Roof leak in back

[Mouse]

I forgot to mention. The glass company also broke several of the plastic attachment points of the interior panels that go above the rear window. They took the part numbers and ordered new ones from the dealership that hired them to do the work. I watched the technician try to remove the panels, there was no way those panels were coming off without those plastic pieces breaking.

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[DHP]

This is such a hassle. Jeep should swap out the tops on these that leak. Similar to what Ford had to do with the Bronco. My painted top still looks like crap from the painters letting the clear coat drip after scratching it breaking out the original window. Still can’t get a response from either the service department or the sales guy, Dallas, at Rockie Williams Jeep in Mt. Juliet, TN.

Sorry, just had to take a minute to call them out yet again Maybe they’ll see it here and finally take care of it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What I'm finding interesting, or rather amazing about these windows is the fact they are even leaking at all for some owners (and they obviously are leaking) but that it's such a big job and even when done, I seem to recall someone saying it still leaked or leaked again?
In the picture below, when I repainted this car, the huge, heavy glass was removed from the hatch. The kicker - it's a one of a kind glass, rare combination of options, you cannot buy these, and the seals are not made by anyone anywhere. You mess up a seal and that's that, you're done.
The window was put back in after the repaint. Not a single scratch or mark anywhere inside or out (I'd have been really pissed as it was a big ordeal to prep and paint this thing) but since it was put back in back in 2013, to this day, it still doesn't leak.
Seriously, a 1982 car, no leaks, window taken out, window put back in, same seal had to be treated with kid gloves and used over - and some of you are having trouble getting a shop to replace these where parts CAN be bought and they aren't that old?
Unreal.
This should be piece of cake for true glass people. Or has Jeep done something totally weird with this top and glass and SEAL (that sometimes doesn't)????

Imagine what this weighs - and you have to lean over a freshly painted car to reinstall it and take care to not even nick the seal or glass itself (shatter time)
40 years ago AMC sealed these - and they didn't leak. To this day many don't leak - but Jeep has maybe not a whole lot, but enough, of these leak when only months old.

 

[kd1yt]

Mouse - thanks very much for sharing these details. When you describe taking the top to the body shop to have the paint repaired, did you somehow coordinate that with the dealer so that the paint repair is covered by warranty, or is that something you just did?

The physical configuration looks like total PIA to be able to replace without damaging the hardtop, using the 'usual' powered oscillating knife, to cut the urethane adhesive, that is commonly used these days..

I did a home windshield replacement of a glued-in windshield in the late'80s; my cousin had access to and brought the 'official' oscillating knife. I remember hearing at the time that the low- tech way to get glued-in auto glass out was to use music wire poked through, and "sawn" back and forth.

Wire-sawing actually seems like it might be a better technique given the challenging geometry of this rear window and hardtop.

And it turns out that there are now products and related tools specially meant to use wire in situations in which the usual oscillating knife doesn't work well

https://equalizer.com/Products/Prod...Brand=False&IsSafeliteUser=False&PageNumber=1

https://equalizer.com/Products/Prod...Brand=False&IsSafeliteUser=False&PageNumber=1

I generally don't like to go straight into aggressive mode unless less aggressive alternatives don't work, but given the extent to which this leak problem is a common problem - and also how common it seems to be that "fixes" spawn their own problems like damage to the hardtop, I think it may be time for us owners to get "loud and cranky" as a group to demand that there be a _real_ solution that doesn't just depend on the persistence of an individual owner, the competence or haplessness of a particular dealer or glass installer, etc.

 

[Mouse]

Mouse - thanks very much for sharing these details. When you describe taking the top to the body shop to have the paint repaired, did you somehow coordinate that with the dealer so that the paint repair is covered by warranty, or is that something you just did?

The Glass company paid the body shop for the repair (The Glass company was sub-contracted by the dealer). This was all warranty work, nothing out-of-pocket for me.

I spoke to the Service Manager this weekend. He said that the Glass company called him and said that they will not replace any more Gladiator rear windows after mine and recommended that they send all to a body shop instead.

He also said that the dealership had replaced many Ram pickup rear windows, but this was the first Gladiator. Apparently the Ram trucks are having similar issues. He told me that the glass for my Gladiator cost the dealership more than $1400.

I hope this is the end of the rear window leak for my Gladiator

 

[Kilroy1941]

The Glass company paid the body shop for the repair (The Glass company was sub-contracted by the dealer). This was all warranty work, nothing out-of-pocket for me.

