Exploding Sunroof + No Heat/Defrost
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Exploding Sunroof + No Heat/Defrost
My vehicle is a 2008 Mercedes-Benz 300C, with 9400 miles. I live in Palmer, AK, about 45 miles north of the dealership (in Anchorage).
My heater/defrost went completely OUT about 6 weeks ago, when it was -5 degrees. I had to beg for a tow, citing "safety issues." No way am I driving for an hour at that temperature. The vehicle interior would fog up and I'd freeze or crash.
Sunday night, it was snowing lightly and about 25 degrees. It was snowing more heavily in Anchorage. I had to drive into town to do my (volunteer) radio show. South of Mirror Lake (for any of you who know the Glenn Hwy, the only way INTO Anchorage) my sunroof EXPLODED
I was able to pull the car off the road and stop. If I had flinched when the sunroof went kablooey, I could have ditch-dived, or worse, easily killed myself and taken out other people and vehicles. The explosion sounded like a gunshot to my head, btw.
Soon it was snowing INSIDE the vehicle. The weather got really bad and I had to wait about an hour for a tow (meanwhile the sun set and it got DARK AND COLD).
I had the car towed to the dealership (closed / it was Sunday evening, natch) and had to spend the night at an expensive hotel (not covered by my insurance). The next day, I also had to rent a Ford F-150 AWD to drive as the dealership had no loaners.
The service guy said the blowout of the sunroof was caused by "air pressure differential." IS THIS PLAUSIBLE?
The service guy said it happens when going through an underpass. I was nowhere NEAR any underpasses.
I am posting this because I am stilll very frightened and angry. Should I sell the car? Is it a lemon? Am I doomed to more disasters ?
My heater/defrost went completely OUT about 6 weeks ago, when it was -5 degrees. I had to beg for a tow, citing "safety issues." No way am I driving for an hour at that temperature. The vehicle interior would fog up and I'd freeze or crash.
Sunday night, it was snowing lightly and about 25 degrees. It was snowing more heavily in Anchorage. I had to drive into town to do my (volunteer) radio show. South of Mirror Lake (for any of you who know the Glenn Hwy, the only way INTO Anchorage) my sunroof EXPLODED
I was able to pull the car off the road and stop. If I had flinched when the sunroof went kablooey, I could have ditch-dived, or worse, easily killed myself and taken out other people and vehicles. The explosion sounded like a gunshot to my head, btw.
Soon it was snowing INSIDE the vehicle. The weather got really bad and I had to wait about an hour for a tow (meanwhile the sun set and it got DARK AND COLD).
I had the car towed to the dealership (closed / it was Sunday evening, natch) and had to spend the night at an expensive hotel (not covered by my insurance). The next day, I also had to rent a Ford F-150 AWD to drive as the dealership had no loaners.
The service guy said the blowout of the sunroof was caused by "air pressure differential." IS THIS PLAUSIBLE?
The service guy said it happens when going through an underpass. I was nowhere NEAR any underpasses.
I am posting this because I am stilll very frightened and angry. Should I sell the car? Is it a lemon? Am I doomed to more disasters ?
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
I think the tech is shooting you a line of bull, even if you were going through an underpass, there would not be a pressure differential. Thermal differential maybe. I have seen people explode their windsheilds by throwing hot water on it to remove snow or ice. A blast of heat hitting it may have caused it, since it was so cold outside, or contraction of the metal around it due to the cold is a possibility too.
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CollectiveSoul
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Feb 18, 2007 03:54 PM
