Coupe Moonroof Deflector -- Trying it Topless

[flipr]

I took delivery Friday of our new Coupe. Did a 400 mile roadtrip on Saturday. Our only complaint is something that was mentioned here earlier.... the moon roof deflector is too wide, for a moonroof that is already on the small side.

We've got a deflector on our Impala, its only about 3" wide, cuts down the noise just fine. The Altima deflector must be almost 8" wide, and leave the opening only about 6" when the roof is fully opened.

Not what we had in mind....

So I removed the factory deflector today. Phillips screwdriver, and a 10mm open end wrench, and it took less than 10 minutes. There are 3 clips which hook under the roof opening, and 3 plastic nuts/bolts holding the deflector to the hooks.

Nothing is bent when removing, so if we decide later to put it back on, it won't be a big deal.

There is a smaller pop-up deflector in place, so if you do take your factory deflector off, there is still some deflection to keep the noise down.

We'll try it 'topless' for a while, and see what the results are.

happy driving!

[KayaVibration]

Thanks for the info Flip, as I agree it is way too wide for the Coupe. We bought our Coupe off the lot and it came fully loaded w/ all the bells and whistels including the deflector. Let me know how it goes w/o, as w/ positive feedback, I will take mine off soon....peace

[eberger]

When I went to pick up my coupe, they didn't tell me they charged me for the wind deflector and some other things they didn't put on the car. When I got home I noticed the charges and that there was no deflector on my car. I went in the next day and they said they couldn't refund me the money but they could add all this stuff on my car that I didn't even want. I finally got them to put in a remote starter, which was worth more and not to put the wind deflector on it. I think the car looks better with out the wind deflector!!!!!!

[CoupeLover]

eberger, the remote starter that they put on ur coupe, did they use the factory remote or did they have to give you another one? I've had a remote starter on my car for many years and I love it, but I just didn't know how it would work with a car that uses a key fob. Any and all info that you or anyone else can give me would be much appreciated. Thanks.

And I'm still anxiously awaiting my coupe, it's getting close to that 8 week mark since I ordered it and it sucks!

[eberger]

yes the remote starter they put on at the dealer is actually on the factory key. At first I wasn't going to get it cause they said it $695 extra and I thought I would wait until winter and just go to best buy. If I would have gotten it at best buy but they would give you a different key. Since they overcharged me me for stuff on the car they just gave it for free. I just have to hit a combination of buttons to start it. lock, unlock, lock. Then when you get it you in, you don't hit the brack you just hit the start button two times. Have you heard anything about when you get your car?I reserved mine in beginning of may and then got it may 31st.

[CoupeLover]

eberger, what kind of distance do you get using the key fob to start the car? I had an aftermarket autostart on my old car and I could start it from a good distance away, it was great. I think that for 700 bux, it should start it from miles away, that's a crazy price, good thing you didn't have to pay for it. Still want the autostart, but don't want another remote b/c I'd think that we'd always have to have the key fob to be able to start it from inside the car without taking the keys out.

Just finally heard from the dealer that they shipped my car out last Thursday, he says it takes about 10 days to get here so hopefully next week I'll be driving around in my new car. Can't wait!

[eberger]

honestly I haven't tried to start it from far away since its still summer, I found I use the fob to lower my windows from far away since I have leather seats and its so damn hot outside! I love the remote starter and I think I will love it more when winter comes!Congrats on your car! When they called me to tell me mine was in they said it would be a week and then the next day they called to say it was in. So maybe yours will be in sooner.

I found myself driving around after work today cause didn't want to get out of my car!

[guitarmn07]

thought I'd post some before and after pics if anyone is interested.

Before:



After:Closed

Open

Ah, plenty of air to breathe
Modified by guitarmn07 at 12:32 PM 8/9/2007

[KayaVibration]

Thanks for the Pics guitarman. Looking at inside open pic, I think I will take our off this weekend. Any advise for removal

[guitarmn07]

Oh yeah, I love it since I took off the wind deflector. I can stick my head out the roof now... not that I do that a lot or anything...

But just follow flipr's steps to remove the wind deflector.

