Is it time for a new windshield? Water intrusion.

[Road Bull]

So I've collected a few chips and small cracks on my windshield, nothing super annoying or in my line of sight. It always pisses me off when it happens though. It seems wasteful to fret over every little stable chip, so I just tight upper lip it and Charlie Mike down the road. Now... I understand to cosmic forces of the universe hates sandcastles and put a fair amount of effort and energy into making sure that I don't have a windshield clear of defects, but I noticed something new today.

I just got on I-5 on my way to work this morning and was merging into traffic. I was changing lanes and the tractor trailer in front of me had ano empty container skid that had no deflecting flaps on the top or rear for all of its 16 rear wheels. No sooner had I gotten behind it than it hit a bump or depression in the roadway sending the the rear of the trailer in the air and showering my rig with a torrent of various sized rocks and debris. Fan-effing-tastic.

After clearing the lane I begin to scan my windshield for new damage. I don't notice anything obvious jumping out at me. HOWEVER , I noticed a small streak of water on my windshield that the wipers weren't addressing.

This small streak of water was on my passenger side, running from top to bottom. It looked to be small. I had never noticed it before, and it was dry 15 minutes later.

Do you think it's time to replace the windshield (that has a couple chips) and get a new seal to protect from further issues? Have you guys run into something like this.

Normally I would say let the windshield ride as it has not reached the point of no return yet, but the seal thing bothers me.

 

[nc-grayson]

Was it raining? What was the source of the moisture? I just got a new windshield because the previous installer did a shitty job which caused rust, under the rubber trim.

I'd suggest having someone soak the windshield and every square inch of the rubber gasket around it with the garden hose while you sit inside. This will help you confirm leakage and the location of such.

 

[Road Bull]

Was it raining? What was the source of the moisture? I just got a new windshield because the previous installer did a shitty job which caused rust, under the rubber trim.

I'd suggest having someone soak the windshield and every square inch of the rubber gasket around it with the garden hose while you sit inside. This will help you confirm leakage and the location of such.

Yeah, it was raining and hasee been for the most part for weeks. It was just a small water trail down from the top passenger side. I have had the truck for about 2 years now and have not noticed it up to this point. I think I'll call a windshield place and start getting some quotes perhaps just see how much it is for them to redo the seal. I don't want things to start to rust.

 

[nc-grayson]

if it is in fact leaking from the windshield, 99% chance it's from rust or some minor crack/chip that is somewhere around there. I would be VERY surprised if miraculously out of the blue your windshield trim just completely failed.

is it the original Toyota glass? If it's been replaced, the previous installer most likely didn't treat any scratches they made in the sheet metal, which over time, (and covered by the rubber trim/gasket), rust from the inside out....which probably isn't visible anywhere from the exterior...but is allowing moisture to seep through rust holes behind the trim....at no fault of your own.

$0.02

 

[Reinout]

I just got on I-5 on my way to work this morning and was merging into traffic. I was changing lanes and the tractor trailer in front of me had and empty container skid that had no deflecting flaps on the top or rear for all of its 16 rear wheels. No sooner had I gotten behind it than it hit a bump or depression in the roadway sending the the rear of the trailer in the air and showering my rig with a torrent of various sized rocks and debris. Fan-effing-tastic.

This might be a little bit of a side-bar, but I've lived in a few places in the US, and I've never seen more broken windshields combined anywhere else than in Washington.

One tip I can give, don't go for a "cheap" windshield. When I met my wife she had a busted windshield and I found a great deal on one, installed. I don't remember the price. but it appears to be a cheaper, weaker, thinner windshield and does not withstand rock-chip well at all.

Cheers. See you on I-5