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 Cracked Orange pics
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| Author | Topic: Cracked Orange pics |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Admin Use |
posted 01-08-2001 03:36 PM
   
Here are the pictures of my Cracked Orange. This is the top right side fire wall right by the hood side panel. This is where the fire wall meets the body stress frame member. It is cracking right on the weld. My Prowler tech says the entire windshield can be moved by hand when the top is down! I put in 3 different pics of the same thing here. 
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butchcee     POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Lake Ariel, Pa. |
posted 01-08-2001 05:36 PM
WOW-that SUCKS!!! Gonna go out and check mine. Thanks. ------------------ |
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butchcee POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Lake Ariel, Pa. |
posted 01-08-2001 05:57 PM
I'm having a hard time finding this weld. Does the side panel or grillwork in front of the windshield have to come off to see this area? My winshield is tight anyway! |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Admin Use |
posted 01-08-2001 07:26 PM
Not if you look in the exact area no. However, we took those off to take those pictures. ------------------ |
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MidlifeProwler Prowler Junkie From:Silver Spring, Maryland USA |
posted 01-08-2001 08:04 PM
Todd, What's DC gonna do for you on that crack? Are they willing to replace your Kat or repair it? |
Gary C    POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:San Diego Area |
posted 01-08-2001 08:10 PM
It looks like a crack in the paint and not in the material itself. Is there an gap? This is not a crack in the aluminum. This is a crack in the paint over the sealant, not to worry, refill and paint and enjoy. The Pictures can be deceiving. ------------------ |
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Gary C POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:San Diego Area |
posted 01-08-2001 08:16 PM
All the windshields move on these cars. Driving down the road in the 99 or the 00 I am surprised how much they move. Convertibles are not tied in with the top. They flex. Take the top down on the Black Kat and see if it moves the same as the Orange, I think you will find your answer with this comparison. ------------------ |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Personal ScrapBook Admin Use |
posted 01-08-2001 08:16 PM
The pictures do not tell the whole story. You can literally move the windshield back and forth by hand. When your there, you can tell the aluminum weld has cracked under the paint. You just cannot see this with the little clarity allowed in the picture. I am hoping DC will replace the Kat, whatever caused this weld to crack will still be there even if the weld is repaired, not to mention, the entire Kat has to be pulled down to repair this crack correctly because it is in Aluminum! I'll know soon, keep your fingers crossed for me! ------------------ |
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JFB Prowler Newbie From:WPB, FL, USA |
posted 01-08-2001 08:36 PM
Todd, The crack as I see it is between two pieces of sheet metal that are spot welded together. The crack looks like it is in the filler material between these two sheet metal pieces. That is not a weld area. It is filler material with paint over it. I you look closely you will see there is bolts holding it together, they also bolt on the hood hinge. My Orange prowler has less than 100 miles, and has the same thing, if I am right about the area I see in your picture. |
Larry Lord Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Colton, CA |
posted 01-08-2001 09:16 PM
Todd, I just inspected my Yellow 1999 car and I can see where the parts are joined together just like yours. Mine however has what looks like a thinner sealer material than your 2001 does. There is a slight gap between the metal parts but this is to be expected when putting two pieces of metal side by side. My sealer has not separated or split as yours looks like it may have. I suspect that the newer cars may have used a thicker sealer or just more of it at this joining point. A thicker sealer may have more tendancy to crack or split but a split in the sealer has no effect on the structural integrity of your car. When pushing and pulling on the top of my windshield with the windows down, I get quite a bit of movement at the top of the windshield also, but no change in the gap where the metals are joined together and where you are concerned about a crack. Cowl shaking and flexing are inherent in the Prowler (as with most convertibles) and you will always notice it much more when driving with your top down. I read that this is one of the reasons for the Magnesium cowl structure used in the Prowler. The top being up and fastened naturally helps to stabilize the cowl and windshield. I now have over 51,000 miles on my car, almost 90% of them with the top down. I may be wrong but from what I can see in your pictures and also what you stated about your car, I believe that you may not have the serious problem that you think. Please keep us posted about your problem and what DC has to say about it. Thanks, Larry |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Personal ScrapBook Admin Use |
