Hey gang, heres my problem. On my drivers side rear door (super cab) The molding on the outside of the window is going to crap. Its fading or wearing. Its hard to explain but it almost like the top layer of clear on the rubber is deteriorating for no reason. Mind you I dont see this same effect on the other side so Im a bit bothered by it.

I guess my questions are, Is this normal? Can it be replaced? Is it cheap to have done? Is it covered by warranty? Way back I pointed it out to a local dealer and they told me it was normal and to live with it as it would be expensive to replace.Of course I think they were full of crap not to mention they are a sleazy dealership to begin with, but thats another story.

Now looking at it it doesnt seem to be that big a deal. I could probably do it my self if I new what part to order. Any ideas what I should do? Any help you guys could offer would of course be very much appreciated.Ill see if I can take some pics and post them later.

Thanks in Advance,

Luis S

 

What have you put on it? Specifically, what brand or brands of vinyl/rubber dressing have you used? I just want to make sure I don't buy the same stuff.

 

Seriously? Nothing. Im careful to not touch with anything other than normal car wash soap(NXT). No wax or anything either, just the florida sun. Any guesses?


Thanks,

Luis S

 

We have that same problem with the rear window trim on ML's at the benz dealer. Warranty covers it at our place. It looks just as you describe, like a chipping of a thin layer of clear over the rubber moulding, and it looks like crap! Should be warranty, especially if you haven't done anything to make it chip.

 

I'd guess it to be a warranty replacement as well but, they may hassle you on the types of chemicals that they'll suspect that you've used.

Stand the hard line and let them know that you've only used quality chemicals on it. Further, make sure that you elaborate that you've mixed them into the correct solution (mix ratios and such).

Too much of a good chemical is a bad thing...


Good luck and let us know!

RP

 

Thanks guys, I have an appointment tommorrow (damn belt squeal!) I'll bring it up and see what happens. When I was washing the truck today I saw it on the passenger door as well. I not expecting them to do much but we'll see.Ill tell you all how it goes.

Thanks again,

Luis S

 

I have the same thing, looks like someting wore off and it is turning a shiny brown color in spots along the window trim.

 

From my limited work with a manufacturer that blends rubber for vibration dampening equipment (motor mounts and such -- Caterpillar and Mac Trucks), I can almost certainly tell you that you're in the middle of a bad blend.

Rubber isn't just rubber. It's a blend of several types to achieve a certain grade of rubber. When these are blended if the mix is too rich in a certain grade, imperfections, like the ones you've desribed, can occur.

I'm wondering if this is the circumstance with yours...

RP

 

Bingo! Thats exactly it. Its a strange spotting as youve described. Thanks for letting me know Im not the only one with this problem. And thanks to RP's explanation maybe Now hopefully I can get the new dealership to listen and maybe fix it. The last dealer was horrible when it came to service hopefully these guys willl actually take care of me. Well see I suppose. If not Ill order the trim and install it myself if I have to.

Thanks,

Luis S

 

I tried to get mine fixed but the dealer said they had to e-mail a picture of it to ford for approval and could not get it to show up on their digital camera, so they did not fix it. I let it go for then as long as a note of it was in their computer so when it got worse I can say I already reported it and still needs to be fixed. I have not done anything with it since then.

 

I think I have the same issue as you have described. See photo. The body shop guy said he could not replace it without authorizaton from Ford. I met with the local Ford rep earlier this week and had her look at it. She gave me the usual "Looks like something has been put on there. What have you used on this?" I told her that I hadn't used anything on it, and that it seems kinda funny that it is only happening on both rear doors in the same location. She said she would authorize replacement window trim out of goodwill, but be careful what I put on it. I wanted to firmly reiterate that I hadn't put anything on it in the first place, but I figured since she was authorizing replacements I should just say Yes'm. Sorry for the blurry pic. Here ya go

 

those friggin people drive me up the wall, my d.s. window is starting to get scrtches in the bottom corner from rolling it up and down, i'm sure they will blame it on me or my tint.

