Windshield replacement gone wrong, help (4 Viewers)

[mbdtex]

I recently replaced the windshield on my 200 Series based on recommendations from this forum, using a 3rd party company Lexus of Austin referred me to (which I won’t name yet). After installation, I noticed the seal at the top was very wavy and made a lot of wind noise above 60 mph. Additionally, the windshield seems loose, causing creaking sounds that weren’t there before.

I contacted the installer at the company, and he agreed to reset the windshield. However, the technician sent to fix it cracked the windshield while removing the side moldings. Now, I have to wait up to a week and a half out for another replacement.

Four days later, after a car wash (today), I found a puddle of water in the passenger footwell. The installer seemed experienced with this model but clearly made some errors.

Before they attempt a third replacement, I want to know if this water could cause corrosion or damage to electronics under the footwell and how best to dry it out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. To say I am currently frustrated is an understatement.


TL;DR

Windshield replacement on my 200 cruiser was poorly done; wavy seal, wind noise, and creaking. The company tried to fix it but cracked the windshield, requiring another replacement. After a car wash, water leaked into the passenger footwell. Could this cause corrosion or electrical damage, and how should I dry it out? Looking for advice before they attempt a third fix. TIA!

 

[CSteppe82]

I’m scared s***less to have my windshield replaced

 

[mbdtex]

I’m scared s***less to have my windshield replaced

I don’t blame you, I was incredibly hesitant to go through with it for this very reason.

 

[Kinnada]

the video on this link post#8 is an extensive step by step of what a comprehensive and professional installation looks like on an lx570 (if memory serves me, also a new cowl replacement which was a source of passenger footwell leaks on my lc).

Windshield moulding removal

Windshield moulding removal? My molding was either installed wrong or damage when removed for a windshield replacement. I see the FSM states these are non reusable. So I suppose I could just ripe them off. But I'd like to find the trick to releasing the 4 clips along the side and the 2 on top...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[mbdtex]

the video on this link post#8 is an extensive step by step of what a comprehensive and professional installation looks like on an lx570 (if memory serves me, also a new cowl replacement which was a source of passenger footwell leaks on my lc).

Windshield moulding removal

Windshield moulding removal? My molding was either installed wrong or damage when removed for a windshield replacement. I see the FSM states these are non reusable. So I suppose I could just ripe them off. But I'd like to find the trick to releasing the 4 clips along the side and the 2 on top...

forum.ih8mud.com

I appreciate this. I’ll definitely review this against mine.

 

[Kinnada]

I appreciate this. I’ll definitely review this against mine.

as he describes in the video, a big problem on the cowl is that an inexperienced tech will break the little molded plastic tabs and then it won't fit tightly which is important for keeping out water. it's also an expensive part, some try to just reuse but i replaced mine since a couple of the tabs were broken and the foam had gotten old dry rot in places (10 year old truck).
seems that you have moulding trim problems too which may be causing leaks as well.
good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[wjcunningham3]

Thank you for posting. I live in Georgetown with a 2015 LC200 that has a cracked windshield. I haven’t done the research yet but will need to replace it sooner rather than later. I am extra ticked off because I have Xpel UV tint that will now need to be replaced as well.

 

[bloc]

For the water, pull the door sill trim and vacuum out anything sitting under it, where the wiring harness lays. If you get it out relatively soon you shouldn't have any corrosion issues.

 

[2014 LEX 570 GA]

This thread is nightmare fuel for me.

 

[LC801]

I recently replaced the windshield on my 200 Series based on recommendations from this forum, using a 3rd party company Lexus of Austin referred me to (which I won’t name yet). After installation, I noticed the seal at the top was very wavy and made a lot of wind noise above 60 mph. Additionally, the windshield seems loose, causing creaking sounds that weren’t there before.

I contacted the installer at the company, and he agreed to reset the windshield. However, the technician sent to fix it cracked the windshield while removing the side moldings. Now, I have to wait up to a week and a half out for another replacement.

Four days later, after a car wash (today), I found a puddle of water in the passenger footwell. The installer seemed experienced with this model but clearly made some errors.

Before they attempt a third replacement, I want to know if this water could cause corrosion or damage to electronics under the footwell and how best to dry it out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. To say I am currently frustrated is an understatement.


TL;DR

Windshield replacement on my 200 cruiser was poorly done; wavy seal, wind noise, and creaking. The company tried to fix it but cracked the windshield, requiring another replacement. After a car wash, water leaked into the passenger footwell. Could this cause corrosion or electrical damage, and how should I dry it out? Looking for advice before they attempt a third fix. TIA!

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Hey @mbdtex and anyone else that can chime in,

Did you ever get the issue with the top seal resolved?
I just had my windshield replaced and the top seal isn’t as bad as your picture but I’m a bit concerned. The seal on mine isn’t lining up against the roof all the way across. There are small gaps between the seal and paint in spots.

I wish I would have inspected the seal before I had the windshield replaced. Did it sit perfect before? Or am I just noticing now that it doesn’t and freaking out for no reason?

If anyone else can check their seal and report back, that would be awesome. Thanks!

 

[Mrtwooooo]

Did they reuse the top seal? I'm pretty sure that is something that should be replaced when new glass is installed.

 

[bloc]

It's attached to the back side of the windshield panel.. seems like reusing it would be difficult if not impossible.

@LC801 that looks unacceptable to me. The point of the seal isn't as much for water, the urethane will handle that. It's more to keep salt, leaves and dirt from getting into the gap then decomposing, which creates acidic compounds and leads to corrosion of the metal. Personally I'd try to get them to fix it with a new part.

