Do this only at the top and along one side.
How to fix separating door panel.
I understand this is a relative common issue on c5 s more common the older they get but i ve never seen a fix posted anywhere so i thought i d post my fix for this.
How to fix cracks in door panels without taking the door apart wooden doors will develop cracks over time especially if the panels aren t free to expand and contract.
Work the joints apart gently until you have separated all the stiles and rails.
Then deepen the groove that the panel rests in with a chisel.
Once the groove is deepened you will be able to install a new panel but the panel will have to be installed in two pieces and glued together in place.
If pieces are stuck together with paint you can use a blade to clean some of the paint out of the joint being careful not to damage the edges of the wood.
Most of the time years of paint or caulking the seams around the panels will cause the wood to stick and not allow the panel to expand and contract with the weather.
I had to do something.
Coat both the mortise and tenon sides with a good wood glue to and tightly clamp the doors back together.
Separate the door panel from the door.
To do this you need to remove the old panel by cutting or sawing it into pieces.
This might sound expensive but if you scour the breakers yards and online auction websites you may find one cheaply.
Tighten c clamps around both pieces of plywood to hold them together with the door.
Alternatively you can remove the door card and then working from the rear of the panel remove the fabric and then use a spray adhesive to affix the fabric back to the panel.
After you remove the stiles the panels rails and mullions should separate without much effort as long as they weren t glued in place.
Most door panels have about 4 or 5 mounting screws which are now visible.
The rest of the door panels are perfect but the separated area at and slightly above the arm rests were unsightly.
The simplest one is to order a replacement door card.
Once all of the screws and panels are removed grab the bottom of the door panel and pull it firmly from the door.
The covers and lights on the door panel can be removed by lightly prying on them which will expose the mounting screws.
Clean all the old residue off the joints and use thin pieces of wood to fill in gaps to get the joints to go back together tightly if necessary.