Hello: Long time no see and all that jazz. Been busy failing school and running through horrid roommates like they're water. In any case, my Mav is still working as good as ever, maybe better. Sadly, one day after I was doing laundry and on my way to a grocery store, I was pulled over because apparently the cop thought was poor (correct assumption) and a druggie (very incorect assumption). Her assumption inspired her to rip the headliner of my car. I have been to two places so far that do upholstery and they've both said that the back window has to come out but one of them said the front window has to come out too. The one that said they both have to come out qualified his statement by saying, "to do it right..." So, I'm trying to find the window seals for a 74 Ford Maverick, 4 door. I've already filed a claim with the city and they have the opinion that if they're acting within "procedure" it's okay to damage someone's property. So I'm only left to sue them in small claims. I need to figure out how much it's REALLY going to cost me to fix my headliner and ask for that much. Needless to say, they did NOT find any drugs. Thanks! Paul
Headliner is $50 .... I have two install quotes ... $245 and $225. Both quotes were priced based on the glass already being out. To do it factory correct front and rear glass need to be out. Door and rear window weatherstripping pulled down and out of the way. If you removed the front and rear window consider new gaskets as well ... I would say you are looking at almost $800 - $1000 for parts and labor ...
window rubbers If they do a visual search and find nothing, and check you out for a record and find nothing, that doesn't give them the rite to rip your interior apart. They have to have JUST CAUSE. SUE their royal A--
The burden of proof would be on them in court to prove that they had probable cause to destroy the headliner of your car. That is very irregular. Other than being able to just take a look in the easy-to-see areas of a car, under search & seizure laws they MUST have probable cause to enter hidden areas of a car including the glove compartment and trunk, sometimes even must have a search warrant issued by a judge. Many times, overzealous cops have lost the ability to present evidence in court by violating these laws, even losing an entire case against someone. I'd be lying to you to even infer that this hasn't ever happened. If you definately didn't do anything to give these guys cause, and I am NOT infering that you may have, I'd speak to a lawyer if I were you considering the unusual damage that was done to your car.
Thanks for the input guys. I'm actually looking more for somene in the Inland Empire or Los Angeles areas that can give me a real quote for parts AND labor to repair my headliner. I'm hoping for a "full" quote printed and fancy so I can simply attach it to the small claim. I already know about the legal stuff and what they should and shouldn't be responsible for. My only offense was that I was just a touch afraid of the police officer and my heart rate was elevated. Having done some research for a friend's problem with the police out here I was terrifyingly aware of their STANDARD abuses and that compounded with my personal activism had me a bit on edge. She used this as "probable cause." To give you a bit of area info, I know elderly people that are honest Christians that are terrified of the police in Riverside. Thanks. Paul
Take the car to an upholstry shop and get a written estimate. How the hell did they think you got it up there in the first place, osmosis?
Take the car to an upholstry shop and get a written estimate. Get one with them removing the windows and reinstalling them. If they wont, get an estimate just for the headliner work and another estimate from a glass shop to R&R the windows. Front seals can be obtained from Danial Carpenter or AutoKrafters. 4 door rear seals are not reproduced to my knowledge. Maybe the glass shop can help you there. How the hell did they think you got it up there in the first place, osmosis?
There were two heat splits too small to fit my fingers into that gave them reason to believe that I had drugs up there. The hole is now so big that the flap that hangs down is enugh to entirely cover the window where the driver sits. I have taken the car to a couple of upholstery shops and neither of them will quote for the window. One said he'd be happy to pop them out an dput them back in but that I'll have to find the rubbers myself. Regards, Paul
Steele doesn't have the rear window rubber for a four door. Is there anything I use instead that would be a perfect fit? I heard a rumor that I could use one from a comet but I didn't catch the year or what size the other car was. Anyone know... my time is truly running out to get this case in. Thanks, Paul
FYI - The rear window is not as hard to get out without ruining the gasket as the front window. The fit on the front window makes it too easy to crack the glass without simply cutting the original gasket and replace it. So you could reuse your original rear rubber if in good shape or find one in a junk yard in good shape. NOS is the other alternative - I can get you the part number later tonight ... Off the top of my head I would guess D1DZ5442084A ...
