After fussing with Chrysler, NTSB, BBB, etc. for the past two years, gluing and sealing my window multiple times, having it "professionally done", etc., only to have it fall out while driving, I finally found a permanent solution: A picture is worth a 1000 words, right?

I took it to my local custom upholstery/boat cover guy (shameless plug here for Coachcraft Custom Upholstery, Fredericksburg VA - ask for Buck or Janice, his wife and mention my name - Kevin Long). If anyone wants larger pictures just let me know.

Coincidentally, I have a really dark tinted rear window - free to the first person to come and get it!

Kevin Long

 

cool - what was the price? I live in Fairfax VA, and know I'll need this someday :-0

 

$750 and well worth it!

 

I should add that the rear defroster is disconnected: my car is garaged, almost never driven in the winter, and certainly not in inclement weather, so I have no need of a rear defrost - haven't used it since I bought my car in 2009.

Kevin

 

THANKS!

 

Hi Kevin, I want to make sure I understand this . . . for $750.00 you had a plastic rear window sewn onto your top??

 

Is there any durability issue with his? Fading, discoloring?

 

Do you know if its water tight?

 

$750 seems a bit steep to me.

 

Years ago I had a new window like that sewn into my jeep top. From time to time I had to use "Seam Seal" on the stitches. The stitches did wick water and leak if left alone.

 

I have a question: Has anyone found a way to "treat" a window surround that has not yet fallen out?? Like a glue etc. that can be applied to reinforce the adherence of the glass to the canvass??? Seems like if there was it might forgo the failure.

Rusty

 

That's a really good idea! I'd pay up to $250 right now for a really effective preventive measure! Any ideas?..?

 

This seems highly recommended from other fora...


Not sure if it could be a preventative though...

 

So far it has been watertight; I had it done in June and wanted to make sure there were no issues before I posted anything.
Since then I've hand washed it several times, run it through an automatic car wash, and took it to one of the self service ones - I had about 10 -12 drops on the rear deck after that, but nothing else.
No fading, yellowing, etc. is evident, but I do keep it in the garage.
As for cost, that was the quoted price, probably because Buck had never done one before; he had to completely remove the top to sew the window in, and it was a lot cheaper than a new top.

Kevin

 

Good to know it's another option available. Like you I never drive mine in wet, frosty or snowy weather so I have no use for the defroster either. When mine fails it will probably depend on my financial situation at that time if I replace the whole top or go with this fix. Yesterday while coming home from lunch I was behind a VW Golf convertible that the rear window obviously had fallen out. There was an inch wide (maybe more) strip of clear silicon around the entire window. TACKY!