Louvre Adjustment

[SoCalDMC12]

Howdy Folks,

Does anyone know how to adjust their louvres left-to-right? The right edge of my louvre is rubbing against my fascia, causing the paint to wear. I put some spacers under the louvre to raise it a bit, and that seems to work... but if it can be adjusted horizontally, I'd rather do that and get rid of the spacers. (No one can see them, but they seem like a band-aid fix to me.)

Cheers,

- Geoff

[sdg3205]

Not sure you can do left to right.

You may be able to slightly lower your fascia though. I've found they often are hung up on the impact absorber making them slightly higher up then needed.

It's all trial and error I guess!

[Bill Robertson's Sock Puppet #1]

The easiest way to position louvers is to tighten them to the hinges while they are closed (struts disconnected). You'll need a 12" socket wrench extension and a universal joint.

If left to right adjustment isn't adequate, simply oblong the mounting holes a little bit more with a rat tail file.

[DeLorean03]

The bummer is to do "left to right" you have to move the louvres "forward and back".

Basically, to move them LtoR, you have to loosen the 13mm nuts that hold the louvres to the car. Just loosen - DO NOT disconect. Then, take the front of the louvres (the end closer to the actual front of the car) and push the opposite side forward of the direction you want the louvres to move. For ex:

The louvres sit too close to the driver's side of the rear fascia. You desire to get the louvres away from the driver's side and more towards the passenger side. To do that, the front of the passenger's side louvres need to be pushed in towards the car. Doing so will swing the body of the louvres out and away from the driver's side of the rear fascia.

It's a bit of trial and error. Be patient and try to have someone else with you to help.

[SoCalDMC12]

The bummer is to do "left to right" you have to move the louvres "forward and back".

Basically, to move them LtoR, you have to loosen the 13mm nuts that hold the louvres to the car. Just loosen - DO NOT disconect. Then, take the front of the louvres (the end closer to the actual front of the car) and push the opposite side forward of the direction you want the louvres to move. For ex:

The louvres sit too close to the driver's side of the rear fascia. You desire to get the louvres away from the driver's side and more towards the passenger side. To do that, the front of the passenger's side louvres need to be pushed in towards the car. Doing so will swing the body of the louvres out and away from the driver's side of the rear fascia.

It's a bit of trial and error. Be patient and try to have someone else with you to help.

Thanks, that worked! Interesting how much adjustment is possible at the brackets holding the louvres.

I was able to do it myself, but it definitely took a lot of trial and error. For those attempting to do this, another set of hands is definitely recommended.

[DeLorean03]

Thanks, that worked! Interesting how much adjustment is possible at the brackets holding the louvres.

I was able to do it myself, but it definitely took a lot of trial and error. For those attempting to do this, another set of hands is definitely recommended.

Awesome :thumbup:!! I learned this from doing it to my own car about 2 weeks ago. Glad it helped!

[Delorean Industries]

Left and right is controlled by moving the actual hinge where it attaches to the roof box. If you try to adjust left to right via the four nuts the extreme point of the louvre base will contact the rear fascia and damage the paint/abs plastic over time. The louvre acts as a saw blade with road vibrations against a weaker material.

[SoCalDMC12]

Left and right is controlled by moving the actual hinge where it attaches to the roof box. If you try to adjust left to right via the four nuts the extreme point of the louvre base will contact the rear fascia and damage the paint/abs plastic over time. The louvre acts as a saw blade with road vibrations against a weaker material.

So, if I remove the plastic grill at the top of the rear window, I can access/adjust the hinges? This is good to know... the adjustments I made on the four nuts seem to have worked well (there seems to be plenty of clearance between the louvres and the fascia now). But my other D seems to have much less clearance on the driver's side. Not touching, even if I press down on the louvre, but I'm still watching it for signs of contact... I may try this method if necessary.

THanks!

- Geoff

[DMC5180]

So, if I remove the plastic grill at the top of the rear window, I can access/adjust the hinges? This is good to know... the adjustments I made on the four nuts seem to have worked well (there seems to be plenty of clearance between the louvres and the fascia now). But my other D seems to have much less clearance on the driver's side. Not touching, even if I press down on the louvre, but I'm still watching it for signs of contact... I may try this method if necessary.

THanks!

- Geoff

Has the Rear facia shrunken inward any? The Ridge points pulled inward toward the Louvre?

