I have a question.....I have searched this forum and do not think I have the answer yet. I called what is known as a reputable window tinter to get my daughter's '05 tinted...they called back to say the window seals have been recalled and I need to call my dealer and get them installed and then call them back. call the dealer, he said I would get the recal before he would but if I know the number of the recall he would get it done. I already knew all the probelms with the felt/nofelt issue...but this just confuses me! Any advice...please?

 

There is no known recall. It's not a defect of any kind. Also, recalls are only for safety items. So no, no TSB's either.

I need to get my windows done to, but I'm just going to tell them to put felt on.

 

Oh darn, I was hoping there was a recall....But yes, it is a known problem with everyone who has the tinted windows...so they should have a TSB, and it is a defect. How can it not be a defect?? I mean everyone's tint is scratching. So either we all go to crappy tinters...which is not the case...or there is a problem.

 

If it's not scratching the glass (which it isn't), it's not a defect.

It's a PITA, and a very poor choice by Ford, but definitely not a defect.

My tint is scratched all over the place - eventually I'll get back to the tinter and have them put the felt on.

But don't hold your breath for Ford to issue some sort of TSB on this, or to install felt or new guides for free. They may end up with a dealer backlash though, if enough dealers are tinting windows themselves and having to re-tint and add felt.

 

Well, considering that there have been reports from people who just recently got their car that the window seal is no longer hard plastic, but a softer material, it seems that this IS a defect, and that Ford has decided to change the seal material to avoid this. It would be nice if they would let thedealers know this so they could install the new seals.

 

Well, you call it a PITA, I'll call it a defect or a more PC version "design flaw". We all know that tint is softer than glass, so of course, it's not going to scratch the glass. The main problem here is that previous models didn't use this new rubber seal, and for some reason they wanted to use it on the 05s. I'd be interested to see if 06's have the same problem.

My beef with the whole scenario is that....tinting is a very very very common mod, and one that is even offered by most dealers. The ignorance on Ford's design part is why in the heck would they use something that would end up causing this. And I don't want to hear about money and saving costs and crap, because these things are minut compared to other parts on a car. I guess there was no testing with tint on a car. Even a few days with the tint will prove scratching can occur on this material.

WHY IN THE WORLD DON'T THEY OFFER FACTORY TINTING AS AN OPTION!!!!

Oh and BTW...my girlfriends Mercedes...has the same type of rubber seal on the inside....does it scratch....NOPE

 

What is this "hard seal" thing man?
Where do you get the "felt" liners?

I am clueless....last time I saw a window tinted they sprayed it on (early 80's).

PS. Checked my early built (oct 04) and it has rubber seals but I see no felt.

Jay

 

Yeah the inner liner, the part that touches the tint film is not made of felt like the outer liner. So it must for some reason allow scratching of the tint film. They make a moleskin liner to put on that inside harder liner to prevent the tint scratching. Search for Moleskin liner and you should get some results.

 

Tinting is an aftermarket product....not warranted by Ford. So, no defect (rightfully so) from Ford's perspective.

Now, if you've got a good "tinter" they'll know that they must add felt to the window channels to keep scratching from happening. If they aren't so good, they'll try to blame it on Ford so they don't have to go the extra step.

 

The inner seals on my car (March 11th build) had "soft" seals as well. And they scratched the tint like no one's business! Before the tint guys redid my tint (free and they did a FANTASTIC job the second time around I must say), they stood around feeling the seal and then rolling the window up and down and just being amazed at how it was scratching the tint. It just didn't FEEL like it should be able to do that!

After retinting and installing the felt, it has been perfect. Don't waste your time THINKING you have some new and improved seal because YOURS doesn't feel hard. You will scratch your ting and have to get it redone. The felt doesn't cost that much and it is very easy to install.

 

If all it takes is a few strips of moleskin on the inner seal, I'll do that myself. My dad's a Doctor and uses moleskin for pads. I'll just get him to cut me a few strips and I'll put it on there myself. Wonder if he can get it in black instead of skin tone... Hm...