Rear plastic window guys....I need your help =(

[Loki]

Alright, so the stitching on my back window has completely come undone at the bottom and it very well may spread. I feel like a Cavalier convertible owner with all the tape on my window now. I called a local trim place and they want $275 to stitch it and $400 for a whole new window!! My search-fu may be weak but I recall seeing some members getting a whole new window for a mere $150, but I guess that is just for a window and not installed?

So, does anyone have any advice on what kind of place I should go to? 275 seems outrageous.

[-RJ-]

wasnt there a write up where a guy used glue? if i were in your shoes id use that liquid nail stuff

[BiXLL]

If I recall, your roof is in pretty good shape isn't it? If so, myself, I would want to have it repaired right. I don't think I would fall into the temptation of trying to "rig" the back window to make it work. I suggest you do a little more research so far as checking out other shops in your area, maybe talk to some used car people and ask who does their vert top/window repairs.

[omgjacki]

Get it done right the first time, this way you won't have to do it again next summer.

[Loki]

I do want to get it done right, I just don't want to pay out the ***. That 275 is a full front brake swap! But I figured if someone who's been down this road before told me that that is just what this kind of thing costs, then so be it.

[S13_convert]

It is just what things cost. I agree and do it right. Convertibles are not cheap for upkeep. If you want a car with a cheap roof, I'm sure there is a coupe for sale somewhere

[omgjacki]

It sucks, but it will be worth it down the road

[eljefedetonto]

Keep shopping. Over the course of two months, I started out with a quote for $425, then another guy gave me $310, then the third place stuck me with $781, and finally I found a place that did it all for $254. They did a great job too.

[Loki]

That was to replace the window, right? Mine really isn't too bad, but if I can't get it sewn in for cheap then I may just say what the hell and get a new window.

[jamesblonde82]

if you do get a new one, get a tinted one, wish mine was tinted....

[S13_convert]

if you do get a new one, get a tinted one, wish mine was tinted....

True that! I got a tinted one when I put on my new top and it is great! I think the haze/cloudiness/scratches will be less noticable in the long run too.

[jspec603]

Loki, I'd have to agree with these guys about shopping around. I'm sure you'll find someone to replace/repair for a decent price. IMO, I don't feel that $275 is all that horrible for someone to repair it. For that matter $400 for a whole new window (installed I assume) is decent as well. You gotta keep in mind parts & labor. I'm sure it'll take someone a few hrs to install the new window. Also gotta keep in mind that our economy (a sucky as it is) is not helping any. People gotta make a living.

On a side note, how's everything been going since your accident?

[BDrags]

True that! I got a tinted one when I put on my new top and it is great! I think the haze/cloudiness/scratches will be less noticable in the long run too.

Where did you get the tinted rear window from?

[S13_convert]

I got my top, window and headliner from topsonline.com. I had to call and ask for the tinted window. They didn't have it offered on line. There are 2 shades of dark and I went with the darker to match my side windows.(and the wrinkles in the top have since been removed)

[srphoenix]

if you want theres also the ghetto route that I tried based upon this thread zerothread/320490. Credit goes to stangalot.

Ended up costing me about 50 bucks in the end, but i didnt have a hot glue gun and i messed up the velcro and plastic on the first try.

Heres what you'll need

-20 ft. industrial strength velco (wal-mart for $20ish) they sell 8ish feet for $10 as well, you'll need a little more then just 20 ft. if i recall correctly.

-heaviest duty vinyl you can find, wal-marts is only 20 gauge but has worked for me so far...

-hot glue gun and a crap ton of hot glue

-(other thread used liquid nails) some kind of vinyl glue

but yeah it basically goes,

1. cut out old window but leave part sewn into fabric (helps maintain factory seal)2. place hard and sharper side of velcro with hot glue on adhesive to inside of window frame3. let dry for a tiny bit, then place connect velcro to each other4. cut out pattern for vinyl5. place vinyl while using more hot glue to connect it to adhesive side of soft side of velcro6. use vinyl glue in between old window and new one to create seal

and tada you have a ghetto fabulous back window that looks passable and keeps out rain (it'll leak a tiny bit in car wash pressure washer, but not too bad)

I'll post some pics of mine, there are a few more pics in that thread as well. If I had the money i'd go the professional route, but i'm pretty strapped for cash still being in college and all and the $50 window should last until I have a real job and can get a new back window.

[ebalita]

I saw that the stitching on the lower left of the rear window has come apart in some places. Does anyone know of a place in San Fernando Valley, Southern California that repairs it? I wonder if ulphostery shops would know how to sew it back on.

Help!

[ebalita]

anybody? Help!

[Loki]

Sweet, necrothread! Start calling shops up, it's your only real option.

[GoinTopless240]

Loki,I got my whole top from Topsonline as well. I forgot the woman's name there, but she was really helpful. I can tell you that to replace the whole top is not a real big deal (weekend job). The back window can be replaced by itself, but may take a bit of time as you have to kinda work backwards and in an awkward position. The key would be to NOT undo too much. The top and the back window only overlap a little bit in the back, but you would have to unfasten the whole backing piece (part that connects to the car - curved metal strip with rubber in middle to staple to). The top is connected to the last bow (to pull out the hold down piece you would have to have top kinda pulled forward from back to allow the piece to removed). Ask Bart about it, but it is not a real big deal. Learn how easy it is (for later top replacement) and put that money in your pocket to spend later.

Link included http://www.topsonline.com/inde...05000

Just went there and now I'm pissed..lol.. They now sell the Nylon Pads now . I would've loved to have replaced mine at the time..and for $29.00.. a steal..man.. thanks Loki, if I hadn't checked the link I wouldn't have seen that. Anyhow, the back window is only $179.00 and all you need is some average tools ( I think a couple of swivels 6,8,10,12mm sockets and extensions, philips head, long flat head (to use as chisel to hammer out hold down piece), a pneumatic stapler (if you have a compressor), and at least 2 sets of cheap picks. Off the top of my head I think that's about it. You don't need any glue for the areas you're talking about. Hey I hope that helps you make a decision.

[IMG][/IMG]


Modified by GoinTopless240 at 7:59 PM 1/15/2009

[Nategreat923]

400 isnt bad, imo. The previous owner of mine spent 750 for a new window.

[Loki]

I'd love to do my own top, but I don't have the tools or the time. Work 33 hrs/wk and school another 13 hrs/wk, not to mention it's stupidly cold right now and I don't have a garage.

BTW, I just got my replacement top from EZ On. I gotta find a car to borrow and then I'm going to send the car to the upholstery shop to get it worked on. The bad part is that Topsonline says they'll only give me something like $200/4 hours labor credit. Considering it cost $480/11 hours to put the entire top on, I'm betting I'll end up paying out of pocket for this one.

So because of some random human or machine error by EZ On, I have to pay an addition ~$200 to have my top finally put on, not to mention the nearly three months of bull**** and strife I had to put up with I pray no vert owner ever has to go through what I had to.

[krillin99]

we took off our rear windoww section in about 2 hours and brought it to a shop to have a new window sewn on. we thought it'd be around 100 since we removed it from the car, but he told us 195. we eventually talked him down to 150. he said the vert rear windows are harder to do than other cars such as a miata because it's two seperate pieces he has to remove and sew on in order to get it right. so it was a one day job and we are going to pick it up toorrow. hopefully we can install it by friday, but the stapling part of the ordeal seems quite difficult. i'll try to snap some pictures.

[ebalita]

What kind of shop did you take it to. I want to take mine too but I am going to just need them to sew about four inches of what came apart.

[krillin99]

What kind of shop did you take it to. I want to take mine too but I am going to just need them to sew about four inches of what came apart.

ebalita, my b

What kind of shop did you take it to. I want to take mine too but I am going to just need them to sew about four inches of what came apart.

other in law took it to a shop in san francisco. i think he shopped around and found this place...probably an auto upolstry shop. it's in san francisco. and it was talked down from 195, it's in the trunk right now but sadly no pictures because i locked the friggin keys in the car with the radio still on...yes yes, i'm an idiot, but back to the original topic, the window looks great. they left plastic films on both sides to prevent scratching when we install it.

[ebalita]

Thank you. I will take it to an ulphostery shop.

[krillin99]

hey ebalita, so we got the window back on and put everything back together. it's not bad, but the width of the new rear window does seem a little too short so the threading shows on the left and the right. we've already tried streching the outer covering as much as possible already but it still shows. you can see it in the pictures. i'm thinking of coloring the threading black with a marker. some of the white stuff on the threading is from the protective paper sheet that was sewn in along with the window.







one thing we had trouble with during the installation was stapling the top back on the metal bar in the right spot because we didn't mark it beforehand. we just eyeballed it and got the drivers side fabric right, but kept messing up on the passenger side. i ended up stapling some vinyl..it's circled in red...to the V sections that are stapled on the metal bar betwween the bolts (you can probably use any type of material for this). anyway, i used to excess fabric to strech the top down tight while bolting the meltal bar back on to hold it in place. it actually worked well and i got it a little tighter than the stapled side.



so overall we spent around 5 hours fiddling with the rear window...that's including removing and replacing the parts we didn't have to remove in the first place, such as the inner headliner. and total cost was 150 plus labor.

[squonk]

Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey.... Don't tint the window! The biggest drawback on my car was during the cold days, the rainy days, and the soon to be rainy days was having a window that I couldn't see out of. Having a tint on the back window is idiotic. In fact, I had to replace it because of a previous owner doing it. It's not worth it once you see how low your visibility becomes.

[wmdavis007]

Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey.... Don't tint the window! The biggest drawback on my car was during the cold days, the rainy days, and the soon to be rainy days was having a window that I couldn't see out of. Having a tint on the back window is idiotic. In fact, I had to replace it because of a previous owner doing it. It's not worth it once you see how low your visibility becomes.

The guys that have new tops didn't tint their back windows...they ordered them like that. Topsonline.com sells them but doesn't list them on their website. Those that live in the southeast or southwest need the extra shade for one: to help keep the interior temps. down while parked with the top up, and two: to help protect your interior from damaging sun. I would however suggest not to tint a clear plastic window...as it would never look right and would most likely never stay on.

With that said I don't have a tinted rear window (nor tinted windows) but if I ever replace my top and/or rear curtain again I will get a tinted rear curtain.

[ebalita]

My rear window stitching has completely come off on the bottom. I got a quote to replace the plastic window in No Hollywood for $325... Got a quote in Burbank for $350... Has anybody found a better price in the area?

Help a brother out.

[motaro9424]

Do it u self !!!!!!!!!! is not that hard. I am replace my for $$$75. Taken off the window and some Upholstery guy can do it ..