Service VME - Wind Noise or Water Leaks with New SMC Roof - keywords 05112 05112A 05112B 05112C laminate lamination paint panel part separate separation SMC strip weather weatherstrip

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

SMC (Sheet Molded Composite) roof panels when installed on 2005 through 2007 Corvettes may have a complaint of a wind noise. The SMC roof panel is approximately 1mm thinner at places on the leading front edge. This can cause the front of the roof to sit sub flush to the windshield header.

1. If this occurs, the front butt joint where the upper door glass weather weather-strip meets the "A" pillar weather-strip may appear puckered or wrinkled. The front roof latch receivers on the windshield frame can be raised to reduce the compression of the seal against the "A" pillar. The plant previously set the top of the receivers 3.0 mm below the feature line on the rear surface of the windshield frame header. They are now building 1.0 mm below the feature line. (this has raised the roof 2mm). A problem can develop when raising the roof too high as it can cause windnoise. This can be a concern if the owner has both roofs (transparent and painted) as the transparent roof is 1-1.5 mm thicker than an SMC roof. If the owner has the dual roof option or has both roof it is recommended to set the receivers in just below (1.0mm) the feature line.
2. When a new or replacement top panel is rebuild after paint, the side rail seal retainers should be positioned on the top as far rearward as possible for the tightest fit to the front edge. This may produce some slight overhang at the rear.
3. For windnoise or water leaks from the rear outer edge of the top add a 10x35mm stuffer under the weather-strip flap to close the gap and maintain pressure at the outer edge.
4. Finally, if the above receiver and retainer adjustments don't completely fix the issue, trim the rear face of the "A" Pillar retainer seal to further reduce the compression against the side rail retainer. This should only be done if the above receiver and retainer adjustments don't completely fix the issue.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.