Anyone who has a '97 -'03 Grand Prix with the decorative, color matched rocker panel mouldings on all but the SE models, needs to see the following pix of what can happen to the steel areas of the car that are covered by these rocker panel mouldings if they are not kept clean. The unfortunate by-product of the design is that moisture and debris get trapped behind the moulding and then the fun begins!
Here's a pic of my '98 GTP's right side quarter panel just behind the door. The thin white area at the top is the remainder of the double faced tape that holds the moulding in place at the top. Also seen is the seriously rusted metal bracket that the plastic moulding slips into underneath. This steel strip stretches the entire length of the rocker panel. Lovely, huh?
This is the same secton with the long steel bracket removed.
This shows the very bottom of the 1/4 panel's steel skin (easilly) lifted up with just my hand.
This close up shot shows the end of the quarter with the steel mounting bracket ( for the plastic moulding) still in place. This area is completely hidden when the plastic moulding is on the car.There is a decent amount of steel gone where the wheel opening and the quarter panel meet at the bottom of the car.
These two pix show the inner side of the left rocker panel. The plastic rocker moulding attachment bracket is still in place.
This shows what's left of my left rocker panel underneath. I can actually stick my entire hand up in this gaping chasm and touch the underside of the top most portion of the rocker panel.
Lastly, here's a close up pic of the corner of my steel gas tank.
So, don't let this happen to your Grand Prix! I assume both coupe & sedan are at risk of the metal munching mice having a banquet!
