Assistance appreciated --- draft from windshield
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Assistance appreciated --- draft from windshield
All,
The last time I had my car out was a nice clear cold day end of month November. The car has been in hibernation in my warm dry garage due to the bad weather we have been having in NJ.
But the last time my wife and I were out --- we noticed a draft coming in from the windshield - we ran our hand along the bottom/sides/top of the windshield while cruising down the highway and we both noticed --- air coming from the top of the windshield --- sides bottom felt ok.
I got the car in May so this was the first cold drive, did not notice anything in the summer.
Could anyone recommend how this would get repaired --- what line of action ?
I will not touch this as I never worked with molding/glass ----
And --- what type of shop do you recommend --- an auto glass shop ?
Should they be a Corvette shop (I have 2 in NJ).
I'm a member of AAA and I see they offer the service, I also have auto glass companies local.
Thanks,
Bob
The last time I had my car out was a nice clear cold day end of month November. The car has been in hibernation in my warm dry garage due to the bad weather we have been having in NJ.
But the last time my wife and I were out --- we noticed a draft coming in from the windshield - we ran our hand along the bottom/sides/top of the windshield while cruising down the highway and we both noticed --- air coming from the top of the windshield --- sides bottom felt ok.
I got the car in May so this was the first cold drive, did not notice anything in the summer.
Could anyone recommend how this would get repaired --- what line of action ?
I will not touch this as I never worked with molding/glass ----
And --- what type of shop do you recommend --- an auto glass shop ?
Should they be a Corvette shop (I have 2 in NJ).
I'm a member of AAA and I see they offer the service, I also have auto glass companies local.
Thanks,
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Are you sure the draft isn't coming from over the top of the windshield?
Do you have the clear or the solid top? I can't tell from your information ...
Do you have the clear or the solid top? I can't tell from your information ...
Last edited by j3studio; Jan 18, 2011 at 12:16 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
[QUOTE=j3studio;1576544642]Are you sure the draft isn't coming from over the top of the windshield?
Not likely the windshield adhesive bond is leaking, but not impossible. Try checking the fit of the weatherstripping that seals the roof panel to the windshield header. Put some talcum powder (or even flour) on the joint where the top seals to the windshield header. Station an assistant inside the car with a hair dryer or heat gun set to blow cold and have him/her run the airstream along the inside along the joint to see if any powder puffs out. You may find the issue.
Not likely the windshield adhesive bond is leaking, but not impossible. Try checking the fit of the weatherstripping that seals the roof panel to the windshield header. Put some talcum powder (or even flour) on the joint where the top seals to the windshield header. Station an assistant inside the car with a hair dryer or heat gun set to blow cold and have him/her run the airstream along the inside along the joint to see if any powder puffs out. You may find the issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I'd bet you have the acrylic top and it is separating from the frame. This is a well known malady of our cars. If in fact you need a new top I suggest Melrose tops. Since you say you won't touch it I strongly suggest you have it corrected before you join the flying roof club, there are quite a few members in this club.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
If you need a new top. I'd recommend to AVOID Melrose tops and Astro Tops. They sell junk tops and their customer service is crap if you have a problem with their tops. They like to blame the customer for any problem they may have with their tops so they can avoid having to fix it.
www.sunroofdoctor.com gets good reviews, but I've never tried their tops.
www.sunroofdoctor.com gets good reviews, but I've never tried their tops.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Thank you for the replies ----
Yes I do have the acrylic top. Concerning diagnostics ---- If the test mentioned by Steve, proves the weather stripping that seals the the roof panels to the windshield header is leaking ---- I need weather stripping to correct.
If no leaks after the test ---- I need a new top ---- correct ?
With a replacement acrylic top ---- do they come with the mentioned weather stripping ?
Thanks,
Bob
Yes I do have the acrylic top. Concerning diagnostics ---- If the test mentioned by Steve, proves the weather stripping that seals the the roof panels to the windshield header is leaking ---- I need weather stripping to correct.
If no leaks after the test ---- I need a new top ---- correct ?
With a replacement acrylic top ---- do they come with the mentioned weather stripping ?
Thanks,
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
If you need a new top. I'd recommend to AVOID Melrose tops and Astro Tops. They sell junk tops and their customer service is crap if you have a problem with their tops. They like to blame the customer for any problem they may have with their tops so they can avoid having to fix it.
Others on the forum have told of problems with Astro Tops. I have never heard of an issue with Melrose.
