Two-Tone Molding kinda rough

[elrodvoss]

Greetings...This is the 1st car that I had that has these plastic moldings on them, but I was cleaning my car and the underside of the molding (where they start to angle back inwards) felt rough. I dont mean rough as in just bumpy, I mean grabbing onto drying towl rough.Is this normal for them, or is this a sign that I need to get some type of flaps for my wheels.If I need to get flaps, do they make molded ones for the 03 vibe? I think those would look better then the basic "rubber flaps".ThanksTake care and fair thee well...

[scherry2]

is your vibe 2 tone or all one color?is it an 04 or 03?I would suggest getting mud flaps GM has molded ones for sale at the dealer for 03 front and rear and rear for the 04if you have an 03 you might want to check out this thread. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=5742 hope this helps

[elrodvoss]

its a 2003 gt. Thanks on the hint that they do sell molded flaps. Oh and also, your question about the 2-tone or all one color.....reread the title, there you shall find your answer, grasshopper.Take care and fair thee well...

[scherry2]

duh.... sorryI would see the dealer about replacement cladding

[elrodvoss]

I went in today and asked one of the guys there. He said that he was aware of the TSB, and that molding is scratched (normal road wear). It doesnt apply to the TSB as it aint discolored....I asked if there is a way to "remove" the rough parts, and he suggested using a VERY fine pad to rub it out. I was worried about it taking off the color and the "finish". Since once you "scrape" placstic , it never really looks right.But then this could be different. Does anyone have experience with smoothing out this? I really dont want to wait another year till its bad to have them replace. Or drop $1,000 to ge the parts myself. (SUCK)

[scherry2]

Your service rep (one of the guys) is full of crap. go to the dealer and talk to the warrant rep.mine was scuffed up from road wear (the crap thrown up from the front tires) and the scuffed plastic was discolored (that is the scuff, the small shreds of plastic) and it was replaced. call the 1-800-pontiac # and complain that is what the TSB is for, not off the lot discolored. does the normal road wear look lighter in color than the rest of the cladding? if you answer this yes then the TSB applies.

[elrodvoss]

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »does the normal road wear look lighter in color than the rest of the cladding? if you answer this yes then the TSB applies. Well see that is the "problem" i guess. My car was used but it only had 3440 miles on it. Right now I only have 5830 miles on it, but you can feel the scuffs. But it is not off-colored. I dont drive in gravel, unless I go to friends trailer park. Even then its only 200 feet of gravel.That is why im thinking that I have to wait till I wear the molding in more. The car is too "new" for TSB (not worn in enough), but enough for me to feel it.

[AKLGT]

ya, it doesn't sound like yours would be covered just yet. and why get the new cladding if it's only gonna get scuffed up more?? i'd probably wait for another 4 or 5K miles when it's good and ugly, then bring it back. no sense getting the new stuff ugly and then your warranty ends!

[elrodvoss]

Quote, originally posted by trdvibe »ya, it doesn't sound like yours would be covered just yet. and why get the new cladding if it's only gonna get scuffed up more?? i'd probably wait for another 4 or 5K miles when it's good and ugly, then bring it back. no sense getting the new stuff ugly and then your warranty ends! Well, the newer moldings (from what I heard) adds the flare out on the bottom like the 04 models. Which would really cut down on the damage, plus I was going to pick up some of the molded mud flaps.With both of those, it should elimimate the damage almost completely.

[ragingfish]

Don't forget, there are no front flaps available for the rocker extensions yet. Still waiting on GM to release those...

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »Don't forget, there are no front flaps available for the rocker extensions yet. Still waiting on GM to release those...this is an 03 with the old style rockers.

[elrodvoss]

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »this is an 03 with the old style rockers.ya, the rockers arch inwards. Unlike the 2004 which flare out

[ragingfish]

Ok, my bad.I read:Quote »Well, the newer moldings (from what I heard) adds the flare out on the bottom like the 04 models. Which would really cut down on the damage, plus I was going to pick up some of the molded mud flaps.Which is why I threw that warning out.

[elrodvoss]

ya I understand yoru consern. I wasent sure when I saw the new rockers and a pic of the "flaps".Maybe when its time to get the molding replaced they will have 04 moldings