Nicki

I washed the TL today and noticed that the rear windows that are lined with gasketing rubber is very dry and cracking and around the sunroof the rubber is dry and cracking too. The car is always garaged and hardly used (5,000) miles 9 months old. Was zainoed a bunch of times and I do not see why this rubber should dry rot so soon. I think the rubber used is not good quality. Does anyone else report this same or similar problem?

Road Rage

Something does not sound right here.

Most weatherstripping is made from extremely durable material - it cannot dry rot like natural rubber. It is also hard for me to understand what you are saying - "windows..are lined"? Do you mean framed? I have seen weatherstripping on 10 year old cars that have been parked outdoors and never had any rubber protectant applied, and the weatherstrip is off color, but not cracked. If you can, I think a photo would tell what a million words cannot. I simply cannot fathom that this is a material defect - it sounds more like it was mechanically damaged.

Rubber (even the sopecial rubber in weatherstripping) can be damaged from:
1) Excessive ozone
2) Cheap rubber treatments like Armor All (which can actually accelerate rubber disintegration
3) Maceration from oil immersion.

Even these in huge excess are unlikely to have damaged a modern weatherstrip.

Nicki

I will get pics tomorrow

TimC

Use Zummi Pfledge Sift from Detailer's Paradise to lubricate and stops squeaks, cheaper than Honda' shin-etsu grease. here is the website
http://www.detailersparadise.com/_Sy...D1225212614042

SBTL

I also use Zaino for the body. Maybe it's not good for rubber.
Try 303 Aerospace Protectant...it works!

Road Rage

or Syl-Glide from NAPA - that one I can pronounce.