Rust around the windshield- anyone ever repaired it?

[Odisthedog]

Newbie here...hate to hijack a thread but I'm not allowed to start conversations yet...

Here is my issue...I have a crack in my 2011 4Runner windshield. I had safelite out last week to replace it. After he got started removing the side trim and working towards the bottom he said that he discovered that the pinchweld had been ripped out by whoever last replaced the windshield (I bought it used a year ago). He told me I would need to have a bodyshop repair it before he could continue. Granted, I'm not the most mechanically inclined person you'll ever meet but has anyone ever heard of this? Looking at it, there doesn't to be any sign that something would have "ripped out". I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at to know if it's messed up. Cost to get it fixed? I'll have someone look at it this week but I would like to get prepared for the sticker shock.

Thanks in advance.

 

[reelamin]

Newbie here...hate to hijack a thread but I'm not allowed to start conversations yet...

Here is my issue...I have a crack in my 2011 4Runner windshield. I had s
Thanks in advance.

It looks like your showing the body joint near the firewall and fender under the windshield...correct? Some more pictures detailing what is the claimed issue area would help.

Were you present when the windshield guy was there? I'm confused as to what possibly could have been rippped out that would affect a windshield install. The windshield just sits against the base, and is caulked into place. Some places have pretty crazy installation requirements, and others just flippen half ass an install.

 

[Mark_BC]

I agree with Reelamin, I don't see what could prevent them from putting in a windshield. Look on Youtube for installation videos, Eric the Car Guy has a good one.

 

[Odisthedog]

Yes, reelamin, that's exactly where it's at. Tough to get a good picture of it. There is a small gap between the glass and where the firewall curves down but I stuck a small screw-driver in there and it definitely appears to be adhered along the entire bottom. The Safelite guy was a younger and maybe he hadn't done a 4-runner before...

I was there when he explained it to me but was a little perturbed and confused by the whole thing...just never had an issue replacing a windshield before. I'll get a second opinion this week and report back. Thanks for your help!

 

[kolelt]

only thing i hate about sending it to a BODY SHOP. Im sorry, not to bash on body shops. But from experience. They do shit work. They just sand it, barley! and add bondo. Most body shops just fix cars in accident by replacing most of the parts. Hard to find a shop that doesnt lie and actually do the work properly!

 

[gmcmanus663]

I had the same problem with my 4runner. I removed the rubber windshield strip, got a grinder and went to town, grinding it down as far as it could go. I used some POR15 rust paint to seal up the areas that were really bad (POR15 is expensive, but it does a great job at inhibiting rust, I used it on the whole frame too). I got a can of factory paint-matched aerosol from NAPA and painted over everything.

Does it look shitty? Sorta. but it looks wayyy better than before.

Did it stop the rust? I think it has! It hasn't come back yet and I did it a year ago!

Did you have to remove your windshield completely when you did this?

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

You should pull the windshied - welding that close to the gasket will melt it and cause additional leaks in ll likelihood ---

Welding that up wouldnt be a big deal if you have a welder. I have patched window rust on almost all my project cars including a lot on my Challenger.

Remove the windshield and interior panels, wire wheel, cut out the rust, weld in new steel, epoxy prime, and then spot paint :bigok:

 

[T4R2014]

only thing i hate about sending it to a BODY SHOP. Im sorry, not to bash on body shops. But from experience. They do shit work. They just sand it, barley! and add bondo. Most body shops just fix cars in accident by replacing most of the parts. Hard to find a shop that doesnt lie and actually do the work properly!

Oh believe me, they can do they job how you want it. Just expect to pay a ton more. They know they are half-assing but they want their money.

It's all about the benjamins baby...

 

[kolelt]

Oh believe me, they can do they job how you want it. Just expect to pay a ton more. They know they are half-assing but they want their money.

It's all about the benjamins baby...

I understand. So they should quote you for the right way doing the job first

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

I understand. So they should quote you for the right way doing the job first

Then another shop will undercut them and half ass it anyway

 

[T4R2014]

Then another shop will undercut them and half ass it anyway

Seriously, that's how it goes. You need a solid connect for proper body work. They want insurance jobs for regular people because that's where the profit margin is at. They ain't got no time for a dude trying to compare body shop quotes for a job that requires cutting and welding. They want your out-of-pocket job out there asap so they can get the next insurance job in.

Body work is arguably the shadiest area of the auto business and the only way you can expect proper work at your preferred price is by having a solid connect.

