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De-Leakifying Vent Windows


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I have recently acquired a set of pivoting vent windows from a 1993 XJ that are in extremely good shape with no rust. I want to put them on my truck. However, I also want to use them without turning my truck into a swimming pool. I'm roughly the third most stubborn person to ever live on this earth so the "just keep the stationary ones that don't leak!" argument just doesn't work on me - what is the point of that stupid triangle glass if it doesn't do anything? There must be some solution out there that keeps the vent windows while improving their sealing ability. Has anyone tried anything and have it work? I have a few ideas but I'd like to know before I dive in.

 

 

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I'm roughly the third most stubborn person to ever live on this earth so the "just keep the stationary ones that don't leak!" argument just doesn't work on me - what is the point of that stupid triangle glass if it doesn't do anything? There must be some solution out there that keeps the vent windows while improving their sealing ability. Has anyone tried anything and have it work? I have a few ideas but I'd like to know before I dive in.

Well, I'm the second most stubborn person in the world. When I bought my '88 Cherokee Pioneer new, I paid extra to get the operable vent windows. They leaked. I went back to the dealer, who brought in the Chrysler area tech rep. His solution was to offer to replace the operable vent windows with the fixed glass triangles. Refund the money I had paid to get operable windows? Oh, heck no.

 

So I kept my operable vents and tried to stop the leaks. The problem is at the end of the metal track on the bottom of the glass. It makes a sharp step, and the rubber gasket can't properly seal at that junction, so that's where the window always "weeps." The only thing that worked for me was to liberally apply a coating of silicone grease, and then close the vent. The problem is that you have to keep reapplying the grease if you open the window(s). My XJ has (had) air conditioning, so I have kept the vents sealed shut for twenty five years, and they don't leak. But they are there if I ever need to use them.

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This topic comes up at least once a year. People either hate them or love them. I'm in the latter group. My 91 came with the vent windows and they have never leaked, even running through typhoon car washes. I think the key is getting a good tight seal when you latch them shut. The original latch used soft metal rolled hinge pins and over time they get sloppy. I replaced them with slightly larger solid stainless pins and the windows seal good and tight.  If the 93 windows look to be in good shape, stick them in and try them.

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Well, I'm the second most stubborn person in the world. When I bought my '88 Cherokee Pioneer new, I paid extra to get the operable vent windows. They leaked. I went back to the dealer, who brought in the Chrysler area tech rep. His solution was to offer to replace the operable vent windows with the fixed glass triangles. Refund the money I had paid to get operable windows? Oh, heck no.

 

So I kept my operable vents and tried to stop the leaks. The problem is at the end of the metal track on the bottom of the glass. It makes a sharp step, and the rubber gasket can't properly seal at that junction, so that's where the window always "weeps." The only thing that worked for me was to liberally apply a coating of silicone grease, and then close the vent. The problem is that you have to keep reapplying the grease if you open the window(s). My XJ has (had) air conditioning, so I have kept the vents sealed shut for twenty five years, and they don't leak. But they are there if I ever need to use them.

 

 

I was wondering if operating Vents were standard on the Pioneer. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

This topic comes up at least once a year. People either hate them or love them. I'm in the latter group. My 91 came with the vent windows and they have never leaked, even running through typhoon car washes. I think the key is getting a good tight seal when you latch them shut. The original latch used soft metal rolled hinge pins and over time they get sloppy. I replaced them with slightly larger solid stainless pins and the windows seal good and tight.  If the 93 windows look to be in good shape, stick them in and try them.

So you're saying if we can find post 91 ( I'm assuming)  vent windows they will likely seal better?

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They're in and I like them a lot. No wind noise whatsoever, unexpected and an improvement over what was in there. Blasted the truck with the hose for a while and the driver side doesn't seem to leak at all but the passenger side lets a few drops in - not a lot but still enough to bother with fixing. Pretty sure I know what I can do to have them both useable and dry. May update tomorrow.

 

Sd7dzOal.jpg

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They're in and I like them a lot. No wind noise whatsoever, unexpected and an improvement over what was in there. Blasted the truck with the hose for a while and the driver side doesn't seem to leak at all but the passenger side lets a few drops in - not a lot but still enough to bother with fixing. Pretty sure I know what I can do to have them both useable and dry. May update tomorrow.

 

Sd7dzOal.jpg

I didn't know that they made a remote adjustable driver's side mirror for these.

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Yep! One of my favorite upgrades. They came from an XJ, but it's the same regardless. People always complain about how small they are, but a little stick on mirror on the top corner takes care of that. I hated the ones that were on there. Couldn't see crap out of 'em:

 

dro56ysl.jpg

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Yep! One of my favorite upgrades. They came from an XJ, but it's the same regardless. People always complain about how small they are, but a little stick on mirror on the top corner takes care of that. I hated the ones that were on there. Couldn't see crap out of 'em:

 

dro56ysl.jpg

I have no idea if the door mount mirrors were factory or not. The shaft on the driver's side mirror being farther back, must allow it to clear the dashboard, as if it was a mirror-image of the passenger's side trim, it would hit the side of the gauge cluster. 

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