03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

I have a hard time keeping the back window on the hardtop closed.
Several times a week it opens up.

At first I thought it was a result of the plastic flexing during travel.
Now, though, I suspect that the problem is due to pressurization of
the interior when closing the doors - it's like the door seals are TOO
good and when you slam the door the pressure blows out the back window.

Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
window.

Anybody have this same problem? How about a solution?

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

Yep same problem - got a rubber block to act as a spacer between the rear
window and the spare wheel. Not technical but very effective...

"thomas" <nospamforme@nicetry.com> wrote in message
news:8aIcc.43150$Lq4.5546@twister.socal.rr.com...
>
> I have a hard time keeping the back window on the hardtop closed.
> Several times a week it opens up.
>
> At first I thought it was a result of the plastic flexing during travel.
> Now, though, I suspect that the problem is due to pressurization of
> the interior when closing the doors - it's like the door seals are TOO
> good and when you slam the door the pressure blows out the back window.
>
> Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
> mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
> window.
>
> Anybody have this same problem? How about a solution?
>
>

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

Yep same problem - got a rubber block to act as a spacer between the rear
window and the spare wheel. Not technical but very effective...

"thomas" <nospamforme@nicetry.com> wrote in message
news:8aIcc.43150$Lq4.5546@twister.socal.rr.com...
>
> I have a hard time keeping the back window on the hardtop closed.
> Several times a week it opens up.
>
> At first I thought it was a result of the plastic flexing during travel.
> Now, though, I suspect that the problem is due to pressurization of
> the interior when closing the doors - it's like the door seals are TOO
> good and when you slam the door the pressure blows out the back window.
>
> Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
> mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
> window.
>
> Anybody have this same problem? How about a solution?
>
>

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

Yep same problem - got a rubber block to act as a spacer between the rear
window and the spare wheel. Not technical but very effective...

"thomas" <nospamforme@nicetry.com> wrote in message
news:8aIcc.43150$Lq4.5546@twister.socal.rr.com...
>
> I have a hard time keeping the back window on the hardtop closed.
> Several times a week it opens up.
>
> At first I thought it was a result of the plastic flexing during travel.
> Now, though, I suspect that the problem is due to pressurization of
> the interior when closing the doors - it's like the door seals are TOO
> good and when you slam the door the pressure blows out the back window.
>
> Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
> mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
> window.
>
> Anybody have this same problem? How about a solution?
>
>

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

Yep same problem - got a rubber block to act as a spacer between the rear
window and the spare wheel. Not technical but very effective...

"thomas" <nospamforme@nicetry.com> wrote in message
news:8aIcc.43150$Lq4.5546@twister.socal.rr.com...
>
> I have a hard time keeping the back window on the hardtop closed.
> Several times a week it opens up.
>
> At first I thought it was a result of the plastic flexing during travel.
> Now, though, I suspect that the problem is due to pressurization of
> the interior when closing the doors - it's like the door seals are TOO
> good and when you slam the door the pressure blows out the back window.
>
> Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
> mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
> window.
>
> Anybody have this same problem? How about a solution?
>
>

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

> > Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
window. > >

Isn't it amazing how clever the manufacturer's cost-cutters can be? Why,
istead of a proper latch, they can just use a jam-fit approach and save $5
per vehicle!

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

> > Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
window. > >

Isn't it amazing how clever the manufacturer's cost-cutters can be? Why,
istead of a proper latch, they can just use a jam-fit approach and save $5
per vehicle!

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

> > Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
window. > >

Isn't it amazing how clever the manufacturer's cost-cutters can be? Why,
istead of a proper latch, they can just use a jam-fit approach and save $5
per vehicle!

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

> > Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
window. > >

Isn't it amazing how clever the manufacturer's cost-cutters can be? Why,
istead of a proper latch, they can just use a jam-fit approach and save $5
per vehicle!

Re: 03 Wrangler hardtop won't stay closed
 

thomas <nospamforme@nicetry.com> wrote:

> I have a hard time keeping the back window on the hardtop closed.
> Several times a week it opens up.

> At first I thought it was a result of the plastic flexing during travel.
> Now, though, I suspect that the problem is due to pressurization of
> the interior when closing the doors - it's like the door seals are TOO
> good and when you slam the door the pressure blows out the back window.

There's a vent in the rear tailgate that's supposed to let the "excess air"
escape (behind your spare tire). Is there anything blicking the vent? Older
Wranglers used to have vents behind the rear quarter windows in the hardtop,
itself that served the same purpose.

> Truthfully, I can't believe the back window doesn't have a better
> mechanism to stay shut that the tailgate grabbing the rubber seal on the
> window.

You might also loosen the hard top to make sure that it is seated correctly
on the body. Perhaps it is just out of alignment? Maybe it's sitting too
high?

> Anybody have this same problem? How about a solution?

My '03 doesn't have this problem -- at least not yet. Since your's is that
new, I'd say to let the dealer deal with it. Or even better, it's spring.
Just take it off... :)

-John