Front windshield leaks, caulk fix no good and guys are scared to fix (1 Viewer)

[BayouFJ80]

Safelite replaced my windshield and it leaks, tried the poly caulk fix, nada. Talked to club guys and called who they recommended and was rejected 3 times. They said it is a bitch to do and would not do anymore.
Was quoted 276 to do and I provide gasket. Called dealer and they want 800 for an OEM. The threads say glue gasket to window and glue gasket to body.

If you have had success, what did you tell the glass people? I have read so many threads on this that my eyes bleed.

 

[greentruck]

Get them a copy of the pages on it in the FSM.

The procedure is well laid out, factory approved, and rarely results in do-overs. It's not that complicated, following the directions. It is old school, but the whole truck is old school. Don't they ever deal with classic cars? Pretty much that from what I understand, although the specific for the 80 are laid out in the FSM.

Of course, if they insist on doing it their way, that's cool as long as they'll back their work. Guess Safelite wouldn't?

 

[maxamillion2345]

Did you take it back to Safelite?

 

[BayouFJ80]

Get them a copy of the pages on it in the FSM.

The procedure is well laid out, factory approved, and rarely results in do-overs. It's not that complicated, following the directions. It is old school, but the whole truck is old school. Don't they ever deal with classic cars? Pretty much that from what I understand, although the specific for the 80 are laid out in the FSM.

Of course, if they insist on doing it their way, that's cool as long as they'll back their work. Guess Safelite wouldn't?

No safelite douched out on me.

 

[greentruck]

That sux. Poor service gets around is all I can say.

I've answered your PM. Scans are ready for you...

 

[scottryana]

Even giving a glass installer the pages from the service manual you won't guarantee it is done right. Mine was not. I even explained the procedure when I dropped it off. My guess is the message did not get relayed to the actual tech or like many things now days people just do not give a s*** if it's done right they just want to do it easy. Hopefully you find a good glass shop that will make it right, but I am betting you have to look around

 

[canman]

I guess even Toyota can get it wrong. This was mine last year after the glass shop pulled the original windshield.

 

[slow95z]

my local glass shop did it in like 3 hours. they roped it in and reused the stock gasket. they never said anything or acted like it was a big deal. i just dropped it off in the morning and picked it up after lunch.

 

[Kernal]

Safelite messed up my windshield installation also so I pushed my insurance company to have it redone (with OEM glass) by a local installer who does all the work for the local dealerships. No problems since, but the only way to tell for sure that there are no leaks is to pull up your carpet in the front and then flood the windshield (but not the sunroof) with water from a garden hose a section at a time (starting from the bottom) while looking for drips of water behind the kick panels and up under the dash. You can have a small leak that might go unnoticed for years.

 

[greentruck]

No doubt that if humans are involved, something can be screwed-up. At least if they do follow the instructions, there's a fighting chance of getting things right. It's not like we can give up windshields. Get a motorcycle if you want to eat bugs. In a LandCruiser, that should only happen if the windshield happens to fold down.

 

[00cruizer]

I just had this issue with safelight, original install was feb this year & had not driven the car much since. Had it out on a road trip in FL pouring rain and it was leaking heavy in lower corners. I got the run around (sunroofs leaking.... Bla bla bla) they did a water test and saw for them selves the leaks. They were going to have me wait until they had an extra glass in stock if it broke upon removal, I said do it now and we will worry about broken glass if it breaks! Long story short... Original a-hole probably didn't use hardener when he put it in. Re-fixed Monday this week no leaks but no rain yet either. Didn't even get an apology for the piss poor job.

 

[Hornd]

How did the caulk trick not work? I filled it till it came out of the seal then wiped with mineral spirits (rewax after). If you put enough caulk between 2 pieces.....It took me 2X to finally get it sealed up.
Mine too was an aftermarket install that leaked.
I'd be pounding down safelites door saying you installed a windshield that leaks, so what did I pay for?
Send a letter to corporate, then Better Business Bureau. They are hoping you just go away.

