Does your top have rub marks from being down?

[Drago77]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

I ha dropped off my car Monday to get my bumper fixed (someone rear ended me) and when the body shop was done with it I instructed them to hand it over to add the tape to the top frame and check out another couple items (iPod crackle and right rear window making noise when going up or down). When i picked it up today they said they ordered the parts for the iPod crackle and window, but that the TSB about the convertible tape was no longer available so he couldn't do it. He said he looked at it on Monday when I told him I was dropping the car off at the body shop, but today it just disappeared.

Also I told the body shop NOT to wash my car because i am VERY particular about how I wash my car. He assured me they would be very careful and it had to be washed to get all the compound off before they could give it to me. I agreed and when I get home and pull in the garage there is a good sized 9" scratch going across my front fender. It looks like it can be buffed out, but that is the EXACT reason I didn't want them to wash my car!

Damn bro- dunno who has worse luck, me with the 8,000,000 things wrong with my car or you where it gets used and abused the few times you bring it in!

I'm thinkin of putting together a siege on GM corporate...kinda like in the old school Frankenstein movie... complete with flaming torches and everything! Who's in?

[ambientweather]

I just received the tape fix. The mechanic took the time to show me what they did and I am happy.

I too said no wash, and they did it anyway. Little scratches and swirls... Yuk.

[Lightrider]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

Also I told the body shop NOT to wash my car because i am VERY particular about how I wash my car. He assured me they would be very careful and it had to be washed to get all the compound off before they could give it to me. I agreed and when I get home and pull in the garage there is a good sized 9" scratch going across my front fender. It looks like it can be buffed out, but that is the EXACT reason I didn't want them to wash my car!

Thats 2 for 2 on them scratching the ride during repairs. Hope it buffs out for ya.

Originally Posted by ambientweather

I just received the tape fix. The mechanic took the time to show me what they did and I am happy.

I too said no wash, and they did it anyway. Little scratches and swirls... Yuk.

I'm glad my dealer never washes cars as part of their service. One less thing to worry about...

[Nutbutt]

Originally Posted by ambientweather

Why are they having you wait to put the top down? Does it have to do with the tape fix?

Nope, not putting down the top is to allow for the canvas time to stretch to shape. Didn't do this on my 69 a while back and it pulled the top out of the mountings because the top was never completely stretched out and still stiff.
I really can't see the tape yet till I put the top down.
The wind noise doesn't seem to be any different from the original top, so far so good

[ambientweather]

Yep, I use micro fiber towels, filtered water, two bucket technique, and never use a circular motion. Paid over $600 in materials two insure no swirls, perfect paint.

What does my dealer do? They take it through a car wash to "knock off the dust" after I asked them not to, then wipe it down with dirty towels.

Ugh!!! When I complained, he said they take Mercedes through the wash.

Ok, and my uncle Louie owns a Mercedes, he is 90 years old and shows me how great his car is by kicking the bumpers. So f'n what!

[cam62]

This is sad.
Jeff, should I open GM case for this? The dealership replace the top a week ago and I can see the beginnings of the same problem again. I have photo's of the original problem and it is very clear.


From: xxx - closest dealership to me
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 9:35 AM
To: Davis, Chuck
Cc: Subject: RE: Camaro

Mr. Davis;

I really do not have an answer for you. I remain unconvinced that the marks on your top were caused by the top itself. I vigorously rubbed on your old top for 10 minutes in one spot and could not recreate the black marks. I created a frayed, weathered appearance but not the marks. My suggestion would be to get a second opinion as I feel xxx Chevrolet is not capable of doing a better job than we have already. We put our best efforts into meeting your expectations and do not seem to have accomplished that. I am sure another dealer, or your selling dealer would be happy to offer a fresh, or different perspective on if this vehicle’s top operation can be improved.


xxx
Fixed Operations Director
xxx Chevrolet- Tampa
813-xxx-xxx


From: Davis - xxx
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 3:10 PM
To: xxx
Subject: RE: Camaro

Hi xxx,

I wanted to thank you for calling GM about the top and needing to pull down more than I did before the new top. Yes, it did stretch out some and is definitely much better.

But, I still think there is a problem. Maybe it’s not aligned quite right. I have put the top down a couple of times the last couple of days, and I can already see the beginnings of rub marks, and can also see that the same area that had the holes, is probably going to get holes again very soon if I continue to put the top down.

How would you like me to handle this?

