Am I asking for too much from my independent mechanic: sunroof seal repair
#1
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Hi All,
A local independent mechanic replaced the seal on my 993 sunroof. The old one was loose and so he ordered the part from Porsche and replaced it. If you look at the pictures, you will see two gaps, one on each side of the sun roof, where the strip he put in ends. The gaps are about 3/8 to 1/2 inch. The first two pictures are of one side the other two of the second side. The question is whether you think the work is up to par and whether I should ask him to redo it without additional payment. It seems that way to me, but maybe I'm missing something. The parts and labor were $157. Thanks for any input.
Julian
A local independent mechanic replaced the seal on my 993 sunroof. The old one was loose and so he ordered the part from Porsche and replaced it. If you look at the pictures, you will see two gaps, one on each side of the sun roof, where the strip he put in ends. The gaps are about 3/8 to 1/2 inch. The first two pictures are of one side the other two of the second side. The question is whether you think the work is up to par and whether I should ask him to redo it without additional payment. It seems that way to me, but maybe I'm missing something. The parts and labor were $157. Thanks for any input.
Julian
#4
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A lot of times when the seal is installed it looks fine, but when the car is put out in the sun and the whole thing shrinks up and you get gaps. I don't know if that is what happened here, but you might consider it.
If this job was just completed, I'd ask for it to be redone. If they refuse, take you future business elsewhere. This is one of those jobs that is very tedious, but if they don't care to do it right, what else are they boogering up on your car?
If this job was just completed, I'd ask for it to be redone. If they refuse, take you future business elsewhere. This is one of those jobs that is very tedious, but if they don't care to do it right, what else are they boogering up on your car?
#6
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Yep it needs to be done again with new seals....
In all fairness it's a bitch of a job to get right & in your pics the seal looks to have been cut at the end going to the back but it's supposed to fold on the underside of the roof at the ends at the rear & then meets/butts up to the rear seal (on sunroof panel ) with no gaps...
Took me two attempts to get my own perfect & that's doing it with love as its my own car & if your not a hands on sort of guy I think a trimmer would be best for you to get to do the job..
With a user name like honkytonk I'm guessing your not in the uk or I would do it for you if you got the beers!!
In all fairness it's a bitch of a job to get right & in your pics the seal looks to have been cut at the end going to the back but it's supposed to fold on the underside of the roof at the ends at the rear & then meets/butts up to the rear seal (on sunroof panel ) with no gaps...
Took me two attempts to get my own perfect & that's doing it with love as its my own car & if your not a hands on sort of guy I think a trimmer would be best for you to get to do the job..
With a user name like honkytonk I'm guessing your not in the uk or I would do it for you if you got the beers!!
#7
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Many thanks, Fuch! I talked with the mechanic and he has kindly agreed to do it at no cost. But I'll pass on your advice to him. Yes, not in UK, but many thanks. I would have been happy to part with some beer to get this done.
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#8
RL Community Team
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The sun roof on a 993 is designed to accommodate leaking as there is a drain gutter and drain tubes under the gap. So from a functional standpoint what you got was OK. Now from an esthetic standpoint it is your call. Getting the velvet strip to glue in cleanly is very difficult. When my seal looked worn I just touch it up with a Sharpi pen.
Andy
Andy
#9
#10
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This seal doesn't actually hold out water. It's more for dust and debris. Water will flow right past it and into the water channels under the panel.
#13
Drifting
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I was told they just don't make these seals like they use to, I guess at some point it was out sourced to another manufacturer. As a result, whatever porsche sells you now it's one big PIA to get it perfect like factory.
I wanted to respray a section of my roof last winter, my body shop who is pretty much an expert in 993s recommended against it, one reason was the sunroof seal is terrible.
I wanted to respray a section of my roof last winter, my body shop who is pretty much an expert in 993s recommended against it, one reason was the sunroof seal is terrible.
#15
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Body shop that just repainted my car tried this, looked very similar... I told them to redo it and gave them some pictures and guidance. It will be you with leaking sunroof down the road, not him.