 

[DARKNESS]

Hire a mobile installer so they can do the job at your house. Make sure you are there the entire time. This way you have direct oversight of the installation and direct contact with the installer. Go through the FSM pages with them, don't just hand them to the guy. Also, I'd buy an OEM gasket and provide it. I did all this the second time around and got a good result. No leaks.

 

[greentruck]

SNIP
Also, I'd buy an OEM gasket and provide it. I did all this the second time around and got a good result. No leaks.

Good point on the factory gasket.

Speaking of that sort of thing, the FSM calls for a specific factory adhesive by part number. Are there acceptable substitutes? I'd imagine there are, but that's another factor to consider.

 

[Kernal]

FWIW the adhesive-sealant that is used for our windshields does not rely on an additive to cure, they do use a "primer" which is an adhesion promoter that is painted on the frame and the gasket, but the commonly used adhesive-sealant's cure on their own based on humidity and temperature. You might ask the installers to consider using a slower curing material, the upside is that it gives them more time to work, the downside is that the truck may have to sit overnight before they will let you drive the vehicle. Some installers IME use a very fast curing material so the owner can pick the vehicle up and drive away as soon as the installation is done, but that type gives them less time to work, and the installation of an 80's windshield takes more time than the majority of newer vehicles so the material might be setting up before they are done. From my own experience the most likely scenario is that the installer did not follow the FSM method and cut some corners thinking he knew better than the Toyota engineers. Anyone can call Safelite corporate offices, and should, to report improperly installed windshields, they can put a fire under the arse of the local shop. It's actually a major safety issue when the installation isn't done correctly. Ditto on a new gasket, be sure also that the installer also repairs all the scratches in the metal caused by the box cutter blade the installer used while removing the old gasket and adhesive. If you find rust now is the best time to get it fixed, before the windshield is reinstalled. You could call around to a few small autobody shops to ask them if they can fit your truck in for a quick repair and paint ahead of time.

Here are a couple of 3M products:

http://3mcollision.com/3m-auto-glass-urethane-windshield-adhesive-08693.html#moreInfoDetails

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/569028O/oem-polyurethane-glass-adhesive-sealant-590.pdf

 

[greentruck]

Kernal,
Thanks, exactly what I was looking for.

Good point on installers being in a hurry, too. Yeah, they want you to get your truck back quickly and that's cool. But it's got to be right and this job demands more than the usual concentration. It's also a fact that gettin' 'er done and getting down the road to the next piece of glass makes more money, but this is the sort of job that demands a bit more time. Good installers understand that. Not all installers are good.

 

[BayouFJ80]

I guess even Toyota can get it wrong. This was mine last year after the glass shop pulled the original windshield.
View attachment 1122060

OUCH.

 

[BayouFJ80]

You guys are the best. Thank you so much. I found a guy that says he can do it. I was telling him about the FSM and he cut me off and said I am 53 and have been doing this since I was 15. He said it will not leak. He was a very nice guy. I hope I don't have any rust underneath. That would screw me so bad. Kern and Green, thanks for the pm's. Greatly appreciated! Andrew

 

[96Cruiser]

Even giving a glass installer the pages from the service manual you won't guarantee it is done right. Mine was not. I even explained the procedure when I dropped it off. My guess is the message did not get relayed to the actual tech or like many things now days people just do not give a s*** if it's done right they just want to do it easy. Hopefully you find a good glass shop that will make it right, but I am betting you have to look around

^^this^^ happened to me almost exactly, luckily [or not?] the glass shop was owned by my aunt, and after her son finally realized it was leaking from the window, and not "being splashed up" as his underling kept insisting,[because I had removed my running boards and hadn't installed the non-running board mud flaps yet] ordered me a new oem seal as I had provided the first one, and redid it again himself. this time its been all good.

 

[DARKNESS]

You guys are the best. Thank you so much. I found a guy that says he can do it. I was telling him about the FSM and he cut me off and said I am 53 and have been doing this since I was 15. He said it will not leak. He was a very nice guy. I hope I don't have any rust underneath. That would screw me so bad. Kern and Green, thanks for the pm's. Greatly appreciated! Andrew

Tell him to humor you and do it the way you want.