There are a few threads on this topic already, but I think it’s worth a “How-To” thread that includes solutions in the first post.
If you have broken or lost one of your vents in the 97-02 hardtops, this post is for you. If yours is broken you may be able to repair it if you have all the pieces, even if some parts are broke. If you’ve lost it obviously you need to buy a new one. I got one through EBay for around $90 shipped.
The vent is three pieces that make up one part. First, an inner plastic piece with wings that are supposed to catch behind the edges of the hardtop to snap it in place. Second, a rubber weather guard piece. Third, an outer trim piece. These three pieces are all attached from the factory into one part.
Here’s the key: the outer trim piece MUST stay attached to the inner piece for THE vent to stay on your hardtop. Otherwise it will eventually blow out or fall off in a car wash or whatever. The problem is the three pieces are not attached very well, especially now that they are ~20 years old, and if you try to remove it you will probably separate the pieces and now it’s broke.
BROKEN
If yours is broken this section is for you. If it’s not and you just want to install a new part, drop down in the post where important instructions are given so you don’t break yours.
To fix the broken part get it all out of the vent orifice and set it on the bench/table. It’s easy to see how it should all go together. You now see how the factory connected the outer trim piece to the inner piece with wings. There are about 20 of those little spots that are now broken. You can’t JB Weld for Plastics those together. They won’t stay and you’ll just be back at square one, so don’t waste your time. Get a plastic welder from Harbor Freight (~$20 as of Jan 2023). This will be a handy tool for lots of other jobs too.
Follow the instructions using the provided plastic weld sticks. Make sure you have the pieces clamped together before you weld so it’s a tight fit. Weld each spot being careful not to let any of the plastic weld run over the edges (you can remove it with the welder if you do). You can’t have it run over the edges because then it won’t slide into the vent orifice very easily and you may break it again. Doing all this takes ~30 minutes. Let it cool for several minutes. Go on to the Install section since everyone has to do this part.
INSTALL
Now you want to turn your attention to the wings on the sides. These are what allow the part to snap in place when you push the part into the vent orifice. The problem is they have usually flattened out, so they won’t snap in. This is true for brand new Mopar vents too (see my brand new part in pic below). Don’t think “It’s new” and try to just slip the part into the orifice. You may luck out, but you will probably be sorry. You need to get the wings to stick out further. Some have used a shoelace underneath them for a few months (@Reign Mack), but the quickest and easiest way is to use a heat gun to make them stick out more (pics below). Use a flat head screwdriver to pry them out as you put a little heat on each one. It only takes 10-15 seconds. You’ll feel them give. Then remove the heat and hold them bent out till they cool and keep their new shape.
Congratulations. You are now ready to carefully slide the repaired or new part in the hardtop orifice. It should snap in as the wings slip past the inner edge of the hardtop.
Here’s what the wings look like brand new Mopar right out of the box. They are not open enough to grab the edge of the hardtop
Here’s the wings after the heat gun treatment.
This is a shot of the plastic weld repair.
Installed on the Jeep like new.
If you have broken or lost one of your vents in the 97-02 hardtops, this post is for you. If yours is broken you may be able to repair it if you have all the pieces, even if some parts are broke. If you’ve lost it obviously you need to buy a new one. I got one through EBay for around $90 shipped.
The vent is three pieces that make up one part. First, an inner plastic piece with wings that are supposed to catch behind the edges of the hardtop to snap it in place. Second, a rubber weather guard piece. Third, an outer trim piece. These three pieces are all attached from the factory into one part.
Here’s the key: the outer trim piece MUST stay attached to the inner piece for THE vent to stay on your hardtop. Otherwise it will eventually blow out or fall off in a car wash or whatever. The problem is the three pieces are not attached very well, especially now that they are ~20 years old, and if you try to remove it you will probably separate the pieces and now it’s broke.
BROKEN
If yours is broken this section is for you. If it’s not and you just want to install a new part, drop down in the post where important instructions are given so you don’t break yours.
To fix the broken part get it all out of the vent orifice and set it on the bench/table. It’s easy to see how it should all go together. You now see how the factory connected the outer trim piece to the inner piece with wings. There are about 20 of those little spots that are now broken. You can’t JB Weld for Plastics those together. They won’t stay and you’ll just be back at square one, so don’t waste your time. Get a plastic welder from Harbor Freight (~$20 as of Jan 2023). This will be a handy tool for lots of other jobs too.
Follow the instructions using the provided plastic weld sticks. Make sure you have the pieces clamped together before you weld so it’s a tight fit. Weld each spot being careful not to let any of the plastic weld run over the edges (you can remove it with the welder if you do). You can’t have it run over the edges because then it won’t slide into the vent orifice very easily and you may break it again. Doing all this takes ~30 minutes. Let it cool for several minutes. Go on to the Install section since everyone has to do this part.
INSTALL
Now you want to turn your attention to the wings on the sides. These are what allow the part to snap in place when you push the part into the vent orifice. The problem is they have usually flattened out, so they won’t snap in. This is true for brand new Mopar vents too (see my brand new part in pic below). Don’t think “It’s new” and try to just slip the part into the orifice. You may luck out, but you will probably be sorry. You need to get the wings to stick out further. Some have used a shoelace underneath them for a few months (@Reign Mack), but the quickest and easiest way is to use a heat gun to make them stick out more (pics below). Use a flat head screwdriver to pry them out as you put a little heat on each one. It only takes 10-15 seconds. You’ll feel them give. Then remove the heat and hold them bent out till they cool and keep their new shape.
Congratulations. You are now ready to carefully slide the repaired or new part in the hardtop orifice. It should snap in as the wings slip past the inner edge of the hardtop.
Here’s what the wings look like brand new Mopar right out of the box. They are not open enough to grab the edge of the hardtop
Here’s the wings after the heat gun treatment.
This is a shot of the plastic weld repair.
Installed on the Jeep like new.