Re: side molding

[John Kiekhaefer <jonnk@execpc.com>]

The same thing happened to my 95 GLX after 18 months.  I repaired it with some
black foam tape that I got at the local auto parts chain store.  It held up
fine.  Make sure all surfaces are clean and dry.
John Kiekhaefer

Marc Gallagher wrote:

> Hi all.  I was washing my car yesterday (gotta love 55 degrees in February)
> and found that the molding on the passenger door is loose/peeling off.
>
> First, I am more than annoyed that a 2 year old car has parts falling off so
> has anyone had any luck in dealing with VW customer support for these type
> items?  I would like to have them own up to a production flaw.
>
> Second, has anyone had a similar problem and put the molding back on
> themselves?  If so any recommendations?  Materials?  Methods?
>
> On another topic, I finally got replacement e-brake cables, made some mods
> so they won't rip again (hopefully) and had them installed at the dealer.
> Why do I rag on dealerships?  Well......the "it will take about 1.5 hours to
> do (about $115)" estimate turned into a bill of $175 (52% increase) and I
> asked them to rotate the tires (since they had 2 off already) and was
> charged another $30 (which works out to about 1/2 hour of labor!  a half
> hour to pull two more wheels!)  I am waiting for a call back to explain the
> increase and 1/2 labor to pull two wheels.  I am not saying everyone has
> these experiences but I seem to have many.
>
> As far as the mods to the brake cables I will try to explain.  Since the
> problem is the stretching of the rubber gaskets when the cable is released,
> I attempted to install "arresting cables" to keep the rubber from feeling
> the load when the brake is released.  I took two short lengths of stainless
> wire and made loops around both ends of the gasket (one at the tip and one
> around the metal ring at the base).  I then connected these rings with two
> short lengths of wire running parallel to the brake cable.  So when the
> brake is released and the gasket has to slide back into position, the wire
> keeps the rubber from stretching.  That was probably a horrible description
> but w/o a picture it is hard to explain.  Anyway it seems to work in the
> living room.  Ask me in two years and I'll tell you if it made a difference.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help with the molding thing.
>
> Marc
> 97' Jetta GLX - Red/Black