posted 01-08-2001 09:20 PM
I shall certainly hope it is nothing serious! I'm out to check the black now. ------------------ |
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Larry Lord Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Colton, CA |
posted 01-08-2001 09:34 PM
Todd, After thinking about your problem, if it is indeed a crack in the sealant and nothing more. |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Personal ScrapBook Admin Use |
posted 01-08-2001 10:44 PM
I still thinking something is VERY wrong with the Orange. My black has NO window movement, and the Orange has a LOT. Also, this crack should simply not be there with 300 miles on her. That means something is moving around. Also, the left side latch simply popped off and broke. This, to me, considering the other things, would indicate more movement then there should be. If this is bolted together, sounds like they did not bolt it together right to begin with. Also, the driver's door when I got her had to be literally hit open or slammed extremely hard to shut her. The bolts that hold the door are on painted over AFTER the door has been mounted and adjusted. The passenger side door has had to be retightened by the paint chips off the door on the Orange. This must have happened at the dealer I purchased it from or before it was shipped out. All combined tells me there is a lot more going on here then a seal crack. ------------------ |
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butchcee POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Lake Ariel, Pa. |
posted 01-08-2001 10:57 PM
my door hinges bolts have been wrenched on too. Maybe a final adj after painting? ------------------ |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Admin Use |
posted 01-09-2001 12:50 AM
If I had just a door problem I would not care or worry, it is everything together that bothers me, and especially when the factory trained mech is shaking his head about the car! ------------------ |
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Larry Lord Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Colton, CA |
posted 01-09-2001 10:18 PM
Regarding the cracked weld issue: According to what I've not only read but also seen, the body tub is not welded together. It is adhesive bonded and riveted using non-piercing rivits. Also, regarding the door bolt paint issue: the car is painted with the doors on and the doors are removed at CAAP when the bodies start down the line. The doors are assembled off line and reinstalled later and therefore the bolts will show that they have been tightened after paint. This message has been edited by Larry Lord on 01-09-2001 at 10:22 PM |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Personal ScrapBook Admin Use |
posted 01-09-2001 10:34 PM
If this is true, why are the bolts NOT moved after painting on my black 2000??? ------------------ |
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Larry Lord Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Colton, CA |
posted 01-09-2001 10:44 PM
Take a closer look with a flashlight and magnifying glass if you feel you need to. Just the facts Todd. I've toured BOTH the CAAP factory and MSX where they paint the cars. The body tub is painted with the doors installed while braced open about 12 inches. Pictures are available if I need to prove my statements. The tub then goes to CAAP for assembly. The doors are removed from the tub and then reinstalled near the end of the line. This message has been edited by Larry Lord on 01-09-2001 at 11:06 PM |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Personal ScrapBook Admin Use |
posted 01-10-2001 01:00 AM
Not to say your wrong at all, YOU were there! But then WHY is the paint NOT chipped on my Black's door bolts? Your not going to remove bolts that were painted over without chipping paint, just does not happen! ------------------ |
Nelson Weber Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:High Ridge, Mo USA |
posted 01-10-2001 08:54 AM
When I have built something to show, I used a cresent wrench and lined the jaws with duct tape, used duct tape over a screwdriver tip, and used multiple layers of saran wrap inside of a socket. Therefore no marks on painted or chromed fasteners. I doubt that the factory does this, unless someone is very dedicated. Nelson |
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Todd Bertrang unregistered Personal ScrapBook Admin Use |
posted 01-10-2001 11:31 AM
I agree Nelson, but in this case, the paint will be over the crack in between the bolt and joint/hinge area. To cause the paint to break loose always chips it, without using a knife/sharp instrument of some sort to cut through the paint, which I doubt they did. This usually leaves some kind of "tell tale" that it was done when you look closely and know what to look for. There is simply no paint edge broken on the black, the paint edge is still there! ------------------ |
AL
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