roadster rear window stick-up
 

has anyone had success with 3M Super weatherstrip adhesive to reattach the rear window on the roadster. The convertible repair shop claims nothing will work and a new top is necessary. '05 has 27000 miles and is garaged to avoid Florida weather. Chrysler dealer says " good luck"
scubaman

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Scuba .... I believe what your top guy is correct. I and many others have tried various methods from duct tape to epoxy and nothing works that I know. I had a plastic window sewn in almost a year ago and am still satisfied. The work was done by an upholsterer. See my posts with pics on this forum.

Good Luck

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

thanx for the quick reply...just as iI feared. did you have the plastic window sewed in permenantly or does it unzip? scubaman

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Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I don't have the top up on many occasions, but I have noticed that the rear window "PULSE'S" when I open the drivers window, the change in pressure definatly has an effect on the rear glass, and could be the main cause of failure :confused:

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

My guess is the adhesive Karmann used for the rear window was adequate for the highest temps in Germany but not meant to take the heat in southern USA. They should have known better since they've built other rag top cars for the states.

I wonder if the problem is specific to particular year(s) as my '05 has not had the problem...yet.

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I appreciate the comments and speculation. Ray's Trim and Upholstery in Miami advertises that he makes this repair (takes 2 days and costs $550) but I would hate to have the repair done and have to redo it again down the road. Anyway I'll contact Ray's and see how long they warrantee the repair for...otherwise a sewed in plastic window makes more sense.
scubaman

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I think it has a lot to do with driving with the top up and the windows down. There is too much wind buffering on that rear window for that. I have a few friends with other rag tops - all the ones with back window issues are the ones that drive around with the windows down. My car has 2 modes - top up, windows up or top down, windows down. The bad news is that once it starts to go it seems to just be a matter of time. I don't think it has anything to do with who made our car, its just part of having a rag top with a glass rear window.

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I was at the convert top shop today to meet with the top and glass guru and there was another Crossfire there for the same purpose. The guru's opinion was a combination of the heat and the weight of the glass and any other impediment can cause the separation. The shop had another Crossfire in temp storage waiting for a new top. I am hot into research since I dont want to invest in a fix using the same technology that created the problem, I am going to meet with Tom at Classic Auto Interiors in Tampa so I can check out the quality of his shop work. In a conversation with him today by phone he said he would build me a top with the window enclosed in a pocket so this problem would not reoccur, It sounds reasonable to me and if his work looks good I'll probably go this way..when I get more info I'll post it.
scubaman.

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I have an appointment to have a new top made next week at Classic Auto Interiors in Tampa. Rear window installed in a pocket, NOT glued in. Now my big decision is BLACK or Tan...my Crossfire is silver blue. I'll have till next Monday to agonize over this.
scubaman

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Here are two places I have heard about, BLH has repaired several and I understand they hold up fine. GAHH tells me they will be making tops for the XF in September. I hope this helps.


BLH CUSTOM AUTO TRIM & GLASS 730 S Jupiter RD Garland,TX 75042 (972) 272-3805

GAHH Automotive 11128 Gault St.
North Hollywood CA 91605
800-722-2292
GAHH: Convertible Tops, Auto Interiors, Quality Convertible Tops

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Like KimPossible, my top is down most of the time (XF is garaged and covered). Probably the only time it is up if I am caught in the rain or when I store it for the winter. So far 32k miles and everything looks like new (except a TPM).

Just thinking outside the box, has anyone taken it to a M-B dealer, assuming they have glass in their 320/350 SLKs? Maybe they have a solution?

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Scubaman,
How much will the new top cost?

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

thurs, 6-25, 09

Got my Crossfire back today from CLASSIC AUTO INTERIORS in Tampa with a new top (tan) and the rear glass enclosed in a material pocket. the car looks great (in my opinion) with a light color top and it seems to be a better color for Florida. Total price, including an application of MoppTopp and interior left and right pads came to $1287. I am happy. New top, new tires...do I smell a road trip to cooler weather!
scubaman

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Pictures please!!

Mine still looks in very good shape, but the OK sun gets very hot...just planning for the future. ;)

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Pics Please!;)

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Definitely need pics cause I live about an 1.5 hours away from Tampa and could easily afford the $1,200 if I knew it would eliminate my woes about having duct tape propping up my window and not having water come in.

Plus they should have retained a template for the top so it wont take that much time

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Still would like to see some pictures.....

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Wow! Must be summer time with all of these posts about glass coming out of the tops!
Found out that my glass was separating also. So far I have...

