Windshield leak... suggestions?

[Jonathan]

My windshield is leaking again.

It did this a couple seasons ago and I thought I had resolved it but apparently not.

I was out earlier today and it started raining. Not really even that hard as I only had the wipers on the delay setting. What happens is the water will literally drip straight down onto my right leg from the lip in behind the headliner. There is a hard edge, maybe a metal strip or it could be fiberglass, that is between the glass of the windshield and the fabric of the headliner. Today the headliner had no moisture on it whatsoever. Yet the water would drip in a small stream right down on to my leg in the same spot so long as it was raining outside.

Not fun as you can imagine. Where is it I need to go in and reseal something? There aren't any cracks in my glass that I have ever seen. I had gone into the area before by removing that metal strip on the top (and repainted it while it was off too). I had tried to get some of that 3M windoweld goop in where it seemed it should go but it didn't seem to help. I have not before drilled out that lower metal bracket that is below there as it looks like it'll take some work to get it out (i.e. drill out the screws as they're rusty).

Is this likely where my problem is? With this lower metal bracket? Am I missing something else, easier maybe? I can get that top, black metal strip off easy-peasy and go at it from there. The lower one'll take more work if necessary.

[DMCMW Dave]

You need to remove the as strip. Can't get a good reseal otherwise. Drill out elf he screws and replace with as screws . Put sealant on the threads too.


Sent from phone

[Jonathan]

Not sure what your spell checker was trying to tell me Dave, but I think I got it. Drill out the secondary strip or it won't seal well. Thx.

[DMCMW Dave]

You need to remove the as strip. Can't get a good reseal otherwise. Drill out elf he screws and replace with as screws . Put sealant on the threads too.

Darn phone. I was waiting for the dentist and in a bit of a rush.

"You need to remove the SS (stainless) strip. Can't get a good reseal otherwise. Drill out the screws and replace with SS (stainless) screws . Put sealant on the threads too."

[dn010]

Is the windshield separated from the urethane or is the water getting in via the screws of the ss header retainer strip?

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[DMCMW Dave]

Is the windshield separated from the urethane or is the water getting in via the screws of the ss header retainer strip?

Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

If the water is dripping from the fiberglass, it's getting between the glass and the body. You need to get the strip out of the way to get the sealant in the right place. Sealing the screws is good practice, but if water gets around the screws it will come in through the holes where the sunvisors are attached to the body.

[dn010]

Got it, must have skimmed through too fast! This is good to know - I didn't know you could simply reseal these, I thought the glass had to come out and new urethane put down in order to resolve sealing and integrity issues.

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[hmcelraft]

I had exactly the same issue years ago. Water was poring in on my leg. When I was moving though. When I stopped - like at a light - the leak slowed way down. With the SS cover removed I found, with a glass of water, that the leak was through a space in the windshield sealant bead at the top of the windshield. I filled the space with black silicone. Also, put some silicone on new screws for the cover. That was 20 years ago. So far so good.

[Jonathan]

I had exactly the same issue years ago. Water was poring in on my leg. When I was moving though. When I stopped - like at a light - the leak slowed way down. With the SS cover removed I found, with a glass of water, that the leak was through a space in the windshield sealant bead at the top of the windshield. I filled the space with black silicone. Also, put some silicone on new screws for the cover. That was 20 years ago. So far so good.

Oooh, I like the test method. Same here. Only when moving, like the force of the car moving through the air pushes the water back under there somewhere and it ends up on my leg. Yea, definitely slows down when not moving. I'll try that out and see what I can see.

[DMCMW Dave]

Got it, must have skimmed through too fast! This is good to know - I didn't know you could simply reseal these, I thought the glass had to come out and new urethane put down in order to resolve sealing and integrity issues.


Sealing is one thing, integrity is another. If the glass is loose all the way across the top, it's certainly better to take it out and clean it all up. If you are just dealing with the results of someone on the assembly line not doing such a hot job of glue application, you can easily run a bead of sealant across the top of the glass and stop the leaks.

