Windshield Weatherstripping????????

[Big Rig]

I have been fighting water problems on passenger side. The dealer can't find any leaks & neither can I. I noticed that there is no weatherstripping on the top of the windshield. I went to the dealer & looked at the trucks on the lot. None of them have weatherstripping on the top of the windshield. Looks like the gap between the windshield & the metal is a place for bad things to happen.

Any thoughts on this????



Big Rig

 

[RankRam]

I've never seen a post about a leaking windshield but I've seen a few clearance light leakers. This is where I would be looking,



I hope this helps

 

[rrausch]

I don't have experience with the 2003 Rams, but most windshields are held against what is called the pinchweld with a type of sticky "rope" made of a tar-like material which sticks tenaciously to both glass and primered metal. Generally these things never leak. However, if the windshield has been replaced at a discount place, the morons working at these places sometimes use Silicone to install the windshield instead of the more costly factory stuff. Silicone is not a good material to install a windshield with--in my experience it ends up leaking. However, you make no mention of having your windshield replaced. So I would do this: Give it the old hose test. You'll need an assistant inside the truck. Take a hose and turn it on pretty full. Take your time and direct (don't spray) the water along the lower portion of the windshield/pinchweld joint, then go up each side--go slowly so that if there is a leak the assistant inside can spot it--then lastly go along the top of the windshield/pinchweld. If it is leaking the guy inside will be able to spot it pretty quickly.

 

[rbattelle]

You're sure it's not the clearance lights?

 

[Big Rig]

I checked the clearance lights. I unscrewed them & checked for cracks & checked the sticky rubber seal. I don't see how any water could get past the seal.

I will have to get the hose out to check around the windshield. The dealer had a windshield company look at the windshield to make sure there were no leaks. If they knew what they were doing(not sure if they did) that should eliminate the windshield as the source of the leak.

I still don't understand why there is no weatherstrip, either chrome or plastic, at the top of the windshield. Just doesn't look right. How long has Dodge been installing their windshields on their trucks like that? My wife's 93 Dodge car & my 86 Dodge car both have plastic weatherstrips all around the windshield.



Hoping it doesn't rain,

Big Rig

 

[Prairie Dog]

The lack of trim around the window was discussed a long time ago. One of our members went to a windshield replacement place and had a rubber trim piece installed to finish it off.

 

[Big Rig]

More water

We had . 4 inch of rain last night. Today I went out to check the truck to see if it leaked again. The front passenger floor was soaked. It is going back to the dealer the first thing in the morning. If water is coming in so easy I don't see why they can't find it. I don't think they are trying hard enough. I hope the floor doesn't start rusting on the inside of the truck. If they don't find it tomorrow, I think I will start getting a little ticked off. Maybe I will have to go to another dealer.



Big Rig

 

[Big Rig]

Fixed????????

Well I spent 7 hours at the dealer today. They said they found a leak at the bottom of the windshield. As I was walking back to the dealer's from eating lunch, I happened across the glass man out in the parking lot putting tape & caulk under the window on the passenger side of the truck. I can understand caulk but I am not sure how permanant of a fix tape is. I felt like offering to get him some baling wire for some future fix.

I guess we will wait for the next rain to see if we have a fix.



Big Rig

 

[RKaniefski]

I have not seen this done, but I heard that if you soap up the outside of the truck with plenty off sudsy soap, all around the windows and doors and cab lights and turn the heater or a/c on the highest fan setting you will see bubbles coming out if there are any leaks. This may be worth a try.

 

[jungledave]

After having spent a couple of months puting in windshields I can tell you that sometimes the butyl tape,tarry sticky stuff, on the windsheild sometimes will not from just liike you want. They usually leak on the side towards the lower corners. 3M makes some pretty good dryong and non drying type calks that work very good with the leaks. Usually you can apply them on the inside with the trim off and fix the jproblem without any noticable mess.

 

[Big Rig]

We had an inch of rain the other night. I went out the next morning to check the passenger floor for water & found none. It looks like the dealer may have fixed the leak. I am thankful for that but in the back of my mind I am wondering how permanant the fix will be. At least I know the area where it leaked (bottom of the windshield) & if it comes back I will be able to repair it myself.



Now if I could only get about 5 more miles per gallon everything would be fine.



Big Rig