 

[TXLX1]

Serious rust is a serious problems. But...
:worthless

Even looking at it in person won't tell the complete story. Until the windshield is out and you start digging out the scale, you can't know what it will take to repair.

I did a repair such as this on a 1st gen about 11 years ago, still going strong. Don't be afraid of it, but don't think it's going to be cheap either.

Now let's see some pictures, we are a visual group don't ya know...

This guy knows what's up. I can tell you had just a little bubbling that was visible on a-pillar on a 100 series land cruiser, and it cost about $1500 to have windshield removed (replaced), a-pillars repaired, and repainted (and went cheap on burning the paint cutoff on the roofline). And I'd say that was a light repair.

 

[Nashville5thGen]

Hey guys, just noticed this on my 2016 sr5. Seems quick for this to happen... Should I have this looked asap?

 

[Ricktuk]

doesnt look too bad yet. find a local body shop that specializes in touch ups. Had some rot on a 97 ranger a couple years ago. They repaired it, even had to do some welding and it was 250. rust was bad enough that the windshield people wouldnt put in a new windshield.

You might call a LOCAL glass repair place. they may be able to steer you to someone who can do it.

 

[Beaumont67]

only thing i hate about sending it to a BODY SHOP. Im sorry, not to bash on body shops. But from experience. They do shit work. They just sand it, barley! and add bondo. Most body shops just fix cars in accident by replacing most of the parts. Hard to find a shop that doesnt lie and actually do the work properly!

General Rule of Thumb:
When the paying customer knows a lot less than the repair shop, an easy target is soon parted with his hard earned money.

Excellent shops can always be found (just not plentiful) & bad shops can be easily stumbled upon.
- until one educates themselves, on auto body best practices
- shoddy workmanship in trade, will be passed off as acceptable

how to make a panel butt - joint.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtvtNJnn7Do
Fender Bottom Replacement Auto Restoration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZS0oxLuBbM
Fixing and Welding Rotted Body Panels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkbGMmmP3iQ
butt weld with mig sheetmetal bedside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nk4JFKj9hM

p9 Welded Door Patch Panels / done by a kid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0Jt9jICe0

 

[Difflock]

I fixed mine a few months ago, sanded it, bondo and colour matched paint. Looks pretty good to me cant post pictures though :/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sportscarfan]

Hey guys, just noticed this on my 2016 sr5. Seems quick for this to happen... Should I have this looked asap?

For sure. It looks to me like the same thing has been done to your '16 as my '97. Windshield changer, scratched off all the paint when cutting out the old unit. On my rig, all of the missing paint was obscured by the new seal.
It will rust, and eventually leak.

 

[Nashville5thGen]

doesnt look too bad yet. find a local body shop that specializes in touch ups. Had some rot on a 97 ranger a couple years ago. They repaired it, even had to do some welding and it was 250. rust was bad enough that the windshield people wouldnt put in a new windshield.

You might call a LOCAL glass repair place. they may be able to steer you to someone who can do it.

So I took it to toyota today and they gave me some touch up paint. They said as long as the rust is sealed I shouldn't have to worry about it becoming an issue... Does that sound like enough or should I find a body shop?

 

[Mark_BC]

So I took it to toyota today and they gave me some touch up paint. They said as long as the rust is sealed I shouldn't have to worry about it becoming an issue... Does that sound like enough or should I find a body shop?

LOL yeah if that were the case then no need for POR15 or any of that difficult rust removal and conversion, just slap some Tremclad under your whole underside and you're good to go.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

Mine was done at some point from the Previous Owner. He must have had to replace the windshield and it looks like whoever did it for him also cleaned up the rust and applied some sort of black sealer on the spots.

I don't seem to have any leaks coming from the windshield and although a little bit of rust is starting to show through the sealant, it looks like it's doing a good job of slowing down that process.

If I ever need to replace the windshield again, I'd make sure that the rust is taken care of again, but for now, it's pretty low on my list of priorities until it actually starts leaking.

Update on my situation. Water is getting in from the Windshield frame area now and my windshield has 2 cracks in it. I'm at a point where I'm trying to spend the least amount of money I can on my rig (cancer is slowly killing it, so my point is just to keep it running as best as I can until I'm ready to sell as-is/donor or to send it to the junkyard).

Anywho, whenever I get the chance, I suppose I'll pull the windshield and do what I can to clean up the windshield frame and make it viable to hold a new windshield without leaking for another few years.