WeatherFlectors seem to be a lot of hype...

newenglandtitan · 04-19-2004, 04:15 PM

Personally, I think the McNeil weatherflectors I just installed are ok - just ok. The directions came in German and the passengers side front came with a cracked flange. So after de-gumming the unrequested "free" advertising in the form of McNeil labels - I managed to get them in w/o breaking, but I will say I am not impressed. I had the Ventshade brand on my Frontier and I liked them just fine - I guess I got sucked in my the hype. The 5+ week wait won't happen twice (shame on me the first time....). I won't be posting pics of this one to keep from being part of the problem

1BadTitan · 04-19-2004, 06:59 PM

hate to say "I told you so" but I thought they looked "cheap" when they were first posted.

amati5 · 04-20-2004, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1BadTitan

hate to say "I told you so" but I thought they looked "cheap" when they were first posted.

Hmm...I went back to the thread and looked at the ones on the silver that I missed, they do look cheap, especially at the edges. Seems they didn't even bother to polish them. Also, the second picture shows the lower corner of the drive side's sticking out from the window's track, is that the way it's supposed to be? looks odd. For some reasons the ones on the first post didn't look that bad. I'll just have to wait to see when mine come. I still like how they don't stick out too far from the windows (at least from the pictures).

WeatherFlectors are available

rrumaner · 04-20-2004, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amati5

Hmm...I went back to the thread and looked at the ones on the silver that I missed, they do look cheap, especially at the edges. Seems they didn't even bother to polish them. Also, the second picture shows the lower corner of the drive side's sticking out from the window's track, is that the way it's supposed to be? looks odd. For some reasons the ones on the first post didn't look that bad. I'll just have to wait to see when mine come. I still like how they don't stick out too far from the windows (at least from the pictures).

WeatherFlectors are available

I think what you are seeing on that first post as unpolished are really my fingerprints.

Yes, the lower corner of the front window sticks out and with the rain we just got today, driving at 70mph I see that is a good design. The rain that wraps around the mirror base is pushed out and away from the window. If it was not angled out, the rain would flow right into the window at that point.

They really worked well in the rain. I had the windows open about 2 inches (just about at the bottom of the deflector itself) and no rain got into the window to get me wet.

I really think it is a choice of style that everyone is fighting about. Some people like the stick on ones and the rest like these. If they both work, who cares which one you get as long as you are happy. If you don't like either, don't get them. No one is forcing you to buy anything.

newenglandtitan · 04-20-2004, 04:42 PM

...there's nothing wrong with them - though I did receive one cracked and...talked to customer service today and they indicated a replacement would be sent right out - we'll see.

What I meant was that these cost $100.00 and now that I have them, I have to say "ehhh". The one "feature" I do appreciate is the fact that the flanges sit inside the window channel (no adhesive). As far as effectiveness, I never had a problem with the AVS adhesive brand on my Frontier and they are considerably less $$. I will admit that the Weathertech looks a little more sporty, just not $40-$50 worth.

CAUTION ON INSTALLATION!!!

FOR THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION PROCESS, PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FRONT END OF YOUR BOTTOM WINDOW FRAME (JUST BELOW THE SIDE-VIEW-MIRROR). THE BLACK EXTREMELY THIN MATERIAL THAT RUNS THE LENGTH OF YOUR WINDOW WILL SCRATCH (AND REVEAL SHEETMETAL) IF YOU SO MUCH AS LOOK AT IT THE WRONG WAY - IT IS VERY EASY TO SCRATCH THIS WITH THE PLASTIC FLANGE ON THE MIRROR END OF THE RAIN GUARD (THE ONE YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT)...

and yes, that piece is meant to sit outside your window on top of your window frame (hence the scratching if your not careful). This is this way for a reason and will make sense to you after you install.

Best advise, read the directions 3x before you install (do not follow the "alternative" directions on the back).

Good luck!!

amati5 · 04-20-2004, 05:42 PM

FWIW, Here's the explanation from Mcneil:

"Thank you for your inquiry to with MacNeil Automotive Products.

The leading edge of our deflectors rests outside the channel on the dew wiper. This creates the tension needed to help keep the deflectors in place."

newenglandtitan · 04-20-2004, 05:54 PM

...what I call "extremly thin material that runs the length of your window" everyone else calls a "dew wiper". See, I can still learn.

Thanks Amati5!!

bestatchess · 04-20-2004, 07:50 PM

O.K., I got them tonight, spent 2 minutes reading the instructions and another 8 minutes putting them on, no cracked flanges, no scratched dew wipers. They seem fine to me. I didn't bother trying to remove their demure, unobtrusive little stickers.

newenglandtitan · 04-21-2004, 08:32 AM

glad it worked out so well for you.

bestatchess · 04-21-2004, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newenglandtitan

Personally, I think the McNeil weatherflectors I just installed are ok - just ok. The directions came in German and the passengers side front came with a cracked flange. So after de-gumming the unrequested "free" advertising in the form of McNeil labels - I managed to get them in w/o breaking, but I will say I am not impressed. I had the Ventshade brand on my Frontier and I liked them just fine - I guess I got sucked in my the hype. The 5+ week wait won't happen twice (shame on me the first time....). I won't be posting pics of this one to keep from being part of the problem

Come on confess. You came home, picked up the box out of the snow bank, ripped it open, knocked the icicles off the weatherflectors, and proceeded to try to jam them on without reading the instructions. As a result of the bitter cold, the flange cracked, and then hypothermia set it, causing you to shake uncontrollably, scratching your dew wipers.

newenglandtitan · 04-21-2004, 03:47 PM

not quite. We actually came within 2 degrees of breaking a heat temperature on Monday here in typically bitter cold NE - it was a very balmy 86+. What I will fess up to is (after having an ENGLISH version faxed to me) is reading the 2nd set of instructions (back of page) page of the instructions - which say something to effect of (I will paraphrase slightly):

"...ignore the crack in the front passenger flange and working backwards from the rear of the cab towards the crack in the front flange, guide in the flange. When you get to the front, put an ever so slight scratch on your dew wipe (see, I wasn't sure what a dew wipe was, so foolish me I proceeded). This should come naturally to you as you try to avoid further breaking the pre-installed crack. Beautiful, shiny new sheet metal will be exposed. We here at WeatherTech consider this a feature of our product. Your trick as the consumer will be to match the scratches identically on both sides. If you can't you are still in luck! Electrical tape exactly matches the dew wipe. This tape is available on our WEB site a small additional charge. If you still need help, you are on your own - but feel free to ***** on any random Truck forum.

Thank you for patronage.

...kidding of course. I screwed up and paid too much attention to the crack during the install.

Checkmate.