Special_K
New member
Take my jeep to dealership for the first time in YEARS to have parking brake fixed as a recall. I also ask them if they can fix the soft top runner that's been coming alose for the past few years. After calling me and quoting $95 on fixing the runner, I say okay. The service rep made it sound as they were going to do some substantial stuff without having to use even bigger screws.
I go to pick up my Jeep and notice a brand new 2-3 foot long crack in the windshield :x and the repair consisted simply two WAY OVERSIZED screws half-screwed into the runner to accompany to the screws on either end that were already there...the rest of the holes were empty and there was a gap measuring at least 1/4 inch between the runner and the frame. :evil:
The service rep & ultimately service manager tried to tell me first that the crack was already there. yeah right! :evil: :evil: After they saw I wasn't falling for that, they blamed it on a pre-existing (i.e. not their fault) teeney tiny surface chip that magically morphed into a 3-foot long running crack. When I started on the repair, the SERVICE MANAGER acted as though I was being ridiculous by complaining about it. After much argument, he takes my jeep back and puts silicone in a 1-foot stretch of the gap which actually spanned the length of the frame (he apparently chose that stretch only because I pointed to that area to show him the gap).
After realizing talking with guy was useless, I took my Jeep home, took off runner to wipe the silicone off before it dried and I notice tale-tale marks where they had apparently hammered on the windshield frame around one of the screw holes since it had been puckered outward from where the top pulled the screw out of the metal. These hammer marks were in the exact spot that the running crack began...what a coincidence!!! I microscopic surface chip miraculously starts a crack that ends right where they hammered! Wow. Anyway, the next morning, I talk to the general manager and owner...they quickly agreed to replace my windshield and redo the repair.
Now I'm not altogether dissatisfied with the repair (they riveted the runner down with rivets about every 6-8 inches or so) since riveting was to be my course of last resort. However, given it's permanence and the fact that you're actually punching many new holes in the sheet metal, it seems that any GOOD service department would confer with the owner beforehand. For all they knew, I might also use a hardtop. I don't, but if I did, they just might be buying me a new windshield frame.
This experience reaffirmed my intention to stay away from dealers...they overprice for suckey service.
I go to pick up my Jeep and notice a brand new 2-3 foot long crack in the windshield :x and the repair consisted simply two WAY OVERSIZED screws half-screwed into the runner to accompany to the screws on either end that were already there...the rest of the holes were empty and there was a gap measuring at least 1/4 inch between the runner and the frame. :evil:
The service rep & ultimately service manager tried to tell me first that the crack was already there. yeah right! :evil: :evil: After they saw I wasn't falling for that, they blamed it on a pre-existing (i.e. not their fault) teeney tiny surface chip that magically morphed into a 3-foot long running crack. When I started on the repair, the SERVICE MANAGER acted as though I was being ridiculous by complaining about it. After much argument, he takes my jeep back and puts silicone in a 1-foot stretch of the gap which actually spanned the length of the frame (he apparently chose that stretch only because I pointed to that area to show him the gap).
After realizing talking with guy was useless, I took my Jeep home, took off runner to wipe the silicone off before it dried and I notice tale-tale marks where they had apparently hammered on the windshield frame around one of the screw holes since it had been puckered outward from where the top pulled the screw out of the metal. These hammer marks were in the exact spot that the running crack began...what a coincidence!!! I microscopic surface chip miraculously starts a crack that ends right where they hammered! Wow. Anyway, the next morning, I talk to the general manager and owner...they quickly agreed to replace my windshield and redo the repair.
Now I'm not altogether dissatisfied with the repair (they riveted the runner down with rivets about every 6-8 inches or so) since riveting was to be my course of last resort. However, given it's permanence and the fact that you're actually punching many new holes in the sheet metal, it seems that any GOOD service department would confer with the owner beforehand. For all they knew, I might also use a hardtop. I don't, but if I did, they just might be buying me a new windshield frame.
This experience reaffirmed my intention to stay away from dealers...they overprice for suckey service.