That said, when I got my rig they used a totally incorrect trim and I pulled it out, leaving a solid 1/4" gap across the top. No corrosion. I don't live near salt though, and it was arguably easier to keep it clean.

 

[LC801]

Thanks for the input guys.

It’s OEM glass so I’d assume the seal was new too? That’s a good question though. I wouldn’t put it past any shop to do something weird like trying to reuse the seal.

What I’m dreading is asking them to fix the seal and then finding out in order to do so they have to pull the glass off again. This will only increase the chances of them messing something else up. Having said that, I do live in Salt Lake City and in the winter I’m driving on some salty roads so yeah,I would like to keep the salt out of there.

 

[bloc]

I don't see how they'd install a new seal without pulling the panel. The seal has an adhesive strip on it that is designed to stick to the interior-side of the windshield.

 

[LC801]

I don't see how they'd install a new seal without pulling the panel. The seal has an adhesive strip on it that is designed to stick to the interior-side of the windshield.

Yeah …sigh…

 

[mbdtex]

Hey @mbdtex and anyone else that can chime in,

Did you ever get the issue with the top seal resolved?
I just had my windshield replaced and the top seal isn’t as bad as your picture but I’m a bit concerned. The seal on mine isn’t lining up against the roof all the way across. There are small gaps between the seal and paint in spots.

I wish I would have inspected the seal before I had the windshield replaced. Did it sit perfect before? Or am I just noticing now that it doesn’t and freaking out for no reason?

If anyone else can check their seal and report back, that would be awesome. Thanks!

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Hey, so the same guy replaced the windshield but with a “Toyota” branded windshield. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s Toyota branded or not but the top seal of mine is perfectly flush now without any ridges. For reference the first windshield the tech installed was about $450, the Toyota brand was $950.

However, it did not fix the leak in the passenger footwell. For that I ordered a new cowl and replaced it myself, took about 5min to do (super easy!). Once I did that the leak went away. I tested it by letting it rain on the car in a torrential downpour, letting a hose run from back to from on the roof, and taking it through a car wash. I am confident in the ability of the windshield once more.

But the first attempt was a mess as I reported in my earlier post with (I can’t remember the name of the glass) but the seal was wavy and when driving in the highway you could hear a lot of highway wind noise etc.

All problems have since been resolved.

TLDR:

-replaced the non-oem windshield with “Toyota” OEM windshield

-replaced cowl (took 5min)

-ran several tests for proper water seal and was successful


Let me know if there’s anything I can answer . I know how stressful it can be and sometimes the forums can gate keep.

 

[gasman4u]

If it's a legit Toyota windshield, it will say "toyota" on the lower driver's side corner of the glass.

 

[mbdtex]

Hey @mbdtex and anyone else that can chime in,

Did you ever get the issue with the top seal resolved?
I just had my windshield replaced and the top seal isn’t as bad as your picture but I’m a bit concerned. The seal on mine isn’t lining up against the roof all the way across. There are small gaps between the seal and paint in spots.

I wish I would have inspected the seal before I had the windshield replaced. Did it sit perfect before? Or am I just noticing now that it doesn’t and freaking out for no reason?

If anyone else can check their seal and report back, that would be awesome. Thanks!

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Are you getting any wind noise/whistling in the highway?

 

[Mingus Dew]

This thread is scaring the hell out of me.

I'm on my 4th windshield on my A6 Wagon over the course of 2.5 years. First replacement was done by the dealer (never again, waste of money) and the other two were done by Safelite (0 issues). I-95 is an absolute nightmare, although I think that car's design just lends itself to rock damage.

So what is accepted wisdom with the 200? I noticed a very small chip today (haven't even driven the car 1000 miles) that I will have Safelite repair next week. If I ever need to replace glass, should I avoid Safelite? Go through the dealer? My insurance policy covers OEM glass at least.

I need a good reason to use a dealer or third party for something like this as the work ends up being $1000+ whereas obviously Safelite is fully covered by insurance. Fingers crossed it's not something I need to deal with for a while.

 

[mbdtex]

This thread is scaring the hell out of me.

I'm on my 4th windshield on my A6 Wagon over the course of 2.5 years. First replacement was done by the dealer (never again, waste of money) and the other two were done by Safelite (0 issues). I-95 is an absolute nightmare, although I think that car's design just lends itself to rock damage.

So what is accepted wisdom with the 200? I noticed a very small chip today (haven't even driven the car 1000 miles) that I will have Safelite repair next week. If I ever need to replace glass, should I avoid Safelite? Go through the dealer? My insurance policy covers OEM glass at least.

I need a good reason to use a dealer or third party for something like this as the work ends up being $1000+ whereas obviously Safelite is fully covered by insurance. Fingers crossed it's not something I need to deal with for a while.

Yeah if you just have a chip I’d repair it. If you get a crack/webbing then I’d consider it, personally.

Regarding Safelite I would avoid like the plague. Even the tech that finally set my windshield correctly, told me explicitly avoid Safelite.

My 2 cents (and what I’ve gathered from the community online):

-go OEM on the windshield and use IH8MUD or Reddit to find a good windshield shop that has experience. The dealer that people recommended to me in Austin used this 3rd party shop so I just went directly to him.

-if you see a leak in your passenger footwell you’ll have to replace the cowl under the windshield. Part # 55708-60091 ($344) easy to replace, under 5min

I stressed out initially but once you get it down it’s not too much of a pain/loss of sleep. Just a little on the pricey side $$$.