Best Adhesive for Carbon Fiber Trim

I've got an 01 with the full OEM carbon fiber trim and unfortunately it is warping around both ventilation side outlets. I tried contact cement which sets up quickly but no luck. Does anyone have any proven suggestions for a good adhesive which will bond the CF to the vent material? It's really hard to clamp the corner down for long drying times. Ideas? Keith

Without getting into figuring out if it is in fact OEM (which I don't think it is but if it is, then PCNA needs to do better than stick on CF) let's try and solve this. Have you tried removing the pieces and then clamping them for a period of time with a good adhesive product like the stuff you can get at Lowe's, etc?

Definitely OEM as I have the original window sticker and it had the full-tilt CF interior bits. I thought about removing the pieces and may have to do that. I tried on the passenger side, found the three torx screws and pulled but it didn't seem to want to release. Not sure but I think the temp sensor might be there and perhaps that's holding it is as well. Keith

anyway to make a "stick" cut to the right length to go from the top of the windsheild to the vent to hold it down? If so I would use 1Hr epoxy from the local model RC airplane hobby shop. If you can not clamp it in anyway, I would use the 5 Min epoxy and hold it in place for 10 min. But I think your problem is going to be the old glue. With out cleaning it up and giving it a new surface to grab too, any new glue is only going to hold as good as the old glue. Example, if you put a peice of tape on the counter then glue a glass to the tape... The tape will pull off the counter before the tape and glue pull off the glass. Your best bet is to attempt to remove the CF piece. The sand all the old glue off both surfaces with 120 Grit sandpaper, then re-affix with new glue. Especially where it is located right in the heat of the WS.

Keith, it's actually VERY simple to remove both the vents as well as the defroster trim pieces. The remove the vent you will want to remove the torx screws you see on the side as well as the one that is hidden When removing the vent, also adjust the vent flap (on/off) to the middle so it's perfectly flat. Makes it easier to remove. As far as the defroster pieces, you'll want to remove the center rosette in the middle that covers where the two connect in the middle. The defroster pieces are just snap in with no screws. **p.s.** the driver vent is a bit more work to remove. But still very easy. See attached pic. the passenger size vent is easy, just slide off the temp cover

^^^ thats the ticket.

Dell, Thanks do you remember if I need to disconnect the temp sensor before I tug on the passenger side vent? My initial pulling didn't release and I hesitated to pull any harder. Any tricks for removing the defroster trim? Does the center cover just pop off with some pressure? I need to redo the CF along the defroster vents as well as it has also separated from the material underneath. Thanks. Keith

I would recommend carefully warming the CF with a heat gun on low or even a hair dryer on high after cleaning off all residual adheisive. When warm or hot use an epoxy to bond the CF to the original pieces and clamp for overnight. If done correctly a small countersunk black oxide allen screw and nut could be used to permanently hold the warped CF to the original parts. All this would be done after removal of all components. The problem with just gluing is high summer temps will want to separate the CF from the base parts again. Good luck with your repair.

Keith, the defroster pieces are a snap (literally) once you have removed the two vents and the center rosette. Just be patient and feel the resistance give. I can take a snapshot of the two I removed if you like so you can see the way it is held on? As far as the vent, there is no temp sensor from what I remember to remove. Just remove the large circular cover (just slides off) to get to the hidden screw. Then remove the vent. If there is something to disconnect it will present itself and won't be hidden for you to screw it up. If you run into any problems, I'd be happy to walk you through it over the phone while I remove mine to as an example. Or......come on down on a Saturday morning to have coffee with the Cary/Apex crew and we'll make a tech session out of it

Here ya go........ a few pics to show how easy it is on the passenger side.

^^^ a tech session out of that.... I think you need more material, or beer.

Got plenty of beer in the garage fridge. It's ALWAYS stocked full