Rubber (glass run) around front windows

[asburydan]

I am attaching a photo of the rubber around driver's side window near the side view mirror. Ponitac body shop mgr. said it looked like design problem. Warranty clerk looked at it, called later , said that rubber strip wasn't covered as warranty item. Rubber for both front windows can be replaced for $196. Body shop mgr. near my house looked at it and said it looked like design problem in that rubber strip has swelled and won't go back in and will cause problems later. About same price quoted for him to replace and he did't know what dealer said about cost. I am within 200 miles of 36,000 after buying a month ago and didn't pay close attention to problem when I bought it. Any ideas or help??? THANKS

Attached files

[engineertwin2]

It's tough to say that is a design problem. Since you bought it used, it could've been subjected to something that misshaped it or damaged it. Dealer would have no real reason to step up and claim that it was their problem.I'd check the local pull-it-yourself yard and see if you can't find a cheaper set there. But I haven't a clue if they can be removed without damaging them permanently.

[ToolGuy]

Yeah I am not sure what causes this but my drivers side did it. You could hear the wind too. My car was out of warranty when it happened...I replaced it on my own in my garage; I forget the price of the seal. It is not hard but you have to take the inside door panel off to feed it in properly. There is a piece of double sides tape around that part of the seal that sits in the door channel. Mine was still stuck on so I could rule that out as to why it happened. The new has the same tape too. Once I replaced it, it has not done it again and all the other door are still original and fine. I do not think it is a design issue since mine was an 03 and yours an 05 and thus it happened to both of us but not on my new seal. Not sure if the original was not forced into the track well or what really caused it...I suppose warranty or not could go both ways. Sure it should not have happened but on the other hand the dealer has no idea if a slim jim or something was used on the car or what could have happened causing it to bind up. Not saying you did anything to yours I am just saying it is a 50/50 call.BTW, I do not think both doors for $196 is bad considering both seals and labor.

[asburydan]

Thanks for reply. I am at least going to call Toyota dealer for price on glass run rubber for Matrix. They are listed at $48 each for Vibe according to body shop near my house. I am the same guy in NC for whom you are making yellow fog covers soon.

[ToolGuy]

Oh yeah! Yup, making them this weekend for you too! The yellow look great and really stand out, you should like them!

[WaveAction]

thats weird, it does look like it's deformed or something got stuck..but for $48 u cant got wrong..as for those yellow foglight covers, you wont regret them either, i bought a set off ToolGuy(actually 3 sets) and im not dissappointed at all, they're awesome and give my vibe a unique look compared to others

[asburydan]

After getting turned down at dealership and given quote to replace what my nearby body shop guy called "glass runs," I called the customer service number at Pontiac. I told the Pontiac rep that I was very happy with all the transactions and not to make the dealer think I was complaining about them, just exploring all my options. What a super experience. The person there was incredible in the way she handled my call and her follow-up led to a call from my dealer today saying since I bought the car as a certified used car on December 11, 2007, they were going to replace the rubber free of charge. I asked if I needed to pay labor since they were replacing part and he said "no," total cost was on them. ANOTHER REASON WHY MY FIRST VIBE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EVEN BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

[asburydan]

By the way, I called local Toyota dealer to price rubber for glass (before I got the call about free replacement from Pontiac) and they said $59 per side. They were $46 each (plus tax) and $45 labor per window from nearby body shop if they replaced them, and as I said above, $196 from dealer including labor to do both sides.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by asburydan »After getting turned down at dealership and given quote to replace what my nearby body shop guy called "glass runs," I called the customer service number at Pontiac. I told the Pontiac rep that I was very happy with all the transactions and not to make the dealer think I was complaining about them, just exploring all my options. What a super experience. The person there was incredible in the way she handled my call and her follow-up led to a call from my dealer today saying since I bought the car as a certified used car on December 11, 2007, they were going to replace the rubber free of charge. I asked if I needed to pay labor since they were replacing part and he said "no," total cost was on them. ANOTHER REASON WHY MY FIRST VIBE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EVEN BETTER THAN EXPECTED. I know first hand from working in and with GM Customer Assistance, this is exactly the way you want to do it when calling GM! Congrats!

[zionzr2]

Congrats!! I'm glad that worked out for you.Gives hope that Customer Service isnt totaly dead.