- First Name
- Jim
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2022
- Threads
- 71
- Messages
- 523
- Reaction score
- 870
- Location
- Athens, AL
- Vehicle(s)
- Porsche 944NA, Mazda Miata, PT Cruiser Conv.
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
- Thread starter
- #1
Recently, I installed Mabett’s roof light bar. Shortly after installing the light bar, my windshield took a rock and cracked requiring replacement. Upon their inspection, the first nationally recognized windshield repair firm I called rejected the job. They stated that with the light bar projecting over the top edge of the windshield, they were unable to use their normal tool used to go under the glass and cut it free from the sealing caulking and their normal installation procedure. I rescheduled with another firm. Their initial assessment also was they would be unable to complete the job for the same reason offered by the first.
After further discussion, the tech decided it might be possible after first removing the light bar cover piece. That proved to be a near impossibility without damaging the unit or my roof. It was not a simple question of unscrewing and prying the cover from the base. The double-sided tape strips applied to the upturned base would not yield. I brought out the heat gun hoping to loosen their bond Eventually with the use of the heat gun and a pry bar, I was able to break the cover free, but not without beginning to bubble the plastic, cracking the housing, and scratching my paint. What is usually a one-man job to drop the new windshield in place in one motion required my assisting the tech to maneuver the glass over the open hood, align the top edge of the glass at the same angle as the roof lights’ overhang, bring the top edge in contact with the caulking, and slowly rotate and press the pane into position.
With the Maverick’s poor history of warding off windshield cracks and chip, I wanted to give fair warning to those purchasing Mabett’s roof light bar in order to avoid my own experience. I had positioned the front edge of the light unit’s base just short of the forward edge of the roof. Doing so resulted in the light bar’s forward projection extending significantly over the windshield. My caution to future buyers is to mount the light bar base further back from the front edge of the roof to avoid the forward projection of the unit overhanging the windshield glass to a similar degree as I had.
My experience doesn’t lessen my satisfaction with Mabett’s product. I continue to welcome the stylish addition to my build and the added illumination the lights provide when needed.
After further discussion, the tech decided it might be possible after first removing the light bar cover piece. That proved to be a near impossibility without damaging the unit or my roof. It was not a simple question of unscrewing and prying the cover from the base. The double-sided tape strips applied to the upturned base would not yield. I brought out the heat gun hoping to loosen their bond Eventually with the use of the heat gun and a pry bar, I was able to break the cover free, but not without beginning to bubble the plastic, cracking the housing, and scratching my paint. What is usually a one-man job to drop the new windshield in place in one motion required my assisting the tech to maneuver the glass over the open hood, align the top edge of the glass at the same angle as the roof lights’ overhang, bring the top edge in contact with the caulking, and slowly rotate and press the pane into position.
With the Maverick’s poor history of warding off windshield cracks and chip, I wanted to give fair warning to those purchasing Mabett’s roof light bar in order to avoid my own experience. I had positioned the front edge of the light unit’s base just short of the forward edge of the roof. Doing so resulted in the light bar’s forward projection extending significantly over the windshield. My caution to future buyers is to mount the light bar base further back from the front edge of the roof to avoid the forward projection of the unit overhanging the windshield glass to a similar degree as I had.
My experience doesn’t lessen my satisfaction with Mabett’s product. I continue to welcome the stylish addition to my build and the added illumination the lights provide when needed.
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