May 10, 2016, 02:15 PM
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Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Tampa
Yes. I've been pretty disappointed but thinking off all possibilities.
1. They only repainted the old one.
2. They did the fix but with bad glue.
3. They did the fix w/ good glue but it still causes the issue sooner or later.
When they did this in 2005 they buffer burned it so bad it needed another repainting. Then... after that repainting there were clear coat bubbles all over in the thing. They can't do anything right.
I'm going to try to get them to do it free of charge. If they refuse I'll try to pressure them with with #1 and 2. I've got some other methods to pressure them. If nothing works I guess I'll be doing it myself.
Thinking of possible solutions other then a remove and replace. Has anyone tried to use vinyl sticker to completely cover the top? Is this even feasible?
1. They only repainted the old one.
2. They did the fix but with bad glue.
3. They did the fix w/ good glue but it still causes the issue sooner or later.
When they did this in 2005 they buffer burned it so bad it needed another repainting. Then... after that repainting there were clear coat bubbles all over in the thing. They can't do anything right.
I'm going to try to get them to do it free of charge. If they refuse I'll try to pressure them with with #1 and 2. I've got some other methods to pressure them. If nothing works I guess I'll be doing it myself.
Thinking of possible solutions other then a remove and replace. Has anyone tried to use vinyl sticker to completely cover the top? Is this even feasible?
Disagree with #3. There is a right way for it to be installed and the bubbles NEVER occur. Proof: my '94 Z28 hardtop does not have a single bubble... nor do my '01 or '02 Camaros on the sail panel (both are t-top). My '99 hardtop has the Goddamn bubbles.
Last edited by TWS; Aug 10, 2009 at 03:28 PM. Reason: Specified that '94 and '99 are hardtops.
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: green bay
what is the bulletin number? will they still fix this issue for free? i work for a GM dealer and just bought my trans am 4 months ago and it has this problem.
Last edited by spydog; Aug 10, 2009 at 03:30 PM.
Update - After all this time, I finally took my car to a body shop (definitely NOT a GM dealership), new GM replacement panel in hand. A little over $500 later, and I have my car back minus the bubbles...hopefully this will never be an issue again. Can't say that I'll ever forget this whole thing, but at least it is over (I hope).
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Update - After all this time, I finally took my car to a body shop (definitely NOT a GM dealership), new GM replacement panel in hand. A little over $500 later, and I have my car back minus the bubbles...hopefully this will never be an issue again. Can't say that I'll ever forget this whole thing, but at least it is over (I hope).
How does it look, paint match wise?
With buying the panel from GM Parts Direct (and paying about $90 to have it shipped), the grand total was around $1100 - the shop that did it is the only one I trust, and the paint match was spot on (at least to me, but I don't do this for a living).
It is weird to look at the panel and see no bubbles and no glue line...the shop lined it up perfectly though, and the paint looks great.
It is weird to look at the panel and see no bubbles and no glue line...the shop lined it up perfectly though, and the paint looks great.
GM knows all about the panel issue ... but they have turned a blind eye toward the problem .... there never was a recall on the roof panel... there was a service bulliten on the problem ... which was their way of fixing as few of them as possible...the paint match...black is black if it is on a camaro what is there to match.
GM knows all about the panel issue ... but they have turned a blind eye toward the problem .... there never was a recall on the roof panel... there was a service bulliten on the problem ... which was their way of fixing as few of them as possible...the paint match...black is black if it is on a camaro what is there to match.
Again...it is NOT a recall, only a bulletin acknowleding that it can be a problem and how to fix it.
I would not go in to this expecting GM to cover anything at all...the dealership I took it to denied my claim on the spot, but said I could pay them $1600 and they would fix it for me. I wanted to tell them right then and there to **** off, but I was polite and just walked away.
It was easier and cheaper to source the panel myself and source a shop I could trust with the install. It is not a cheap fix, but it can be done (provided GM still has any roof panels - otherwise, you'll be off to the junk yard to look for a '97 and older roof panel you can carefully cut off).
I would not go in to this expecting GM to cover anything at all...the dealership I took it to denied my claim on the spot, but said I could pay them $1600 and they would fix it for me. I wanted to tell them right then and there to **** off, but I was polite and just walked away.
It was easier and cheaper to source the panel myself and source a shop I could trust with the install. It is not a cheap fix, but it can be done (provided GM still has any roof panels - otherwise, you'll be off to the junk yard to look for a '97 and older roof panel you can carefully cut off).
Definitely not a recall. I got mine fixed by GM for free. But I had to go to the Better Business Bureau to arrgue my case and they forced GM to fix it. Hopefully you would get a GM rep as dumb as the one in my arbitration, I think he won the case for me.
Ive got a couple of 94 parts cars that I may try and cut the panels off
and save.
My 02 TA with T top is looking pretty sad...
