Rear Spoiler Cracked...Why?
11-09-2009, 02:59 AM
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Rear Spoiler Cracked...Why?
Out of nowhere, my spoiler decided to crack, not just the paint but also the plastic itself. This is odd considering nothing or no one has been on it. What would cause this and is it common? Can it be fixed (plastic weld)? The crack is nowhere near where it mounts to the trunk; it is in the far-rear-edge of the spoiler.
Thanks...!
Thanks...!
Last edited by Bonne99; 11-09-2009 at 03:04 AM.
11-09-2009, 07:15 AM
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Had that same issue on my car when I purchased it and ahve seen it on a few others. Seems to simply "happen". No reason as to why. My fix was to find another of the right color at the local JY and spend $20 and 5 minutes to put it on.
11-09-2009, 08:39 PM
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I got a new trunklid for my car a few years ago now, it was the right colour and all, the spoiler on this one is cracked in the same place where yours is, just glad I saved my old spoiler for if/when it gets worse.
11-10-2009, 12:59 AM
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I too have this problem on my 96 SE, I think it might have something to do with the design and materials used in the spoiler. I'd have to make a cross section of one to see, but it looks like the cracks on mine are from fatigue, either from using the spoiler as a handle to grab pulling the trunk closed or from expansion/contraction cycling of the materials used...
Or I could be completely wrong, I'm a mechanical engineering student and my brain sometimes thinks it knows more than it does.
The only way I could think to fix it would be to grind along the crack use a fiberglass filler to fill in the line were the crack was grind it down, smooth it out with body filler, prime the area, block sand it, then prep for a repaint of the whole spoiler.
That'* the only way I know to fix it other than whats already been said, finding another spoiler of the same color is a whole lot cheaper and easier if you never done body work before.
Or I could be completely wrong, I'm a mechanical engineering student and my brain sometimes thinks it knows more than it does.
The only way I could think to fix it would be to grind along the crack use a fiberglass filler to fill in the line were the crack was grind it down, smooth it out with body filler, prime the area, block sand it, then prep for a repaint of the whole spoiler.
That'* the only way I know to fix it other than whats already been said, finding another spoiler of the same color is a whole lot cheaper and easier if you never done body work before.
11-10-2009, 12:51 PM
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I too have this problem on my 96 SE, I think it might have something to do with the design and materials used in the spoiler. I'd have to make a cross section of one to see, but it looks like the cracks on mine are from fatigue, either from using the spoiler as a handle to grab pulling the trunk closed or from expansion/contraction cycling of the materials used...
Or I could be completely wrong, I'm a mechanical engineering student and my brain sometimes thinks it knows more than it does.
The only way I could think to fix it would be to grind along the crack use a fiberglass filler to fill in the line were the crack was grind it down, smooth it out with body filler, prime the area, block sand it, then prep for a repaint of the whole spoiler.
That'* the only way I know to fix it other than whats already been said, finding another spoiler of the same color is a whole lot cheaper and easier if you never done body work before.
Or I could be completely wrong, I'm a mechanical engineering student and my brain sometimes thinks it knows more than it does.
The only way I could think to fix it would be to grind along the crack use a fiberglass filler to fill in the line were the crack was grind it down, smooth it out with body filler, prime the area, block sand it, then prep for a repaint of the whole spoiler.
That'* the only way I know to fix it other than whats already been said, finding another spoiler of the same color is a whole lot cheaper and easier if you never done body work before.
Last edited by Bonne99; 11-10-2009 at 07:14 PM.
11-10-2009, 12:55 PM
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could just be from the sun and different weather coditions making it weaker in some spots like the one i took off the back of mine was a lil warped in 2 or 3 spots didn't crack but didn't seal either
11-10-2009, 02:24 PM
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I've seen them be perfect forever and some show the cracking like paint issue. There'* no reasoning like bike rack etc either that seem to be a factor.
11-10-2009, 04:30 PM
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Have heard about this before, its my understanding that there is a certain amount of flex that goes on not only in the chasis itself but also throughout the rest of the car. Each car handles it differently but oddly enough bonnevilles seem to disperse that tension more often that not to the same area, i.e the trunk and rear spoiler. Some take it with no problems, others crack under the pressure. (Hmmmm.....im guessing that could be used for like a metaphor in life to.LOL!!!)