Now I've got your attention.

I hope you all don't think I'm a complete numpty for asking this, but does anyone know what the square pieces of rubber on car front door glass surrounds are for? They are usually quarter way down the front edge and are about 2cm square.

Must have asked a million people but nobody knows.

There is a 'not too good' picture of one here.

http://photobucket.com/albums/y96/saxon51/?action=view&current=Funnybitonwindowrubber.jpg

Sad question, I know, but it is bugging me.

:(

Dont know if it is the same thing the old Renault 5 gt turbo had, the pics a wee bit dodgy, but they were because the windows needed guides so they could close properly because of the chassis twisting and flexing due to torque. When the car is moving the roof flexes and so do the door pillars so the frame inevitably will. Although that is just an educated guess so dont quote me on it. I have only ever seen them on cars with electric windows.

That is sort of plausible but the chassis doesn't twist that much. They're just because of the curvature of the door, I think.

Simple, none confusing answer : guides.

Thanks for that AJ and Lurch.

It's on a Renault 19, but they also appear on Clios, Rover 620's, and some Citreons to name but a few.

I had thought of the possibility you suggested, but the glass doesn't go anywhere near it, and it appears to be just stuck on without any strength or support.
:huh:

They are manual windows.

Hmmmmm :confused: Dunno then matey.
Edit : Actually Lurch that does sound more like it.

I've got them on my Laguna, the windows do touch them, if you push them or if it's windy.

Could just be a French thing? They're mad them French!

Cheers lads:thumbsup:

I suppose it would be best then to treat them as an important bit of the car. Next time I'm sitting at the lights, windows open, bored silly, and I'm fiddling with it.................maybe I'd better not think to myself, 'Wonder what would happen if I pull this off'.

Hey, maybe they are put there for bored French drivers to play with.:suspect:

I think bored French drivers play with something altogether different. If the cap fits an all that stuff.

I can't see the door falling off if you've pulled the funny French bit off but no, I wouldn't keep pulling random bits of the car off!

I know this for definite.
I have had loads of cars with these.
Ford/renault/VW/toyota

When you are cruising at high speed on the motorway and you have opened your front windows. The pressure of air sometimes causes the window to bend outward a little. Those little rubber/plastic/metal things are little guides which enable your windows to shut to.

I don't know if the glass gives or the moutings or what, but If you pull them off, it is more difficult to shut them on a motorway.

Sounds good muddy:clap:

You ain't won nowt, but that sounds very feasable.

They help me cruise on the motorway when it's hot with the windows open OR closed.

It has bugged me that I know everything under the bonnet, under the car and inside, but these two 'widgets' had me foxed.

I can now enthrall my friends and colleagues with stories of what their funny, fiddly, rubbery, sticky-out bits are for.

Should stand me a pint.:thumbsup:

You're most welcome Saxon51.
I now have a vision of you with pipe and slippers by a roaring fire with all your friends and grand children cross legged at your feet as you hold them in your spell with amusing tales and anacdotes about the rubbery spare bit!

"Aye kids. We dint 'ave these noofangled electromagwotsit doofers in cars when I were yooer age. Nah, we 'ad t' mek do wi these rubbery, sticky-aht 'ows yer fathers wot med it easier t' shut us windas on't motorway. Eee, them were't days...................

.......Nah did I ever tell thi abaht time ah pulled one o' these rubbery things off an thi grandma's seat fell through t' flooer?"

Can hardly wait:wink:




Reason for edit: Spelt - t' - wrong.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I don't know if the glass gives or the moutings or what, but If you pull them off, it is more difficult to shut them on a motorway.
Mine aren't, I have to just press the button with the usual pressure!

As for the rest of your post, that's what I meant by wind, obviously having a slightly slow half hour here.

Well I have just been down to spar to buy some beer, and passed lots of cars and noticed that some makes don't have them and some do.

Hondas and Vauxhall Corsas don't But others do.
Cars nowadays all have flush fit windows. Probably something to do with that.

Lurch, AJ, muddy, I don't want you three blaming me because you've walked into a lamp post whilst checking cars for rubbery, sticky-out bits.

I think that between you my query has been answered.

I thank you gentlemen:thumbsup:

God, the stories I can tell my grandkids now.:)

Originally posted by saxon51
God, the stories I can tell my grandkids now.:)
I'm sure they'll be telling their Grandkids too, this stuff is too god to get lost in history.

Originally posted by Lurch
I'm sure they'll be telling their Grandkids too, this stuff is too god to get lost in history.

Yes, you're right. Along with other great stories like.....

Why gooseberries are hairy.
Why the French never won a war.
Why Mazda didn't stick to making light bulbs.
Why the Yanks invented 'friendly fire'.


True classics.:thumbsup:

Didn't the French win the away leg in 1066 with Willy and his Conkerers as their captain? It's in the Bayeux Taperstry which is next door to Wheeltappers and Shunters.

Only because the English had just played Denmark five days earlier at Stamford Bridge. We won that one 856 - 855. Harold scored in the final minute.

Anyhow, they were the Normans (Norsemen), not French.:) At this time the French were busy debating whether it would be a good idea to call a horseless carriage a Citroen (lemon).
;)

I was told by a friend that due to the cuved design of modern cars the rain water pushed to the side by the wipers is guided away from your window in droplets by these pieces of rubber rather than spray all over the side window. Next time it rains look out for those droplets!!

Thanks D A V. I'll keep an eye open for that one.:thumbsup:

Can't see what that's got to do with the Normans pretending to be French and a car called Lemon though.:P .................
Oh yes, that is what the thread was about originally.:P :thumbsup: