Windshield Replacement - Molding not seated?

Just had my windshield replaced by a well known company. However, the next day I had time to check it (it was raining hard the day of replacement) I noticed that the molding on each side was not the same as the way it was when I brought it in (molding flush with the glass). At the corners the molding was flush with the glass, but about 2-3 inches from each corner it looks like the molding is "up" from the glass at an angle with the channel that the glass goes into is above the glass. A technician from the company came out and looked at it and said that the molding was a factory replacement and that the install was good. The problem I am concerned about is 1) will it leak?, and 2) there is a rather sharp edge of the molding and I would be cut when I detailed the truck. I believe the explanation is BS and I am taking the truck in to talk to the manager of the company tomorrow and would like to know what they told me is BS or true. Attached are some pics. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

I would talk to the manager also, it may not leak but it doesn't look smooth or flush.

 

Must have been a Safelite non oem glass & seal replacement. They told me the raised part is a rain channel. Tech even told me non oem windshields & seals don't fit tacomas properly. I got frustrated with the mis-shaped windshield & that same non oem seal, I called my insurance company & complained to them. My insurance company finally agreed to have Safelite install an oem windshield & seal. No complaints now, even after all the rain we've received so far.

 

Good ol safelite. They suck I did make a thread all about autoglass.

 

Molding are just for show. Its the actual adhesive that keeps it from leaking. If you went through insurance always ask for OEM and OEM moldings.

 

Thanks for your feedback on this issue. I met with the manager today and she knew nothing about windshield installations, etc. (go figure that). So the assistant manager who is experienced will be contacting me Monday morning. I will request that it be replaced with the OEM.

 

Assistant manager got back with me today. He has the OEM molding and will be replacing it on Monday.

 

Good news...

 

I bought my 2015 new and had the windshield replaced @5000km. I was getting a nasty howl in the cab @120km/h so Toyota replaced the clip and windshield apparently there was a recall for this.

 

I had the exact same experience with Safelite and aftermarket windshields on my 2006 Scion xB. A rock caused a large crack so I called my insurance company. They recommended Safelite. I had a new windshield installed in my office parking lot and the technician was quite nice and professional. When he was done, I came out to inspect the work. "You must be kidding" was my first comment. The molding around the windshield looked absolutely like crap. Even though the molding really has nothing to do with the seal (the glass is held in / sealed with adhesives), I asked for another molding. This required another new windshield. Guess what? That one was just as bad. I finally got Safelite to install a Toyota OEM windshield & molding - which fit perfectly. Never again on aftermarket windshields.

 

I have a $140 installed Craigslist windshield, that came with a new seal. My shit doesn't look like that!! It's flush as shit

 

New molding was installed on Monday and is same as when the truck was new, flush fit, no rain channel. I'm good now.

 

It's an aftermarket molding that was used....most likely made by Gold Glass Group. They are correct in saying that it's a "rain channel"....OEM moldings don't offer that rain channel.

Moldings are nothing but a cosmetic filler between the glass and the body of the car (think baseboard and crown moldings in your home). They urethane is what holds in the window in place and prevents wind and water from entering.

And TBH, I'd avoid Safelite like it's the plague. My collision center is currently working on a Camry that a Safelite tech ruined. Bad seal of urethane (he missed the pinch weld completely), which allowed 2" of standing water in to the floor, cut up cowl, dash, headliner, replacing carpet due to mold, remove and replace sound deadening material, upholstery, etc. $14k worth of damage to a 2016 Camry. Safelite had to send out their corporate folks to inspect the vehicle and they're investigating other cars that particular tech worked on. I'm guessing he's no longer employed with them.

 

I've seen this happen multiple times. I call them hack installers.

 

After safelite replaced a windshield in my Z71 Silverado, it leaked, then was replaced 2 more times for said leak. Guess what, it still leaked when I traded it in.
NEVER again with them.

 

Thread Revival - I just had my Windshield replaced by a trusted local/independent glass shop and the new window molding (I had no clue they installed new molding...must be part of the new windshield?) looks identical to the pics in the OP's first post. I kinda like how the molding tapers flat just before the corners versus the raised miter where the corners previously met with the OEM molding. There's still a rain channel along the entire outer edge along the top & sides. Fit along the outer edge against the roof & pillars is very nice as well as where it meets the glass. It fits better under those two plastic corner pieces on the bottom outer edges too.

If it doesn't leak, I'm fine with how it turned out. Hard to tell now as it's 4 degrees. The shop let my truck sit indoors overnight to warm and again all day after they completed the installation first thing this morning.

OEM pics just before replacement (too dark for pics of new but it's similar as above). I took these to compare before & after.

 

All models of Toyotas will require a new molding when replacing the windshield as they are a one-time use. The urethane that holds the window into place also grabs onto the underneath side of the molding and keeps it in place...therefore, when you remove the existing molding, it will stretch or tear and has to be replaced. In the instance of a tacoma, the molding doesn't come pre-attached to the glass and is a separate part. Some Toyota models have the molding pre-applied from the manufacturer. The aftermarket molding design differences on the Tacomas really just depends on the manufacturer of the part.

 

Thank you - yes, after reading a bit more, that's what I figured. I'm quite happy with how mine turned out. The fact that it doesn't match OEM exactly isn't of a concern to me.

 

Safeline replaced mine a few months ago and I've had no issues.

 

Here's how the molding looks. I do see it's PGW glass.