Greetings,
In a message dated 95-07-31 19:44:32 EDT, R. Kyle Schmidt writes:
about convertible tops,
>Before I install it, what is the word on this problem. Is it the UV from
>the sun? possible, but why would it continue to degrade in the garage in
>the winter. Is it ozone production in the garage? Thought about that, but
>the electric pump motor in their only runs in the summer (swimming pool).
>
I have a SWAG on this one. It's alive ! This seems to happen to all
"soft" plastic windows on convertible tops. Starts from the bottom
and grows upward. Colour of growth varies with exposure to moisture.
Dry makes it turn brown. Turns the window hard in advanced state.
This is not the "scratches" or hazy window from abrasion.
I have studied this phenomenon for some time now and IMHO it is caused
by moisture. New tops seem pretty resistant for a year or two then the
"growth" sets in. It almost seems like some type of organic matter that
etches the surface of the window. I've had a couple of windows go this way.
When I began to garage the car and kept it out of the rain and
dew, the growth stopped. There is no way to reverse the process once
it's started though. I have another top over 8 years old that's on a
garaged car (hard top in winter). This top shows none of this growth, only
the usual hazy degradation caused by dirt abrasion.
In short, minimize exposure to moisture - dew primarily IMHO
Bob Sykes
75, 78, 78 Spitfires
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