Here's the test. Take the frame off the glass. Now slam the door (normally) with the small windows rolled up and the other door closed. If you see the glass jump up from the air pressure, it's more than just leaky. Watch across the bottom too, I've seen cars where the bottom of the glass was completely unglued, and the windshield wipers would jump when you slammed the door!

[Helirich]

Hate to reserect this old thread, but I have this exact problem. My question, the manual and everybody on here says "remove the header trim and ...." How is that removed? What's holding it? Do I just pull straight up?

[dn010]

I'm not sure what manual you're looking at but the workshop manual has the process in multiple places. P:02:05. P:02:22.


manual and everybody on here says "remove the header trim and ...."

[Helirich]

I'm not sure what manual you're looking at but the workshop manual has the process in multiple places. P:02:05. P:02:22.

Yes, the workshop manual. The place I was looking was P:02:22. I just looked at the other place you mentioned and both places say "remove the header" without any elaboration. Does your manual expand on it?

[dn010]

Yes, the workshop manual. The place I was looking was P:02:22. I just looked at the other place you mentioned and both places say "remove the header" without any elaboration. Does your manual expand on it?

Sorry, I must be looking at the updated workshop manual.

P:02:05

HEADER PANEL, WINDSHIELD - Fig. 4
Removal

1. Open both doors and remove left and right
windshield to door outer seals.

2. Remove left and right "A" post finishers
(reveal mouldings).

3. Remove windshield header panel.

Complete step one and it will be quite obvious how to remove the panel.

[Helirich]

Sorry, I must be looking at the updated workshop manual.

P:02:05

HEADER PANEL, WINDSHIELD - Fig. 4
Removal

1. Open both doors and remove left and right
windshield to door outer seals.

2. Remove left and right "A" post finishers
(reveal mouldings).

3. Remove windshield header panel.

Yea, that's what mine says. Not much help there. They might as well have left that out.

[dn010]

Yea, that's what mine says. Not much help there. They might as well have left that out.

I'm not really sure how much more instruction you need. Did you even attempt to remove the windshield to door outer seals to look at everything or are you just complaining because there is no tools required list and Lego assembly manual to go with this car? Again, complete step one - remove the seals and the rest should be clear to you.

I'd suggest to have some glue on hand to replace the seals with but it appears you're fully stocked.

[Helirich]

I'm not really sure how much more instruction you need. Did you even attempt to remove the windshield to door outer seals to look at everything or are you just complaining because there is no tools required list and Lego assembly manual to go with this car? Again, complete step one - remove the seals and the rest should be clear to you.

I'd suggest to have some glue on hand to replace the seals with but it appears you're fully stocked.

Obviously, I don't need that instruction because there is no instruction. Like I said, it just says remove. Of course your going to remove it. Let's just say for example that it has two clips that go under the windshield. You pull straight up and crack the windshield or you pull the rear edge first and go around it. Big Differnce.

I asked two simple questions and you susgested they are answered in the manual. Now we find out they are not and you are pissed off at me? If you don't want to help, don't.

[dn010]

Obviously, I don't need that instruction because there is no instruction. Like I said, it just says remove. Of course your going to remove it. Let's just say for example that it has two clips that go under the windshield. You pull straight up and crack the windshield or you pull the rear edge first and go around it. Big Differnce.

I asked two simple questions and you susgested they are answered in the manual. Now we find out they are not and you are pissed off at me? If you don't want to help, don't.

I'm not sure how you get that I'm "pissed off" from my reply, but, okay. At this point, it is more like frustration that you have a list of steps, you wont follow the steps, you say there are no steps and then you come back to say "it just says remove." Well, no, it doesn't. I am telling you now for the third time, the book tells you to REMOVE THE SEALS, it gives you a diagram showing you the header is retrained by screw which would obviously be under the seals. If it had two clips that go under the windshield, it would be shown in the diagram. If you want to know what parts are in the diagram, visit DMCH's store for what part is what.

I really wish you'd stop posting to this site asking for help only to refuse the help and start arguing. You clearly didn't follow step one or listen to me to remove the seal to reveal the screws which would have been the "ah-hah!" moment for you. So why bother?