Last edited by j3studio; Jan 18, 2011 at 02:21 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
If you need a new top. I'd recommend to AVOID Melrose tops and Astro Tops. They sell junk tops and their customer service is crap if you have a problem with their tops. They like to blame the customer for any problem they may have with their tops so they can avoid having to fix it.
www.sunroofdoctor.com gets good reviews, but I've never tried their tops.
www.sunroofdoctor.com gets good reviews, but I've never tried their tops.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
There have been several who have an Astro Top that say they had no problems. But they still are junk as is Melrose. I've came across at least 5 others who had a Melrose top installed by Melrose that warped and/or cracked in a short amount of time.
The Astro Top lasted 7 years till I noticed it was separating. I sent it to Melrose to rebuild it. I paid an extra $50 for them to strip the frame and repaint it. They ripped me off as I noticed they painted over all the hardware. So that means they didn't strip the frame to repaint it, which is what I paid extra for. Melrose just sprayed it down for 5 minutes with cheap rattle can paint that looks like ****. It has spots and crap all over. The frame looked better before I sent it to them.
The black out tape the used peeled off from the heat. So, I had to fix that, but you can still see through the black out area. The Melrose top was fine during the winter, but as soon as it got hot out. The top warped from the heat, then cracked a few months later which made the top useless. So, technically the Melrose top was bad out of the box and didn't last but a few months. Melrose response was for me to buy another top from them. Haha. When I asked Melrose about the warping, they told me strange things can happen to their top if you leave your car out in the sun. And Melrose stated once the top is out the door, then you are on your own. Crappy customer service just like from Astro Top.
Interestingly, Melrose is banned from this board. When I had placed my order with them and mentioned this forum, Melrose went on and on talking trash about this board.
The Astro Top lasted 7 years till I noticed it was separating. I sent it to Melrose to rebuild it. I paid an extra $50 for them to strip the frame and repaint it. They ripped me off as I noticed they painted over all the hardware. So that means they didn't strip the frame to repaint it, which is what I paid extra for. Melrose just sprayed it down for 5 minutes with cheap rattle can paint that looks like ****. It has spots and crap all over. The frame looked better before I sent it to them.
The black out tape the used peeled off from the heat. So, I had to fix that, but you can still see through the black out area. The Melrose top was fine during the winter, but as soon as it got hot out. The top warped from the heat, then cracked a few months later which made the top useless. So, technically the Melrose top was bad out of the box and didn't last but a few months. Melrose response was for me to buy another top from them. Haha. When I asked Melrose about the warping, they told me strange things can happen to their top if you leave your car out in the sun. And Melrose stated once the top is out the door, then you are on your own. Crappy customer service just like from Astro Top.
Interestingly, Melrose is banned from this board. When I had placed my order with them and mentioned this forum, Melrose went on and on talking trash about this board.
By the way, over the last eight or so years I've seen a lot of folks banned from the forum - some for good reasons and some for not so good reasons.
Last edited by j3studio; Jan 19, 2011 at 09:23 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
with Midnight 85 the acrylic top is separating from the frame. Get this corrected ASAP or you will be driving down the road and it will fly off
.Mine has down this twice....sperated....the first time on the road I fixed it with The Right Stuff. The second time I used black silicone. The first repair lasted 3 years.....still out on the second repair.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Thank you again for the information.
This will be a weekend check ---
First I will try the test with the power - flower.
If that is good --- then off with the top.
If the acrylic top is separating from the frame -- it would easily move ? I do not want to be a beast and apply too much pressure pulling.
Thanks,
Bob
This will be a weekend check ---
First I will try the test with the power - flower.
If that is good --- then off with the top.
If the acrylic top is separating from the frame -- it would easily move ? I do not want to be a beast and apply too much pressure pulling.
Thanks,
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
If you have a small flashlight that you can concentrate the beam down to a small circle, have someone place this just below the edge of the top. You get inside and lift upwards on the front edge of the top & raise yourself up so you can see if there is light coming through. If you can see light then the car should not be driven until the top is replaced.
joshwilson, I can certainly see why you would be sour on Melrose, I am very surprised at the quality of your top's appearance. However, your story is still the very first one I have seen against Melrose, maybe I need to get out more.
joshwilson, I can certainly see why you would be sour on Melrose, I am very surprised at the quality of your top's appearance. However, your story is still the very first one I have seen against Melrose, maybe I need to get out more.
