Problem with Transparent top
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Problem with Transparent top
(Edit- this should be in C6 General. Mods- can you move it please?)
(Edit again- thanks for the move)
No, it didn't delaminate...
When we picked up the car (NCM delivery) the top had no rattles but was pretty tight, difficult to get back on after some topless driving. After about 3k miles it was easier but at about 6k miles it started to rattle. Silicone grease on all the pins, latches, weatherstripping, etc didn't help. Took it to the dealer at 11k miles, the tech tightened it up a little and that helped. But that day we noticed 4 small cracks in the tinted plastic, passenger side, at the edge (weatherstripping), about half-way back. Cracks were about 1/2" long, and 1" space between them. Very difficult to see unless the sunlight angle was just right. I don't think the adjustment caused the cracks, I think they were already there. Dealer ordered a new top under warranty, complete unit (no need to swap latches, etc), installed today. Seems like the rattles are gone.
Interestingly, we had similar cracks in the transparent top of our C5, but didn't notice them until about 40k miles so no warranty coverage. Maybe they had just started, maybe they'd been there for years and we never noticed. We didn't buy a new top but just kept an aye on them, when we traded the car about 2 yrs/18k miles later the cracks had grown from about 1/2" to about 1 1/4".
Hope this helps someone.
BTW, this is the third warranty repair we've had in 6 months/ 12k miles:
Passenger lumbar adjustment died at 3k miles. Dealer repaired shorted switch wire.
"Service Active Handling" message at 6k miles. Dealer found bulletin repair done at factory but not enough, resecured wires.
Cracked transparent top at 11k miles. Dealer replaced top.
Fortunately, we have a combination of a dealership that wants to keep my business, a tech that specializes in Corvettes, and I do the research on the Forum to give the tech any infromation he might not have. Works good so far.
(Edit again- thanks for the move)
No, it didn't delaminate...
When we picked up the car (NCM delivery) the top had no rattles but was pretty tight, difficult to get back on after some topless driving. After about 3k miles it was easier but at about 6k miles it started to rattle. Silicone grease on all the pins, latches, weatherstripping, etc didn't help. Took it to the dealer at 11k miles, the tech tightened it up a little and that helped. But that day we noticed 4 small cracks in the tinted plastic, passenger side, at the edge (weatherstripping), about half-way back. Cracks were about 1/2" long, and 1" space between them. Very difficult to see unless the sunlight angle was just right. I don't think the adjustment caused the cracks, I think they were already there. Dealer ordered a new top under warranty, complete unit (no need to swap latches, etc), installed today. Seems like the rattles are gone.
Interestingly, we had similar cracks in the transparent top of our C5, but didn't notice them until about 40k miles so no warranty coverage. Maybe they had just started, maybe they'd been there for years and we never noticed. We didn't buy a new top but just kept an aye on them, when we traded the car about 2 yrs/18k miles later the cracks had grown from about 1/2" to about 1 1/4".
Hope this helps someone.
BTW, this is the third warranty repair we've had in 6 months/ 12k miles:
Passenger lumbar adjustment died at 3k miles. Dealer repaired shorted switch wire.
"Service Active Handling" message at 6k miles. Dealer found bulletin repair done at factory but not enough, resecured wires.
Cracked transparent top at 11k miles. Dealer replaced top.
Fortunately, we have a combination of a dealership that wants to keep my business, a tech that specializes in Corvettes, and I do the research on the Forum to give the tech any infromation he might not have. Works good so far.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Sep 22, 2006 at 01:44 PM.
I noticed mine had one crack in the passenger side half and inch long at 2,200 miles. Dealer replaced the top no questions asked!
