Warning to Liberty KK Owners. Roof RUST/cracked paint. PIX

CorporeSano · **Joined:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 pm **Posts:** 75

So this past weekend I removed the cosmetic roof rails from my 2012 liberty. The car has 43,000 miles and was delivered to Florida after production.

I followed the instructions from atthehelm and removed the rails and 3m adhesive.
The following photos show the rust and stress fractures/cracks in the paint under the rails only after 2 years of life. It's honestly no surprise KK owners are constantly complaining of leaky headliners and fantom leaks.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:51 pm

This is becoming a common issue, and a real bummer of an issue at that. I have seen some go for bodywork that costs upward of $2000 to fix this, but I went with a $25 tube of marine grade sealer. It's ugly but it's permanent and flexible as temperatures and loads on the roof change, and it hasn't leaked at all since.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=63948

The baddest booty marine grade sealer one can buy: 3M 5200.

E1vis81 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:23 pm

Did you remove the rails to apply the sealer or just go around the edges with the rails still in place?

lfhoward · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:36 pm

E1vis81 wrote:

Did you remove the rails to apply the sealer or just go around the edges with the rails still in place?

The details are in the thread I linked to above, but the short version is yes, I removed the rails and the clear factory sealer before applying a coating of the 3M 5200 sealer in the roof trough, and let it dry over several days. The 3M stuff is black, but it is hidden under the side rail feet (rails were reinstalled after it dried, so they did not become glued down).

E1vis81 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 11:29 pm

Sorry I noticed the link after I posted my question. Great write up though. I bookmarked it in case I ever experience this issue. Hopefully not!

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2014 5:42 pm

I have a set of ATH roof rails coming as well & I fear I'll be in the same boat as you. It looks like the factory seam sealer is failing & causing the cracks in the paint. I had some seam sealer fail on my Mazdaspeed due to a shoty repair job & it was not fun cleaning up that mess.

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:19 am

Well its official, it appears the seam sealer is failing on my 08 as well and I've never had a roof rack on it until now. Jeep really messed up with sealing the roofs. Looks like in the spring I'm going to clean it up, apply a healthy amount of seam sealer and paint the rail area. At some spots it's even failed so bad that its bubbling the paint. :banghead:

Here is how my worst rust problem.

CorporeSano · **Joined:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 pm **Posts:** 75

lfhoward wrote:

This is becoming a common issue, and a real bummer of an issue at that. I have seen some go for bodywork that costs upward of $2000 to fix this, but I went with a $25 tube of marine grade sealer. It's ugly but it's permanent and flexible as temperatures and loads on the roof change, and it hasn't leaked at all since.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=63948

The baddest booty marine grade sealer one can buy: 3M 5200.

Can you post some photos of your sealed roof ?

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:37 pm

Sorry I didnt get any photos of the sealed roof before reinstalling the side rails, cross bars and roof basket. If it wasnt such a process to take all that off, I'd do it again and snap a photo, but it is a real pain. My DIY crossbars are held on with U-bolts and lock nuts.

Basically I applied a thick coat of marine grade sealer to the entire area of roof channel that is underneath the stock side rail feet. There is now a rectangle of rubberized sealant about 8 inches x 2 inches (IIRC) under each side rail foot, around the roof studs. The thickness of the sealer I put on is between 1/8 to 1/16 inches thick. It took a week to dry! It's pretty ugly with the siderails off, but once they are reinstalled you can't really see the black marine sealer. I hope that description helps you to visualize it.

CorporeSano · **Joined:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 pm **Posts:** 75

Thanks that does help me to figure out how to apply it. One thing I noticed is that I have cracking also about 5 inches from the rail mounts so it appears the roof is separating further along as well.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:08 pm

CorporeSano wrote:

Thanks that does help me to figure out how to apply it. One thing I noticed is that I have cracking also about 5 inches from the rail mounts so it appears the roof is separating further along as well.

Bummer.