 

Also check the rubber pieces on both ends to the left of your windshield wipers, in the trough area, there is a strip of rubber on each end, mine are turning white and are sticky like they are breaking down, never put any type of cleaner on them.

 

Yeah, that looks like what Im talking about. I showed it to the dealer last I was there and they were pretty neutral about it. I could probably get them to change it but just havent had the time to spare for the trip. The dealer is a bit out of the way for me.

Which,BTW, anyone needing service in South FL check out Sawgrass Ford. Brought my truck in (which was purchased elsewhere) and they took real good care of me. I was surprised how well I was treated considering I didnt buy there. Fixed my ac, flashed my pcm, and fixed the door pillar someone messed up (probably trying to break in...) all in one day. Oh and Stay away from World Ford.Worst service ever. :f

Later,

Luis S

 

I whole heartedly disagree with that statement. You must have been there on a really slow day. EVERYTIME I have brought my 2005 F150 in for service someone had did somthing stupid or tried to take screw me on the cost of parts. I have been there 4 times for 4 seperate issue.. first time was in february 2005 when I had my Magnaflow cat back installed... my truck came back stinking like someone had a cigerette smoking party in it AND my pipes were not level AT ALL. I had them take it back and level the pipes out and install support struts to make them more stable. 2nd time was for a simple oil change and tire rotation... again.. truck came back wreaking of cigerettes and there was a grease stain on my seats... 3rd time, I had to have a wheel assembly and tire replaced (hit a pot hole at full throttle). The service rep quoted me $360 for a replacement rim... I said "Dude.. I didn't shred a freaken 20 inch spinner... it was a damn 17 chrome clad stock wheel.. try again." I had him give me the part number for the part he was giving me the price on.. I looked it up on www.fordparts.com, it was a rim to a Lariat. So I found the part number for the correct rim which sold for $127 direct from Ford and gave it to him. He says "Ummm uhhh... yeah I checked with the parts manager and yes that part will work" I said "Will work? Its not a matter of if it will work or not its a matter of if its the right rim and matches the other 3 which is a big fat YES!" So he says yes and that will be $186 w/ tax... I said hold on.... $186 w/ tax? That rim is $127... now unless FL state sales tax has jumped to 31% in the last 30 minutes since I bought this pack of gum so I think you need to take your happy comission making *** back into your office and re-work those numbers". Finally he comes back with ok $134.62 with tax. I said "Thats better" I had the work done and got my truck back, and found out some grease monkey got in my truck and STAINED my $318 CUSTOM Wet Okole seat covers and then tried to cover it up by using spot remover on it leaving a big *** gasoline smelling wet stain on my Okoles after I told the service rep to have them put plastic down on my seats before getting in it. I raised holy hell and made them make note of the stain in my records in case it causes damage then Sawgrass Ford was paying to have all new seat covers made. Finally just had my truck in today to have the support struts on my exhaust rewelded cause one of teh struts broke its weld. As I am driving up to get my truck I see this 19 year old punk rod tearing *** into the sawgrass ford dealership taking a sharp turn at 50mph in MY TRUCK! Then as he gets out he starts brushing Fritos he spilled on the floor of my truck that I had just HAND DETAILED the day before into the parking lot and my fuel tank, that I had filled up before I dropped it off was missing a 1/4 tank. I went in and RASIED HELL! They tell me they use an offsite person to do their welding which is in Hollywood and I say "Ok... but you can't in any way burn 1/4 tank of fuel just going from sawgrass ford to hollywood and back unless your hot rodding it!" and also.. "I don't know if you noticed, but those aren't z-rated drag tires on my truck... those are the most general crappy stock tires you can get and last I checked, Sawgrass Ford isn't paying for MY tires to be replaced when they wear out from moron employees hot rodding around in my truck all day and having lunch in it." So they guy offered to fully detail my truck tomorrow, give me a rental for the day, and give me a bug shield for the front for free. I said "Ok but I'm still going to raise hell with the GM. Anyway, thats my story... bottom line.. Sawgrass Ford is HORRIBLE.. and thats the last truck I will ever buy from they or have serviced there.