Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies
 

***Summary of Issue as of 8/9/2012***

***UPDATED on 1/27/21, New Link Added***

4th gen F-body sail panels are adhered to the body of the car using glue (urethane). The bubbling sail panel paint issue is due to this glue seeping through the panel and causing bubbles along the surface of the panel. The reason for the seepage seems to be due to the lack of paint/epoxy primer on the underside of the panel, a process change which started at GM on very late '98 cars (05/98 and later are at risk) and affected all '99+ models. This allows the glue to directly contact the panel and seep into it over time. Heat/UV exposure seems to bring the glue through the panel once it's begun to seep.

Sanding/painting/bondo'ing/etc. will not fix this condition. Complete panel replacement is the only permanent fix. Once the glue has eaten into the panel, there is no way to correct this from the top side. The problem lies underneath, and nothing you do on top is going to change this. The only other option would be to never drive the car in sunlight.

This panel was discontinued by GM several years ago. At this point, your only options for panel replacement are:

• New reproduction panel from 6LE Designs MAGG Performance (fiberglass or carbon fiber)

• Used panel from a donor 4th gen car built prior to 05/98 (and yes, an LT1 era car panel will fit and work just fine)

• Have a custom panel made by a body shop that is good with fiberglass fabrication

Here is a link that contains a write-up and pictures of a hard top panel replacement, as well as further discussion of this issue:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...vice-pics.html

Here are three links that contain write-ups and/or pictures for t-top panel replacement:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...-yourself.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...y-version.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...l#post20323707

Here is a link that contains a video of panel replacement on a t-top car:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...how-video.html

There is a GM TSB out about this issue, but this is NOT a recall. Here is a link to the post containing the original TSB:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/2783967-post2.html

And another post which contains a better copy of the TSB, as updated and issued in April of 2003 (repair process is the same between the two TSBs):

https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...l#post18704661

Glues that have been approved via the GM TSB for new roof application:

- U400 HV Essex (Dow)
- 3M Urethane 08690

Rarely, some customers were able to get GM or their dealer to cover the cost of replacing the panel, but this is no longer an option as GM doesn't stock the part and won't pay to locate/obtain/install a reproduction or used panel. The last person I've heard about who was able to get GM to cover the repair did so in or around 2008.

- RPM WS6

yeop, i dropped mine off at the dealership today for the roof replacement. it is on a Service bulletin.. you will need to have the number for it when you go to talk to them also.

99-02? What kind of fucking bullshit is that? My 98 is just as bad as the 99+ sail panels. Great job GM :bs:

Whoa, and I thought I was the only one with the roof bubbles.....

Do I just call my local GM dealership and they'll know about it?

no dout 99-02 wtf Gm you know that it was 98-02 i have a 98 ws6 i havent had a problem yet but gm is so fucking cheap and are such dickheads to the customers wtf at least theyre steppin up a bit

yeh, they will ask you how you found out about it.. i told them i found it on the web.

All i did was drove my car to a Pontiac Body Shop and had a Service Rep look at it.. after that, he made a phone call to corporate office to verify the service bulletin #'s was correct and i was set.. he also mentioned that another fbody came in about 6 months before me with the same prob, so we wrote my ticket based off the prev work of the other with ease.. They worked with me fine and it is ALL covered by warranty, i believe its 5yr/80,000mile but i'm not sure, he never really told me what the warranty limit for the recall was.

if you havent had the prob, then you may be fine.. it is caused by the factory glue being too aggresive.. GM fuc'd up when they changed their bonding glue

mine started to get wavy in the paint about a 1 1/2 ago.. i just been ignorant (until now) to taking it in a body shop again.. i dont like body shops, somethin always seems to happen :bang:

but my warranty time of 5yrs for paint defects was running out, so i am hurrily doing this before its too late.

I thought if it was just a TSB then it's up to the dealership whether or not they want to fix it.

is there any other way to find out if there are other recalls on these cars?

Do we have any pics some one could post about what this looks like? I'm scared ya'll, I want my little Deamon to be ok.

A service bulletin is different than a recall . . .

Recall, GM must fix.

TSB, GM will only fix under warrantee . . . . (Techinical Service Bulletin)

Just FYI . . .

I'd like to see some pics as well. The top of my car's paint has always looked kinda wavy and I've always wondered why... Guess it doesn't really matter since I have no warranty, but curious none the less.

holy (&*%**^(*&)*
i just checked it on my SS, waves poping up all over the top and a few descent sized bubbles poping up on the sides! ok, so warrenty covers it? and i tell them i heard about it on the net and give them a service number, where is this number at tho?

thanks

Does anyone know what the warrantee is for sure? If I meet the requirements, she's going in today the repair.

i just called one of my local chevy dealers, they couldn't find anything in there compter that looked even close to that service recall... i gave the guy the bulletin number from that pdf posted earlier, he said there was nothing in the computer matching that number... am i getting the run around?

okay but the paint warranty is 6yr 100,000 miles. i'm trying to contact my local dealer right now because i have the same problem. heck, i actually have a bubble in the paint where the clear coat actually lifted from the paint. nice...

I've got a 99 w/ 43Kmiles...do you think this will fall under the warrantee? Just wondering because 2005 is the 6th year.

thats exactly what mine looks like, its really wierd looking, like saran wrap with an air pocket. post up with what your dealer says.

and on that 6yr paint warranty, was that with all f bodys? or that an extra?

:eek2: :lurk: ....

I need to see som pics please??