I cannot find a fixing for the roof bars to fix to. Having removed the plastic cover to reveal the slot where the roof bar fits into there is no obvious sign of any fixing hole for the bolt from the r

you need to lift up the black plastic covers with a screwdriver or another flat tool at the front bottom side and split the one in the middle on the top - slide them away -then you should see the screws holding the rack to the rail.



split one side and lift the bar away to see screws

Glad you were able to get it fixed!

Hi there,

eTrailer has published information on mounting the Weekender --- attached here for your convenience.

Good luck.

Thule QM3 Quick On Off Mounting Hardware Kit Recommendation for 1997 Thule...

Open the hatch back. On the left-hand side is a panel that you can open in which the jack resides. Take that out.

(If you want to use the spare tire, located under the trunk space...)
You will see a plastic disc on the floor of the trunk space (where you store your luggage/groceries/etc). With a flat head screw driver pop the flat disc up & off. This will reveal a nut that you can turn to lower/release the spare tire that is directly underneath it.

If your T&C is like mine, you have a plastic cover in the middle of each alloy wheel that covers the lug nuts. This plastic cover can be popped off with the flat/nubby end of the crow bar that comes with the jack. It fits perfectly into a slot on the plastic cover.

Once you get the plastic cover off, the 5 lug nuts are revealed to you. Before you jack up the van, even a little, I would try to loosen all 5 lug nuts, just a bit...to get them going. Once the van is jacked up, it will be difficult to begin to loosen the lug nuts.

With the nuts loosened, set up the jack so that once you begin to turn it, the slot in the jack fits right into the frame of the van. You will see the frame that fits the slot in the jack between the front tires and back tires, on either side of the van.

Once the tire you want to change is fully lifted off of the ground, loosen the rest of the lug nuts and remove the tire. Replace it and reverse the order of what you just did. Get the 5 lug nuts onto the new tire, but only snug them up by hand. Once the tire touches the ground as the jack is lowered, then you can fully tighten the lug nuts with the crowbar.

Hope that helps!

Try with this procedure...
1) Start with opening the driver's side door and lowering the window. Remove lock lever (1A).
2) Using a plastic pry bar [slotted screwdriver], slowly pry plastic cover to reveal screw.

CAUTION: These plastic covers are fragile and break easily. Be very gentle in disengaging them.

3) Remove screw with a 10mm socket.
4) Slowly pry plastic cover using a plastic pry bar [slotted screwdriver].
5) Remove the (2) revealed screws with a 10mm socket.
6) Pry off the door panel controller using a plastic pry bar. Disconnect wiring and remove the controller.
7) With the plastic pry bar, pry around the triangular panel as shown.
8) Lift up and slowly pull door panel out partially.
9) Release the door lever rod with a needle nose pliers. Remove and set door panel aside.

Keep us updated.

the only way to tell is by dropping the interior roof lining down to see if the captive nuts(that hold the bars)are fitted.if not NO WAY.(means a new roof with all that entails.....)reminds me of a lady when asked what they are for she replied "stops the roof getting scratched when you turn the car over"

yes

You do not want to remove this rubber. There may not be custom designed roof bars to fit this model. If you really wanted to I guess you could use sheet metal screws to install brackets under the edges of the door sills.

That wasn't right though. There is a 1/2 slot for a 1/2 inch breaker bar and when two holes are lined up you stick a drill bit or similar peice through to lock it in place till you get the belt routed then pull back alittle bit on the breaker bar to remove tension from the drill bit . Remove the drill bit and release tension on breaker bar and remove it to put tension on the belt.Then check alignment , positioning, routing of the belt visually.