technician / mechanic / anybody -- polystyrene block inside a MK.4 ibiza door?

[air121005]

i've had to replace the window regulator and noticed that when the window dropped inside the door it landed on / hit a large square piece of black polystyrene.
during the impact hit has split it and deformed it a little and more it from its original location.
i thought i'd moved it back to where it was, refitted the inner metal door panel, new regulator, glass etc....checked the widow operated fully and it doesn't go all the way down, stopping about 80mm from the top of the door.
i'm assuming that this polystyrene block is in the way and preventing the window from fully opening, as the window stops suddenly upon an obstruction rather than slowly, as if its all out of alignment and gradually pressing up against something

basically i won't to know if i can take out this block of polystyrene, what is its purpose?
is it for sound deadening / to stop the door skin from vibrating like a drum skin?
is it there purely to stop the glass from shattering when the window does fall into the door?

 

[air121005]

anybody

 

[NickyJam]

i would say remove the opposite door card and see where it's placed and whether the other window hits it when lowered...

 

[air121005]

nice idea, however you can't see inside when the window is operational.
once you've taken the plastic doorcard off there is an inner galvanized door card to which the speaker, door locking mecahnism, wiring loom & window motor are attached facing into the car and on the back (inside the door is the window regulator (runners, cables etc) and glass.....oh and this block of polystyrene.

 

[Ash_238]

I haven't got these strips in my doors.

How strange.

 

[joop200789]

i had the same problem monday night drivers window dissappeared,replace the regulator and mine wouldne got all the way down,i just play around with it and sat the block to where it was suppost to be and it worked

try taking the block all to gether its not really held in and see if it lets your window go to th bottom

 

[Guinness]

I had the same issue, my door doesnt have this anymore.

Never caused a problem. Might do in an accident but meh....

 

[dicky FR]

Nearly every door card ive taken off moden cars have polystyrene blocks on them never worked out what there for, my guess is some form of sound deadening or to stop rattles however I cant see ripping it out doing any harm.

 

[Tom.]

Sound deadening as far as i know.

Wouldnt have any sort of effect on the structural integrity of the car, as end of the day it's a block of polystyrene. If you take it out, it just means a bit more road noise.

 

[air121005]

thanks for the replies, cheers guys!

i've got time to dismantle the door again today so will try it without the block.

 

[MJ]

they are there to create a certain reaction in the event of an accident and make the door crush in a certain way, i think its to stop the bar in the centre of the door that runs diagonally down from bending in two and piercing the inner skin, thats why they are located in the centre of the door and clipped to the outer door skin. however i am yet to actally see this in person so they are just dead weight in my opinion.

 

[antnee]

I had the same problem with mine, passengers side window wouldn't go all the way down, so opened it up yesterday to find the block in the way, so its now sat in my garage

 

[air121005]

after a 2nd look, it was out of place again, but realised by the shape of it, it seems by the shape of it its designed to be under the path of the window and thus catch it should..or should i say WHEN...the window falls into the door when the plastic clips in the regulator assembly fail.

anyway.....i "modified"the polystyrene block with a saw and its now wedged lower down in the bottom of the door

 

[stebbi]

i ripped mine out when I sound deadened the door.
Didnt see the point in it as all i thought it did was stop the glass dropping and breaking if my reg failed and the window dropped

 

[MATT RILEY]

Helps the car float if it crashes in water,dont remove it you will sink!