fit the new clip in place without removing the blind much of the roof may be able to stay in place. The removal I'll show will be for the complete roof which will give an idea of all the equipment covered. The one positive of removing the entire roof trim is you will be able to search for rust which is a common problem with CL roofs. I was lucky the only rust I could find was along the rear of the front sunroof and the CL area was dusty but just like new.

The curtains and side trim are the first to come out. The order is determined by overlaps. Three types of screws are used so you may want to note where they came from. In addition to screws and clips the weatherstripping around the window will need to be removed.

Nxski provides a lot of pictures of the removal in his post. He was looking for rust not blind repair but his pictures are a great compliment to the few I will add.
Attachments
Curtain trim removal DS
Curtain trim removal DS
100_8013 1.JPG (381.83 KiB) Viewed 11141 times
Top rail DS front
Top rail DS front
100_8089 2.JPG (337.32 KiB) Viewed 11141 times
Top rail clips PS
Top rail clips PS
100_8003 3.JPG (454.19 KiB) Viewed 11141 times
Window trim completely removed
Window trim completely removed
100_8001 4.JPG (337.31 KiB) Viewed 11141 times
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

The roof trim requires the removal of the trim around the florescent light first. Once that is complete. I think the front and rear trim are independent. The trim around the light is held in place by 4 plastic button clips and some spring clips that are part of the fixture. The plastic trim around the light is held by screws and a channel trim. The fixture itself can't be removed until one or both of the roof trims are removed unless you want to risk forcing it out. The screws that hold the light are a large Phillips type and strip very easily if you don't use the correct size tip. ( I have pictures )
Attachments
Trim removal
Trim removal
100_8004 1.JPG (343.2 KiB) Viewed 11140 times
Light control removal
Light control removal
100_8005 2.JPG (338.44 KiB) Viewed 11140 times
Duct trim removed
Duct trim removed
100_8008 3.JPG (337.65 KiB) Viewed 11140 times
Light trim removed
Light trim removed
100_8010 4.JPG (334.72 KiB) Viewed 11140 times
Channel trim removal
Channel trim removal
100_8011 5.JPG (357.65 KiB) Viewed 11140 times
Light fixture removed
Light fixture removed
100_8046 6.JPG (376.88 KiB) Viewed 11140 times
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

The front trim is a little trim around the doors, the duct work and weatherstripping around the front doors. I removed the trim for the panels behind the front doors which includes the seatbelts. This may not be required but if they are not removed this trim needs to be bent significantly. 25 year old plastic isn't noted for flexibility. The sun visors , dome light and mirror also need to be removed. The front trim pulls away from the front door pillars. Again the order is determined by the way the trim is overlapped.
Attachments
DS seatbelt trim
DS seatbelt trim
100_8017 5a.jpg (407.07 KiB) Viewed 11111 times
Removal of channel trim and weatherstripping
Removal of channel trim and weatherstripping
100_8020 6.JPG (370.23 KiB) Viewed 11111 times
Trim removed from Cross duct
Trim removed from Cross duct
100_7999 1.JPG (352.74 KiB) Viewed 11111 times
Cross duct trim
Cross duct trim
100_7998 2.JPG (309.21 KiB) Viewed 11111 times
Seat belt removal PS
Seat belt removal PS
100_8014 3.JPG (337.41 KiB) Viewed 11111 times
Trim panels removed from PS seatbelt and front door
Trim panels removed from PS seatbelt and front door
100_8016 4.JPG (373.28 KiB) Viewed 11111 times
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

Front area trim part 2:
Attachments
Trim clip for roof trim PS
Trim clip for roof trim PS
100_8024 7.JPG (354.76 KiB) Viewed 11110 times
Roof trim held by door pillar trim
Roof trim held by door pillar trim
100_8025 8JPG.jpg (313.49 KiB) Viewed 11110 times
Cross duct support clip ( top )
Cross duct support clip ( top )
100_8078 9.JPG (234.05 KiB) Viewed 11110 times
Cross duct support bracket ( clip & bolt )
Cross duct support bracket ( clip & bolt )
100_8079 10.JPG (307.62 KiB) Viewed 11110 times
Front area with roof panel removed
Front area with roof panel removed
100_8080 11a.jpg (463.05 KiB) Viewed 11110 times
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

The rear trim is held in place by a few push-in buttons, trim channel around the CL's and a couple screws @ the rear. The small trim pieces that join the roof and side trim also need to be removed.
Attachments
Rear speaker
Rear speaker
100_7996 1.JPG (383.98 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
Rear speaker access cover removed
Rear speaker access cover removed
100_8040 2.JPG (425.67 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
Rear speaker cover removed
Rear speaker cover removed
100_8041 3.JPG (465.71 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
Rear light and duct trim
Rear light and duct trim
100_8042 4.JPG (258.4 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
CL blind control removed
CL blind control removed
100_8043 5.JPG (316.24 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
Rear side trim
Rear side trim
100_8038 6.JPG (363.85 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

Rear area ceiling removal continued.
Attachments
Rear side trim removed
Rear side trim removed
100_8039 7.JPG (293.57 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
Rear ceiling trim buttons removed
Rear ceiling trim buttons removed
100_8044 8.JPG (307.92 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
Rear ceiling channel trim removal
Rear ceiling channel trim removal
100_8045 9.JPG (363.07 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
Rear ceiling front buttons to remove
Rear ceiling front buttons to remove
100_8011 10a.jpg (375.89 KiB) Viewed 11096 times
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lrp374
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Crystal Lite Blind Repair

Post by lrp374 »

At this stage it can be determined whether the blind has failed due to broken clips or problems with the motors or cables. Usually if the blind has retracted the clip is broken. If it is stuck open or only operates partially then the motor or cable is likely the problem. The clips can be replaced with the metal clips made from pipe strap. If the motors or cables are the problem it usually means a new or used unit. Used units are available @ the typical suppliers. New ones are very expensive if available. Each blind is unique so if you order one make sure it is for the correct location. Luckily mine was a clip problem. The blinds are easily removed once the ceiling trim is out.

The blinds operate via a small cable that pushes the blind down and a spring return similar to a house blind. The clips appear to break where they go under the U channel. The clip is held in place on the cable between compression collars. A small C snap clip holds the blind clip on the rod in the blind.
Attachments
Operating blind
Operating blind
100_8028 1a.jpg (390.71 KiB) Viewed 11073 times
Broken clip
Broken clip
100_8034 2.JPG (362.84 KiB) Viewed 11073 times
Broken clip rear
Broken clip rear
100_8036 3a.jpg (339.45 KiB) Viewed 11073 times
Broken clip front
Broken clip front
100_8037 4.JPG (434.76 KiB) Viewed 11073 times
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