Window Dots..... Why??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 966
Likes: 2
From: New Braunfels Republic of Texas
Now that is humor!!!!!!!
But the real answer is that originally the dots covered the entire window, but they recieved too many customer complaints about not being able to see out the of window, so they took off the bottom portion.
I know the ones around the front window edges are there to protect the gasket/sealer used to install the glass from the UV eventually causing deterioration and ultimately failure. That is according to a glass guy who replaced a front window on the Suburban.
But the real answer is that originally the dots covered the entire window, but they recieved too many customer complaints about not being able to see out the of window, so they took off the bottom portion.
I know the ones around the front window edges are there to protect the gasket/sealer used to install the glass from the UV eventually causing deterioration and ultimately failure. That is according to a glass guy who replaced a front window on the Suburban.
Last edited by mickeykelley; Mar 8, 2007 at 10:46 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Copperas Cove Texas
I think this is true. I believe the radio antennae is behind the rear fascia but my service advisor (at my local dealership) told me tinting the window could adversely affect radio reception. FWIW, most C6 owners I asked did not experience degraded radio reception after tinting their rear window.
I found my old post....I believe calemasters called it a "diversity antenna."
I found my old post....I believe calemasters called it a "diversity antenna."
Just my 2 cents...........
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
Not Dot Antenna
While I don’t have a clue what they do do, I do know they have nothing to do with the antenna system on the C6. XM has their wart. The AM and FM antennas are, as mentioned above, located ageist the outside of the trunk, behind the fascia. The antenna is, as stated above, a diversity type. It used a left side antenna and a side right antenna. The magic Antenna Control Module is inside on the left side of the latch mechanism and combines the two inputs and sends it to a single cable to the head unit. The ACM also powers the antennas and switches between AM and FM reception. As long as you don’t metal tint your fascia, tinting should not matter to AM, FM, or XM. In fact when I changed my NAV head unit for a Pioneer AVIC-Z1 and added its XM-Traffic and Sirius receivers I mounted the warts to the outside trunk wall between the break lights behind the fascia. They work just fine with strong reception. I plan to mount the TV module antennas to the inside of the fascia.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
They are also to help block out the sun in the area around the rear view mirror where the sun visor doesn't reach.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Originally Posted by Wayne O
I believe calemasters called it a "diversity antenna."
Originally Posted by UTVOL06
probably built in radio antenna.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,885
Likes: 2
From: Corpus Christi TX
i think this is probably the right answer. They're most likely on the rear window to eliminate glare when using the rearview and/or turnig your head to look out back. and it's not just gm. ford does it too
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,699
Likes: 1
From: Redacted
The dots are part of the silkscreened pattern of primer applied to the edges of the window. The windows on most modern cars are flush mounted and glued in with polyurethane sealant. To assure good sealing, a priming material is printed onto the periphery of the window. This material adheres better to the sealant than bare glass.
The dots serve to form a gradual transition from the opaque sealing area to the transparent glass. The margins are wide, which allows for production variance - aka slop - in the application and mounting of the flush mounted, glued in glass.
The dots serve to form a gradual transition from the opaque sealing area to the transparent glass. The margins are wide, which allows for production variance - aka slop - in the application and mounting of the flush mounted, glued in glass.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: cincinnati ohio
well i know they have nothing to do with radio anything. so we can drop that. I'm pretty sure there just a way to reduce glare and still be able to see through it. I cant possibly think of any other purpose they would serve.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: Greenville North Carolina
The black dots, or matrix patterns, as well as the lines at the top of some windows are made of a Teflon type of material that is applied at the factory. Purely cosmetic, they hide trim lines and edges on different styles of autos. The thickness of these Teflon type areas make them a nightmare when applying window tinting. Window tint is designed to adhere directly to the glass. The black lines across the top of some windows can prevent window tinting from sticking and cannot be covered. When black dots are encountered, the window tint sticks to the slightly raised dot. This can give, depending on the thickness of the material, a lighter or different look in the area of the black matrix dots. This poses no risk for peeling. In some cases, the dot pattern or lines usually put at the top of some windows are so thick that it makes it impossible for the tint to stick at all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,885
Likes: 2
From: Corpus Christi TX
The black dots, or matrix patterns, as well as the lines at the top of some windows are made of a Teflon type of material that is applied at the factory. Purely cosmetic, they hide trim lines and edges on different styles of autos. The thickness of these Teflon type areas make them a nightmare when applying window tinting. Window tint is designed to adhere directly to the glass. The black lines across the top of some windows can prevent window tinting from sticking and cannot be covered. When black dots are encountered, the window tint sticks to the slightly raised dot. This can give, depending on the thickness of the material, a lighter or different look in the area of the black matrix dots. This poses no risk for peeling. In some cases, the dot pattern or lines usually put at the top of some windows are so thick that it makes it impossible for the tint to stick at all.
just had my Z tinted with formula 1 ceramic tint about 3 weeks ago. The dots are a nightmare...but I took my installers advice and rubbed them with the back of my finger (not nail) repeatedly for several days. And I left the car in the sun. It actually looks much better today than after initial install. I can't complain.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
The dots are part of the silkscreened pattern of primer applied to the edges of the window. The windows on most modern cars are flush mounted and glued in with polyurethane sealant. To assure good sealing, a priming material is printed onto the periphery of the window. This material adheres better to the sealant than bare glass.
The dots serve to form a gradual transition from the opaque sealing area to the transparent glass. The margins are wide, which allows for production variance - aka slop - in the application and mounting of the flush mounted, glued in glass.
The dots serve to form a gradual transition from the opaque sealing area to the transparent glass. The margins are wide, which allows for production variance - aka slop - in the application and mounting of the flush mounted, glued in glass.
I believe larrysb is 100% correct. As best that I recall, the first vehicle I ever had with the window dots was a 1986 Taurus, the first car with "flush glass." When the window glass went to flush design, it had to be glued into place, thus the edges of the glass had to be opaque to hide the glue, and the dots are supposed to be a more eye-appealing transition than a hard edge. All mfrs do it now, not just GM, and it has nothing to do with antennas.
As another poster noted, tint installers will tell you to warm the tint in the sun and press the tint to the dots with your fingers for the first few weeks and this will help keep the tint from standing off the glass in the tops of the dots. I've done this on my last two Vettes and it has helped a lot.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Developed by the CIA and NSA at the Area 51 Skunkworks, the dots have no useful purpose other than to drive you 
.
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