Roof Paint Bubbling
03-10-2008, 06:17 PM
#62
It's actually in the "original" sail panel/roof thread stickied at the top of this section. 
Do you know the build date of your car? It should be on one of the stickers on your driver's door jamb (in MM/YY format). So far, I've found that the only '98s to have this issue were the very late build cars. I'd like to see if that holds true with yours as well.
Mine is an 03/98 build, and I've never had even the slightest hint of bubbles or wavy paint. I'm trying to track down when exactly GM either, a) changed glue, or b) stopped using the proper primer on the underside of the roof. Seems like it must have happened some time in the '98 model year, since '97 and before have no issues, '99+ all have issues, and '98s sometimes have issues.
Do you know the build date of your car? It should be on one of the stickers on your driver's door jamb (in MM/YY format). So far, I've found that the only '98s to have this issue were the very late build cars. I'd like to see if that holds true with yours as well.
Mine is an 03/98 build, and I've never had even the slightest hint of bubbles or wavy paint. I'm trying to track down when exactly GM either, a) changed glue, or b) stopped using the proper primer on the underside of the roof. Seems like it must have happened some time in the '98 model year, since '97 and before have no issues, '99+ all have issues, and '98s sometimes have issues.
My build is 6/98.
03-11-2008, 12:51 PM
#63
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Thank you for the reply.
So far, I've found that the only '98 cars to have this issue have been May and June of '98 builds. Which was the tail end of the '98 model year. Not sure if they were still making '98s in July of '98, but I know that the August built cars were listed as '99 models.
So the evidance still supports the theroy that GM changed something with the glue or the process sometime around April or May of '98. Now the question is, did they change the glue, or just change/stop the priming process on the underside of the roof panel....
So far, I've found that the only '98 cars to have this issue have been May and June of '98 builds. Which was the tail end of the '98 model year. Not sure if they were still making '98s in July of '98, but I know that the August built cars were listed as '99 models.
So the evidance still supports the theroy that GM changed something with the glue or the process sometime around April or May of '98. Now the question is, did they change the glue, or just change/stop the priming process on the underside of the roof panel....
03-11-2008, 02:46 PM
#64
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wait im seeing a trend here. Seems as if the more your car is out in the sun it doesnt happen, but once you garage the car or go to a colder place that's when the bubbling occurs. Very interesting how this is happening. Could it be that the heat i guess not really triggers the bubbling but makes the molecules in the glue move rapidly together and once in cool, cold, and shaded areas they combust and gases are released? lol love how chemistry sis being brought up with this...****** hilarious but also really annoying becasue i got about 4 bubblings on mine and their good sized ones
03-11-2008, 04:02 PM
#65
wait im seeing a trend here. Seems as if the more your car is out in the sun it doesnt happen, but once you garage the car or go to a colder place that's when the bubbling occurs. Very interesting how this is happening. Could it be that the heat i guess not really triggers the bubbling but makes the molecules in the glue move rapidly together and once in cool, cold, and shaded areas they combust and gases are released? lol love how chemistry sis being brought up with this...****** hilarious but also really annoying becasue i got about 4 bubblings on mine and their good sized ones
That would make some sense because I only have 23,000 on my car and it has been garaged kept under a car craft cover as well since day 1 when it was new. But when it sits in the sun for even 5 minutes it is nasty but goes away once in the shade. It also does not matter the temp outside. It could be 20 degrees out but if it is in the sun it will start to bubble.
03-20-2008, 03:32 AM
#68
Actually I've had mine act up with certain brands of car wax in tandem with being out in the hot sunshine. I have a spare roof for mine in the box. They don't weigh anything at all.
07-18-2008, 11:43 PM
#73
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i purchased a BONE STOCK 02 SS January 12th, 2005 from the original owner, it was garaged and when i purchased it had a little bit over 41,000 miles. when i got it everything was pristine, it was a daily driver for a few years and now is a weekend car and it has not been garaged but when its clean it will stay under the car cover and with now on the clock 65,500 miles it has developed it. in my experience its a combination of the heat/cold (weather elements) & time
07-26-2008, 12:28 PM
#74
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Roof Bubbles suck!!!!! Had 2 when i bought the car, Then the 1st summer, 6 more showed up... Now with this hot 100+ weather in texas, and no longer a garage, im expecting the worse!!!!! Dont even want to repaint the car knowing they will just come back...
07-31-2008, 09:06 AM
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Bubbles in roof Mine is a 99 z28, purchased brand new in Fl, now live in Nc. The car is at a local custom body shop to replace the roof, with cost of roof / laber will be in the 2k area. I tried the GM path and got shot down, once its fixed will hit the BBB and attack GM, if i can recoop some of my cost I will be happy. Good luck to any others out there.
07-31-2008, 09:27 AM
#76
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Mine is a 99 z28, purchased brand new in Fl, now live in Nc. The car is at a local custom body shop to replace the roof, with cost of roof / laber will be in the 2k area. I tried the GM path and got shot down, once its fixed will hit the BBB and attack GM, if i can recoop some of my cost I will be happy. Good luck to any others out there.
That bothers me w/ just the thought of it....I have to do this eventually, and dread the cost of it...I do think GM should be responsible, but knowing who to contact is the problem...I heard that if we called the quality control number in the back of the owner's manual, that it would be possible to get at least the part paid for...we should NOT have to pay to fix something GM did NOT do right the first time....
08-15-2008, 08:27 PM
#77
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My 2000 Formula has the issue although its not THAT bad. You can only see the bubbles if you get right down level with the roof.
It was a garaged car its whole life and it has 41k miles on it.
Im just hoping I can find a shop that will do it bc of the miles on it.
It was a garaged car its whole life and it has 41k miles on it.
Im just hoping I can find a shop that will do it bc of the miles on it.
08-17-2008, 09:57 AM
#78
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no one and i mean NO ONE should pay or have to pay 2k for this repair ..there is a sticky at the top of the page ( sail panal replacement do it yourself ) understand im not a body shop repair person ... im your every day joe with a little common since that can't spell or type .. but i did it ..done two .. and done a write up on it so you could do it and not pay $1500 to $2000 ...if you pay , lets say $400 for part $150 for having it painted $20 for caulk thats $570 retail .. rip that thing off and put the new one on ... if you know how to paint then its gonna be cheaper .. or find a friend and save a few bucks ... the car we done in the sticky and this is a total , panal on ebay $135 paint and clear $60 caulk $10 had a friend paint it $no charge grand total $205 oh plus a few bucks for the double sided tape for the two small panals on each side ... so if your paying 2k i hope their using some sort of lube on ya