[Timeless]

Recently had my louvre start not shut correctly. It feels like there is tension when down with slight force required to latch it to engine cover. The top is contact the T panel when opening. Any thoughts on adjustment?
6933469335

[ssdelorean]

Recently had my louvre start not shut correctly. It feels like there is tension when down with slight force required to latch it to engine cover. The top is contact the T panel when opening. Any thoughts on adjustment?
6933469335

I have same issue. The Tpanel is a bit too high. Not much adjustment there. You could try to bend down the tabs on the back of the TPanel but it is mainly due to the REAR SCREEN FINISHER (Part Number: 105721A) being old and warped - not stiff enough anymore to hold down the TPanel. It usually bows up towards the center. If you had a stiffer one, you could get the louvers up closer to the TPanel and away from the rear facia/latch.

Some of the vendors sell a stainless one that has to be better than this old plastic. I just have been dealing with it for all these years. I may replace one day if it gets too bad and my louvers are touching the rear facia.

[MrChocky]

I have same issue. The Tpanel is a bit too high. Not much adjustment there. You could try to bend down the tabs on the back of the TPanel but it is mainly due to the REAR SCREEN FINISHER (Part Number: 105721A) being old and warped - not stiff enough anymore to hold down the TPanel. It usually bows up towards the center. If you had a stiffer one, you could get the louvers up closer to the TPanel and away from the rear facia/latch.

Some of the vendors sell a stainless one that has to be better than this old plastic. I just have been dealing with it for all these years. I may replace one day if it gets too bad and my louvers are touching the rear facia.

The finishers are obviously not ideal, but are you sure this isn't due to the roofbox lifting - a really common problem now for the cars.

Even when everything's laid down properly, it's possible to mess up the alignment of the louvers too - there's some adjustment to be had here.

[Rich]

Recently had my louvre start not shut correctly. It feels like there is tension when down with slight force required to latch it to engine cover. The top is contact the T panel when opening. Any thoughts on adjustment?
6933469335

You may have better luck working it the other way around.

It looks like one or both of your louver hinges are adjusted so the front of the louver sits too low. It's possible one of the 4 nuts connecting the louver to each of the hinge arms is loose, allowing the louver to move downward recently and then it began to contact the T-panel when you lifted or lowered the louver.

Mine works well with both front corners of the louver at the same height as, not below, the nearest edge of the quarter panel. See first photo.

See second photo for the location of the nuts you'll want to check. It's not obvious but the hinge arm is designed so you can change the angle of the hinge arm to raise or lower the front of the louver on each side.

If you already have the louver at max hinge height then you'll have to lower the T-panel as others suggest.

It's important for the louver to miss the T-panel so it doesn't bend the T-panel up when lifting. Keeping the leading edge of the louver high enough vs the T-panel helps in this regard.

69338 69339

[Timeless]

Screws are tight but I'll loosen and see if I can manipulate/adjust the hinges. The rear screen finisher looks to be in good shape and yes - the T-panel is being pushed up when lifting the louvres.

[ssdelorean]

The finishers are obviously not ideal, but are you sure this isn't due to the roofbox lifting - a really common problem now for the cars.

Even when everything's laid down properly, it's possible to mess up the alignment of the louvers too - there's some adjustment to be had here.

Yes. My roof box was re-done 2 yrs ago. My rear screen finisher is warped and wussy. :-)

[Timeless]

Update: fixed the issue with contacting the T-Panel. Anyone have advice on the ability to keep the louvre from contacting the top of the fascia? I have couple of spots where the paint is compromised due to louvre resting on the fascia. I put a thin strip of foam tape at the latch but looking for something more polished/finished and no so backyard.

[82DMC12]

Update: fixed the issue with contacting the T-Panel. Anyone have advice on the ability to keep the louvre from contacting the top of the fascia? I have couple of spots where the paint is compromised due to louvre resting on the fascia. I put a thin strip of foam tape at the latch but looking for something more polished/finished and no so backyard.

My driver side louver trailing tip has touched the fascia at times depending on adjustment. I found I need to slightly lift up on the leading edge of the louver, maybe 2mm, before tightening the hinge nuts. This might let you slide the louvers forward a touch and avoid hitting the bumper. I'd also replace the louver buffer weatherstrips, since if they are deteriorated the louvers could be sitting too low. It's a fine adjustment not too easy, in the end you have to make it "good enough"!

[Timeless]

My driver side louver trailing tip has touched the fascia at times depending on adjustment. I found I need to slightly lift up on the leading edge of the louver, maybe 2mm, before tightening the hinge nuts. This might let you slide the louvers forward a touch and avoid hitting the bumper. I'd also replace the louver buffer weatherstrips, since if they are deteriorated the louvers could be sitting too low. It's a fine adjustment not too easy, in the end you have to make it "good enough"!
I'll try that. I did replace the rubber buffers when I got the car. That was a must since they were horribly petrified after 41 years.