Maybe you can find marine sealer in a color that wouldn't be too objectionable, make sure it lays really smooth in the roof channel when you apply it, and go the whole way, front to back.

wildemt · **Posted:** Wed Dec 31, 2014 1:34 am

Looks like I should pop my rails off and do a preventative run on this. Sorry that you guys had the pain of actual damage... but thank you for helping the rest of us out!

CorporeSano · **Joined:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 pm **Posts:** 75

Today Chrysler denied my claim for the repair at their cost. They stated that this falls under the 3yr36 mile warranty and since I have 48,000 they will not repair the cracked seam filler or cracked roof bolts and or the rusting spot welds. Thanks Jeep you can eat a fat :pepper:

. In the aftermath of my dealer rage I decided I just fix it myself.. At least I don't have to worry about these idiots messing something else up during a repair... Cough Cough #WaterPump fiasco at AutoNation Jeep Pembroke Pines.
So I go into the aforementioned dealership and of course no service advisors are present. Finally I find one walking around and after sitting in the office for 15 minute and listening to this guy piss customers off on the phone.. Get this... He slams the phone down during a customer call and then looks at me and says.. "Next time the customer calls they will know what to ask for" and he slammed the phone down on the customer and hung up. SERIOUSLY?? LMFAO I already knew I was doomed at this point. So my water pump is new after 2 years and 6 months at 48,000 miles.... however they greased up my car and didn't flush the system properly during the repair and also didn't put those clips under the reservoir tank back it. So the tank was just leaning on the fan shroud assemble Jerks Jerks Jerks!!!!

oH FYI the roof process went through "Digital Imaging". These people are complete idiots! Seriously.. Even had an argument with "Brenda" from jeep customer care :evil:

However this weekend I'll be cleaning and painting the undercarriage sheet metal to prevent future rusting. Next Weekend I'm going to clean and paint the suspension components and drive train. :BANANA:

CorporeSano · **Joined:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 pm **Posts:** 75

toy4everyseason wrote:

Well its official, it appears the seam sealer is failing on my 08 as well and I've never had a roof rack on it until now. Jeep really messed up with sealing the roofs. Looks like in the spring I'm going to clean it up, apply a healthy amount of seam sealer and paint the rail area. At some spots it's even failed so bad that its bubbling the paint. :banghead:

Here is how my worst rust problem.

Could you post some more pictures of your spot welds, bubbling and cracked seam filler?

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2015 6:38 am

Sure,

This is how Jeep instructed techs on how to fix it, it appears to be some kind of clear RTV

CorporeSano · **Joined:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 pm **Posts:** 75

Thanks for the reply! Other viewers.. Please post up your pics if you have any roof damage. I want to get this out.

As I said in another post... Jeep can eat a :pepper:

. Thanks Chrysler for denying my warranty repair when your crappy roof failed.
Here's my repair job with Atthehelm roof rails that are awweesooomeee :rockon:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:36 am

Love how people think they are owed everything for free when there out of warranty.Sorry your past the mileage so yes your on your own for any repairs.

CorporeSano · **Joined:** Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 pm **Posts:** 75

tjkj2002 wrote:

Love how people think they are owed everything for free when there out of warranty.Sorry your past the mileage so yes your on your own for any repairs.

2 years old isn't acceptable for a rusting leaking roof. There's no preventative for that besides washing your car.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:37 pm

CorporeSano wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Love how people think they are owed everything for free when there out of warranty.Sorry your past the mileage so yes your on your own for any repairs.

Yeah glad your passive and would allow a company to sell you a crap car and get away with it. Grow some B@lls and stand up for yourself. 2 years old isn't acceptable for a rusting leaking roof. If you think so you don't have any standards in regards to QOS

Mines 13 years old,but I actually take care of it.

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Fri Mar 27, 2015 12:34 am

I feel for all of you guys with the roof problems, especially in the non-salt states. Mine looked clean as a whistle this summer when I repainted my roof rails. I'd say that I did a pretty good job, because by this time, when my Jeep was new, the paint would have started peeling by now.

But anywho, when I took my rails off to repaint, it was clean as a whistle. I wonder what was going on at TNAP?

Warning to Liberty KK Owners. Roof RUST/cracked paint. PIX

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