Soft Top Plastic Window

[dennis]

I just replaced my rear window. I came out great, and folds fine in the warm weather. I am anticipating how it will work in the fall, and thinking that it will more than likely crack again. I know it is suggested to not lower in cold weather, but I have heated seats and hey, I wanna drive with the top down through most of the fall. I was thinking about somehow drawing some heat from the engine which is obviously just below the window and wondering if anyone is heard of such a thing. It would be like a poor man's rear defroster. Obviously you would have to wait for the car to get to operating temp, then lower the top. I think it's doable but may require running some light duty ducting. Just a thought.

[ppbon]

... place a black garbage bag (which I keep in the rear trunk) over the plastic window, facing the sun.
In less than 5 minutes it will absorb and transfer enough heat to the plastic window to allow it to neatly fold even at temps in the 30s.

Here's a picture at one of the BRBSs when it was in the high 40s.


At home, when it's ever cold, I just place a hair dryer over the engine compartment which also quickly heats up the plastic.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

[kabel]

or just use a hair dryer to warm up the window, probably faster albeit a little silly looking

[Perfectlap]

Also, blast the heat (while the car is drive) for five minutes, pull over and lower the top. I don't know if its bad for the car to sit in park with heat on full blast.

[ovul82jazz]

Hi Dennis,

Well the good news is that you aren't going to destroy the plastic window by raising and lowering it in cool weather. I live about 5 hours North of the US border in Saskatchewan and raise and lower the top in 3 seasons and have not had an incident.

Our Spring and Fall temps are coolish by most standards ... raising the top has never been an issue... but, when you lower it in cooler temps just reach back and use your hand to "assist" the window in folding along the correct line. I have not had a problem and I drive up until mid November.

I clean the window with Plexus and my 2001 back window is original and doesn't show any signs of cracking.

Hope this helps.

Roger

[dennis]

All good ideas thanks

[U986S]

I use Plexus for cleaning the window. Mine was replace by the last owner and the Plexus has made it clearer and more pliable than when i got it. i got mine at West Marine. http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/frames.html