I have had a few glass issues reach my desk recently so I thought I would pass these on. Some of the issues are ongoing and I’m looking to my readers to contribute your experiences and knowledge.
First is the recall for the Jaguar convertible roof and glass. The roof and glass are designed to work in unison to close and open properly but the window switch is not operating the windows correctly. Please make sure that your customers are aware of the issue.
Manufacturer: Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC
Summary:
Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC is recalling certain model-year 2011-2014 XK convertible vehicles manufactured October 1, 2010 through August 1, 2013. The switch in the overhead roof console also activates the power operated windows when the convertible roof is opening or closing. The switch does not move downward to close the windows. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, “Power-Operated Window, Partition and Roof Panel Systems.”
Consequence:
The power windows may inadvertently be activated and pinch or injure an arm or finger.
Remedy:
Jaguar will notify owners and dealers will replace the overhead roof console, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by September 27, 2013. Owners may contact Jaguar at 800/452-4827. Jaguar’s recall number is J030.
Notes:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
The next issue was sent to me concerning the 2012 Mercedes Sprinter windshield DW1721. The report I received said the overall heated windshield came to the shop with four connectors two at the top and two at the bottom. The original glass had only two connectors at the bottom, one on each side. The original windshield was the OE part and was never previously installed so the ARG parts should have only the two connectors at the bottom.
The purpose of the email, however, was that the technician was asking if the top two connectors could be eliminated to facilitate installation because evidently the glass seemed to leak from where the top connectors made contact with the urethane. I currently have a call into the technician to ask about the DOT numbers and other details he can share with us.
If any of you out there that can shed some light on this issue please let me know. Call me at 800/695-5418, email me at bob@autoglassconsultants.com or comment on this post.
Lastly, someone had a question in AGRR™ magazine forum for me about a “weird occurrence” on the side sliding door glass on the 2007 Chevy Express Van. It seems that some of the glass parts are separating from the adhesive bead. As I read through all of the forums comments it appeared that all of the knowledgeable forum contributors were right on. All of the possible answers were there. So, not to be outdone and seeing that it was addressed to me, I thought I would comment. Here is my response:
“All of the information so far is correct. Here is my two cents worth. If the frit is pealing away from the glass with the urethane it is a misfired frit as mentioned above. If the frit is intact and the primer/urethane separates from the frit, it could be a number of reasons.
1. It could be improper preparation of the glass—OE error;
2. It could be outdated material—OE error or adhesive manufacturer error;
3. It could be a contaminant in the frit paint itself, especially if the OE changed glass brands. I would be interested in the DOT numbers before and after. This could be the glass manufacturer’s error; and
4. It could be human error at the assembly plant.
It is not unusual for a particular model to have the same problem, especially if it came from the same assembly plant. They seem to replicate the problem over and over again until someone catches the problem. Then they determine the seriousness and decide whether to re-work the vehicles affected or continue and correct.
This failure could have been eliminated with the use of some of the abrasives and/or compounds introduced recently by the adhesive companies. Bottom line is that this is an interesting phenomenon and I will be interested if others have noticed this issue. If it is a glass defect, thank you for bringing it to the attention of the industry.”
If anyone out there that has witnessed this phenomenon on older Chevy vans, let us know. We would like to make the manufacturer aware of the problem. I would also like to thank “Larry” on the AGRR™ magazine forum for making us aware of the problem. It is concerned professionals like Larry that make us all look good.