• Moved my PRETTY 65 Chevelle SS out of the garage (sorry Baby) so I can put the Roadster in.
• Bought a car cover so I can cover the car while it is outside at work.
• Repaired the top with 3M Window-Weld (08609). So far so good!

We are in our monsoon season now so I will probably drive other cars until I am sure I will not get caught in the rain.

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

7-2-09
I will try to get pics of the new convertible top posted as soon as possible.
scubaman

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I was wondering if something besides our intense FL heat could be the culprit. Does everyone drive with their top up & windows down? I have a lot of friends with roadsters here & every single one that has rear window issues does that. I don't roll my windows down with the top up, but if I have to roll the window down I notice a LOT of rear window vibration. Could this be an issue across the board? My parents always told me not to drive top up - windows down in a roadster for this reason & I trusted them because they know cars. Is this a wives tale or maybe something???

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I'm going to go ahead and agree with Kim......I think it's something besides the sun and heat that's causing the problem.

The reason I say this is there's photo evidence that Karmann did extensive climate testing on the operation and structure of our convertible tops. A member from a long time back (REDCROSS) had Karmann send him a bunch of pictures which he promptly put up on Flickr, and linked to the forum.

Karmann Factory - a set on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1405/...92b5b0.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1226/...3ff543.jpg?v=0



Granted....this is just cold weather testing, but 2 things to keep in mind. 1. It's standard operation for auto manufacturers to test cars in both extremes (hot and cold) to a degree that they think the car will never see, (Behr has a testing facility that goes from -22f to over 120f in a couple hours just a few miles from here. Very impressive to see!). 2. The lack of a "hot" photo is nothing to be speculating on....you can see ice on the car, it's hard to show "heat" in a picture. These are press photo's after all, and are just meant to promote what they can do.

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

It's the moisture...if you're in AZ where it's hotter than hell, you still have dry air. The only way the adhesive will fail is if it cracks. However in FL, we have near the same temperatures (our heat index has been over 100 the last couple weeks) but also high levels of humidity. That humidity might make the adhesive "gummy" which coupled ith the weight of the glass and the stress points around the corners of the glass when the top is down, could lead to the failures

granted this is all speculation but my $.02

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Used the 3 M adhesive last Feb. and so far it is holding. Have not put the top down since the repair so I don't know what to expect when I Do. Was out in the rain today - will check tomorrow. Ken

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Primary cause? Top up, windows down. It's called "Cowl Shake" and I learned about this with the C4 Vette. With the Targa top removed and windows up, a resonant or vibrating air pressure would shake the interior to pieces.

I noticed this with the XF right away and will NOT drive even secondary roads with the windows down unless the top is down also.

Having said that, having a heavy glass window simply glued to the top is not the best idea either. :confused:

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

7-6-09
here are the crossfire convertible top pics

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

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Wow, the tan color was a great choice, it looks great on your car. Now you have a one of a kind Crossfire, get out there and drive, drive, drive.

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

7-7-09

At this point I am completely pleased with my new top and the color gives the car a "lightness" that the black top did not. Driving in the Florida monsoon there were no leaks and the ragg top treatment sheds water like a duck.
The original rear window was used in the new top but each new top is made for the car so there is no pattern. Typical turn-around time is 2-3 days. Colors can be black, tan, and midnight blue.
The name of the shop is Classic Auto Interiors in Tampa and the person to talk to is Tom. 800-473-4567
I have no connection to this business...I selected them after some research and some phone calls and a visit to the shop to see their work.
scubaman

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

What are folks using (top treatment)?
Guess I gotta get some now that I have the roadster.

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

I use Raggtopp.

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I use 303 High Tech Fabric Guard and it works great. I have also used Raggtopp on my cars in the past and believe the two products are very much alike, I am using 303 because I can buy it in a store near my house. I hope this helps.


303: 303 Products: High Tech Fabric Guard

Raggtopp: The Haartz Corporation - Cloth Top Cleaning Guide

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Thanks for posting the pictures. LOOKS GREAT!!!

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Nice work on the top...definitely doing this instead of trying to adhese it back on, wonder if I can get dark gray for a fabric

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Looks great and I bet you have the only crossfire with a tan top.

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Ordered some.
Thanks!

Re: roadster rear window stick-up
 

Hi Scubaman, the "pocket" they installed, was its main function to capture and support the glass? Or, to provide a way that the adhesive would surround the glass, inside and out? I'm just across the bay in Gulfport and opened the trunk yesterday and found it soaking wet. Further inspection revealed the back glass totally separated across the bottom edge. I sealed it with black windshield cement before I came across this forum this afternoon. I guess a top replacement is in the near future.........Art