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Tack down roof strips?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pasadena_commut, Jan 31, 2020.

  1. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    I pulled up the backs of the roof strips last week to check for cracks at the locations where people say leaks start. There weren't any (and no signs of leaks in the trunk area) but there was a lot of dirt under the strips. So I pulled off both strips and used a soft toothbrush and a vacuum to clean out the slots. When they were put back in the passenger side one wouldn't stay completely down, popping up a couple of millimeters at the leading edge. The region near the rectangle that looks like the bottom of a clip region seems to be engaged well but it isn't enough for that one edge. The gap beneath it is still hidden by the molding on the window, so there isn't a direct path for air to get under it, but I am still worried the strip will fly away one day on the highway.

    Has anybody successfully tacked one of these strips down, and if so, what did you use?

    Thanks.
     
    #1 pasadena_commut, Jan 31, 2020
  2. eternalphoenix64

    eternalphoenix64 Junior Member

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    Some silicone sealant should work
     
    #2 eternalphoenix64, Jan 31, 2020
    cyberpriusII likes this.
  3. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    It does:). And has the advantage of being "removable" in the event you ever need to pull up the trim piece.
     
    #3 cyberpriusII, Jan 31, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2020
  4. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    What was the name of the product you used? There are hundreds, maybe thousands of "silicone goop in a tube" products and I would prefer to go with one that somebody else has already used successfully. Thanks.
     
    #4 pasadena_commut, Feb 1, 2020
  5. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    GE makes a variety of products. I use their Silicone II products, within that line they have a baffling array of what appears to mostly be the same product. A tube is around $4-$5. I would suggest you look for one of them that offers at least 10 years mold-free and is waterproof within a few hours, although for safety, I always wait 36 hours before exposing to water. In terms of "when will it hold," I always wait 24 hours...especially in winter. That may not be a consideration in Southern California. Look at the label, see what you think.

    But, I have GE Silicone II work great at holding and sealing lots of stuff -- side marker reflectors on cars, trim strips and at the moment it is holding an underpanel on the Prius and has done so for several years....and that panel is exposed to puddles, flying gravel, etc.

    It is available pretty much everywhere, although some stores only carry one or two of the various configurations. My "local" True Value has it seems has some 20 different types of it....bathroom, kitchen, clear, white, black....etc. etc. etc.
     
    #5 cyberpriusII, Feb 1, 2020
  6. eternalphoenix64

    eternalphoenix64 Junior Member

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    Never needed something on the Prius, so your idea of using what someone else used doesn't matter. Go to Walmart and get whatever fits the description of silicone sealant.
     
    #6 eternalphoenix64, Feb 2, 2020
  7. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Forget silicone.

    This is what you need to use.

     
    #7 Georgina Rudkus, Feb 2, 2020
  8. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    My browser showed nothing after "this is what you need" in the previous post. However, when I attempted to quote that post it revealed an Amazon stock number within media tags which referred to: 3M 08061 Plastic and Emblem adhesive tube - 5 oz. That certainly looks like it will glue down the strip, but perhaps more permanently than desired?
     
    #8 pasadena_commut, Feb 3, 2020
  9. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    The bond is tight but can be removed with prying much easier than with silicone.
     
    #9 Georgina Rudkus, Feb 3, 2020
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