Thanks,


xxx Davis

Phone:813-xxx-xxx

[cam62]

Originally Posted by cam62

Mr. Davis;

I really do not have an answer for you. I remain unconvinced that the marks on your top were caused by the top itself. I vigorously rubbed on your old top for 10 minutes in one spot and could not recreate the black marks. I created a frayed, weathered appearance but not the marks. My suggestion would be to get a second opinion as I feel xxx Chevrolet is not capable of doing a better job than we have already. We put our best efforts into meeting your expectations and do not seem to have accomplished that. I am sure another dealer, or your selling dealer would be happy to offer a fresh, or different perspective on if this vehicle’s top operation can be improved.


xxx
Fixed Operations Director
xxx Chevrolet- Tampa
813-xxx-xxx

Anyone in the Hillsborough/Pinellas county Florida area having similar problems and have a service department that understands this is not a "user" or "operation" issue?

[Drago77]

Originally Posted by cam62

Anyone in the Hillsborough/Pinellas county Florida area having similar problems and have a service department that understands this is not a "user" or "operation" issue?

I know its a hike for you, but Suburban Chevy in Stuart (East Coast) gas put TWO new tops on mine and I'm current w the TSBs... they actually offered the second top to me...don't really know if the fixes worked yet, but at least they do the repairs without questioning anyhibg...

[cam62]

[QUOTE=Drago77;3772320]I know its a hike for you, but Suburban Chevy in Stuart (East Coast) gas put TWO new tops on mine and I'm current w the TSBs... they actually offered the second top to me...don't really know if the fixes worked yetQUOTE]

Yeah, it is quite the hike for me. about a 3 hour drive. Although I absolutely don't want to lemon law the car, if the top doesn't work as designed without rubbing holes into it, or otherwise ruining the appearance of my 40 some thousand dollar car with 4k miles on it.. I intend to keep the mileage as low as possible.

[Xorshaik]

Originally Posted by cam62

This is sad.
Jeff, should I open GM case for this? The dealership replace the top a week ago and I can see the beginnings of the same problem again. I have photo's of the original problem and it is very clear.

Convertible top material is constructed of multiple layers. According to this link:

http://www.autogeek.net/co.html

Chevy Camaro uses a 3-ply composite made of an acrylic weave outer layer, a butyl rubber inner layer and a cotton liner. The reason tan tops might be seeing black marks might indicate the wear is going through the acrylic weave outer layer and exposing the rubber inner liner layer. Just speculating.

My questions to the dealer would be as to just how they tried to duplicate the failure, did they rub convertible top fabric on convertible top fabric? Did they apply as much pressure as the fabric sees when pinched between links?

[cam62]

Originally Posted by Xorshaik

My questions to the dealer would be as to just how they tried to duplicate the failure, did they rub convertible top fabric on convertible top fabric? Did they apply as much pressure as the fabric sees when pinched between links?

The pictures in my post (671) earlier in this thread clearly show what is going on. The outer fabric abosolutely wore through.

New top has been on for 10 days and I can already see the beginnings of marks. I am not putting it down for now.. and that really ticks me off.

The service manager apparantly feels this is not a warranty issue. I beg to differ. I suppose opening a GM case is the best course to take.

[Justification]

I just got back from the dealer for the fix. Even after showing him this thread with the 8/16 bulletin number listed he could not find that TSB in the system.
Did the initial TSB steps, but he could not find anything about the tape, or the grinding of the screws.
Sent me on my merry way knowing it's now in the record as being worked on, so if I need a new top in a couple months we have an electronic trail .

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by Justification

I just got back from the dealer for the fix. Even after showing him this thread with the 8/16 bulletin number listed he could not find that TSB in the system.
Did the initial TSB steps, but he could not find anything about the tape, or the grinding of the screws.
Sent me on my merry way knowing it's now in the record as being worked on, so if I need a new top in a couple months we have an electronic trail .

I was thinking my dealer was BSing me about the TSB mort being there anymore last Friday, but sounds like he was telling the truth. Maybe they will have another TSB soon.

[Nasty1970]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

I ha dropped off my car Monday to get my bumper fixed (someone rear ended me) and when the body shop was done with it I instructed them to hand it over to add the tape to the top frame and check out another couple items (iPod crackle and right rear window making noise when going up or down). When i picked it up today they said they ordered the parts for the iPod crackle and window, but that the TSB about the convertible tape was no longer available so he couldn't do it. He said he looked at it on Monday when I told him I was dropping the car off at the body shop, but today it just disappeared.

Also I told the body shop NOT to wash my car because i am VERY particular about how I wash my car. He assured me they would be very careful and it had to be washed to get all the compound off before they could give it to me. I agreed and when I get home and pull in the garage there is a good sized 9" scratch going across my front fender. It looks like it can be buffed out, but that is the EXACT reason I didn't want them to wash my car!

dude, why do they keep jacking your car up??? I used to be a mechanic years ago, and whenever we got "nice" cars in, I would treat them like it was my own car. The customers appreciated the extra effort, and for years after I worked there people would come in and ask for me. Its kinda sad to think of dealerships handling cars like cattle!!