[Helirich]

I'm not sure how you get that I'm "pissed off" from my reply, but, okay. At this point, it is more like frustration that you have a list of steps, you wont follow the steps, you say there are no steps and then you come back to say "it just says remove." Well, no, it doesn't. I am telling you now for the third time, the book tells you to REMOVE THE SEALS, it gives you a diagram showing you the header is retrained by screw which would obviously be under the seals. If it had two clips that go under the windshield, it would be shown in the diagram. If you want to know what parts are in the diagram, visit DMCH's store for what part is what.

I really wish you'd stop posting to this site asking for help only to refuse the help and start arguing. You clearly didn't follow step one or listen to me to remove the seal to reveal the screws which would have been the "ah-hah!" moment for you. So why bother?

Are you related to josh?

Ok, when I intend to do a job, I like to read up on it before diving in. If I have a question that is not answered in the manual, I would like to get an answer before getting stuck half way through or damaging something. Is that stupid?

I read the manual before my first post. P:02:22. As I mentioned, it simply says "remove". It doesn't say anything about screws. There is no diagram in that location. In fact, I didn't know anything about screws untill now. I did pull back the seal, but obviously the screws were hidden by junk. The diagram you are bragging about (in the other location) doesn't show two screws and doesn't show what the one screw goes into. I can't even positively say it's a screw. Does it go through the header or does it clamp the header with the, aparently square thing the screw is next to? There are two protrusions shown on the diagram, but I can't tell what they do because the diagram is so poor.

When I asked "how is it held on and do I pull straight up?" Would it be too hard for you to say "it's held by two screws and then pull straight up". But no, you would rather insult my intelligence by saying it's in the manual when it's not.

Again, if you don't want to help, don't.

[Ron]

Are you related to josh?
...Last WARNING!

[dn010]

I do have a few relatives named Josh, why do you ask?

I understand you want hand-held guidance but you're trying to turn a header panel removal into a rover landing on Mars. Literally hundreds of people have done this and you don't see threads on clips, damage, uncertainty, being stuck half way through or broken windshields as a result. Go out to your car, remove the seal & screws and lift the panel off already FFS. Create a how-to while you're at it. This isn't a complicated process, it's literally a couple of screws and the weather strip. If you want the manual to tell you about the screws then step back to P:02:04 and read how to remove the T-panel, it's the same for the front panel, same process. I am not sure what difference it makes but the screws go through the panel and are held by clips that are clipped on the infill panel.

I don't know how much more "help" (or lack there of) this can be for you.

Edit - I don't remember ever having to remove the A post trim, maybe pulling them back a little but never actually taking them off the car. You may want to do it anyway if you're looking for leaks.

[Helirich]

I do have a few relatives named Josh, why do you ask?

I understand you want hand-held guidance but you're trying to turn a header panel removal into a rover landing on Mars. Literally hundreds of people have done this and you don't see threads on clips, damage, uncertainty, being stuck half way through or broken windshields as a result. Go out to your car, remove the seal & screws and lift the panel off already FFS. Create a how-to while you're at it. This isn't a complicated process, it's literally a couple of screws and the weather strip. If you want the manual to tell you about the screws then step back to P:02:04 and read how to remove the T-panel, it's the same for the front panel, same process. I am not sure what difference it makes but the screws go through the panel and are held by clips that are clipped on the infill panel.

I don't know how much more "help" (or lack there of) this can be for you.

Edit - I don't remember ever having to remove the A post trim, maybe pulling them back a little but never actually taking them off the car. You may want to do it anyway if you're looking for leaks.

I want "hand held guidance"? This was my first post.


Hate to reserect this old thread, but I have this exact problem. My question, the manual and everybody on here says "remove the header trim and ...." How is that removed? What's holding it? Do I just pull straight up?

I'm sorry it was so offensive. Please ignor my future posts.

[dn010]

After looking at my car I am incorrect about the A posts, they'll need to be loosened (6 more screws so now you're at 12 to complete this task). I didn't remove them, just loosened but again you might remove them to identify areas that leak.

It would seem to me like you'd benefit from a tech day should one pop up in Florida.

[Helirich]

Everybody can benifit from a tech day. There is nobody that knows it all.