So I removed the factory deflector today. Phillips screwdriver, and a 10mm open end wrench, and it took less than 10 minutes. There are 3 clips which hook under the roof opening, and 3 plastic nuts/bolts holding the deflector to the hooks.

[flipr]

Thanks for the Pics guitarman. Looking at inside open pic, I think I will take our off this weekend. Any advise for removal

Hey Guitarman, thanks much for the pics, I haven't had a chance to do that yet, been out of town. The little popup deflector seems to keep the noise down.

[guitarmn07]

you guys are welcome for the pics!

flipr, I noticed that your thing says "Home of the Altima TN" That's so cool it was built in TN! My friend's dad works at Nissan in Smyrna and my other friend's wife works on Nissan projects and has to keep them 'hush hush'. Then I met this random woman and asked her about her Altima and she mentioned that her husband works at the plant in Decherd who builds engines. Small world eh.

May I ask where you purchased your Altima from?

Sorry for getting off topic.

Yeah, the little popup deflector works a little bit, but def not quieter than the added deflector. But i think the car looks better sans deflector.

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Took mine off within 2 days of purchasing the car. It looks like it was on there for some time because there are marks on the paint from where it was installed. I have buffed, polished and waxed to no avail. Its really rather bothering me. Anyone else have problems with markings after removing it?

[guitarmn07]

There were some markings where I removed the deflector. I polished a little bit and waxed; it helped somewhat, but you can still see the markings in fluorescent lighting. I'm sure it also depends on the color of your car. My previous car was black and showed every single flaw.

[Kasper08]

any chance you can take a pic of the front view so i can compare it to see how it looks before i take mine off :-) pretty please

[guitarmn07]

any chance you can take a pic of the front view so i can compare it to see how it looks before i take mine off :-) pretty please

I actually had a photoshoot today. But I just read your post. If you want one that's more of the front, I can take pics tomorrow morning.

[SHIFT_2.5S]

I just removed the moonroof deflector and must admit that it looks much nicer/cleaner without it.

However, I have 1 question: there is a small hole in the rubber where the middle clip used to be. Is this normal? How does this factor in when it rains? Thanks.

[SHIFT_2.5S]

Bump. Any comments on whether the small hole should be there or not?

[pdrumans]

No hole in mine. I took mine off the day after I got the car. My molding is uniform all the way around the roof.

[Goon]

Humm there is this one small problem when I took the deflector away too. It wasn't a hole, but at a certain angle, I can see the outlines/remains of where the deflector was on. I took it to the wash, and it's still there.

Would I have to just remove the wax and hope it disappears?

[LongBeachCoupe]

Id be more concerened with Shift's screwy molding... the line will dissapear with some tech wax... idk what hes gonna do in rain!

[pdrumans]

I took my deflector off the next day after buying the car and then washed the car a couple of days later. No ring, no residue. But I have a white car and don't know if darker colors would show more.

[SHIFT_2.5S]

It appears that the small hole was caused by the metal clip that was in there holding the deflector. I tried pulling the rubber out a bit and managed to make the hole slightly smaller. Then I poured in a bit of water and the water doesn't get into the cabin. It gets into the area between the built-in deflector and the roof itself.

Any suggestions? Don't want to flood my car.
Modified by SHIFT_2.5S at 8:38 AM 10/8/2007

[LinkNuc]

you could CAREFULLY try some black silicone to "fill in" the hole

stuff like this:

http://www.autoaccessconnect.com/peblsiadse.html

[pdrumans]

I would take it back to the dealer and tell them you need the molding replaced. My molding was not affected, your was and most likely due to poor installation. Let them replace the moldings.

[SHIFT_2.5S]

I would take it back to the dealer and tell them you need the molding replaced. My molding was not affected, your was and most likely due to poor installation. Let them replace the moldings.

The molding has been released some and almost fills the hole all the way. I think it was pushed in too far by the metal clip and may have become fixated that way. I think it should release itself with time; no worries.

[pdrumans]

The molding has been released some and almost fills the hole all the way. I think it was pushed in too far by the metal clip and may have become fixated that way. I think it should release itself with time; no worries.

,

Good, sound like maybe it will remember it's original shape. Maybe leave the car out in the sun to heat it up to make it a little more flexible to change.