I spoke to the Service Manager this weekend. He said that the Glass company called him and said that they will not replace any more Gladiator rear windows after mine and recommended that they send all to a body shop instead.

He also said that the dealership had replaced many Ram pickup rear windows, but this was the first Gladiator. Apparently the Ram trucks are having similar issues. He told me that the glass for my Gladiator cost the dealership more than $1400.

I hope this is the end of the rear window leak for my Gladiator

At that price they should just give us new rear hard top sections.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

At that price they should just give us new rear hard top sections.

Yeah, and that would work far better for those with black. For those with body color tops, it's a craps shoot whether or not it's a perfect match.
Mine has had no damage, no repaint, no leaks, it's exactly as it came from the factory, and yet in the right light, you can tell it was sprayed off the truck as the metallic effect is oriented differently. It's why I always paint anything metallic assembled, not laying on racks in a different orientation. If you have doors off and insist on painting them off the vehicle, at least hang them so they are facing the exact same way as they would on the vehicle.
I've seen shops lay doors or hang deck lids or hoods and spray all at the same time, same batch of paint, but because they are laying differently, the metal flake in the paint settles and orients itself differently.
So IMO, when they tops were painted, they were not facing the same orientation as they would be if sprayed on the truck. I can see the difference in how it reflects the light.

So IF mine ever did leak and IF it came to a top replacement - I'll be right there making damned sure it's sprayed exactly as it would be if on the truck. Not hanging on a rack.

 

[Rubi20con]

I have been trying to get the back glass replaced since July. Dealership never calls with updates. Every time I call the ETA is pushed out 2 weeks. Today's update was new ETA 9/24. Any suggestions to get this narrowed down with the dealer?

 

[Ankh]

I have been trying to get the back glass replaced since July. Dealership never calls with updates. Every time I call the ETA is pushed out 2 weeks. Today's update was new ETA 9/24. Any suggestions to get this narrowed down with the dealer?

Same situation here, I think we're at the mercy of the dealership/supplier.

 

[Hootbro]

I have been trying to get the back glass replaced since July. Dealership never calls with updates. Every time I call the ETA is pushed out 2 weeks. Today's update was new ETA 9/24. Any suggestions to get this narrowed down with the dealer?

Contact @JeepCares

One of the few things they seem useful is actually help get a decent status on things like this.

 

[JeepCares]

I have been trying to get the back glass replaced since July. Dealership never calls with updates. Every time I call the ETA is pushed out 2 weeks. Today's update was new ETA 9/24. Any suggestions to get this narrowed down with the dealer?

Contact @JeepCares

One of the few things they seem useful is actually help get a decent status on things like this.

Thanks for the tag, Hootbro.

Feel free to send us a private message, Rubi20con, we'd be happy to dig in further on your concerns.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[Mouse]

Had some heavy rain on the gladiator yesterday - new window was leak-free.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Found out tonight that mine is leaking, fortunately I removed the carpet for Armorlite, although the back of the seats are wet. I will be scheduling an appointment soon. Am I on the hook for getting the window re tinted, or might the dealer cover that?

I would expect that if YOU added tint that would be on you. Warranty covers factory defects. The dealer covers nothing....the Jeep corp is who warrants stuff. Dealers only cover their labor on things.

 

[Tim]

Dealership leak specialist told me he believes at some point they will all leak from the factory. Still waiting on my window. That small round weather striping people use for the fender flares fits and will stop leaking btw

Can you be more specific on the weather stripping that will fit and stop the leaking. I am looking for a DIY solution as I am way out of warranty. Thanks!

 

[Kilroy1941]

Can you be more specific on the weather stripping that will fit and stop the leaking. I am looking for a DIY solution as I am way out of warranty. Thanks!

Trim-Lok Rubber Tubing Seal – .276” Outside Diameter, .206” Inside Diameter, 25’ Length – Closed Cell EPDM Foam Tubing – Ideal Door and Window Weather Seal for Cars, Trucks, RVs, Boats, and the Home https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NL4DI2E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_FWXMRTZY8EJDDAK1DG0J


It's from amazon.com I can say I recommend the diy fix now anyway since you are at the mercy of the glass company. Maybe some black silicone deeper inside at the top half corners then this? Painting around my window myself and going to add this back in. The rams had a Similar window design with leaks and I recently saw the newest models have a rubber gasket all the way around. This stuff alone did stop all water when I had the old window and you get a decent amount of it too. Good luck!

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