Tacoma Cowl

Had my windshield replaced by safelite. Should the cowl look like this bent? Should the edge look like this ? Should there be a small crack or slit in it?

 

I just checked mine , its 2023 SR5. Mine has same crack on passenger side but its sealed with rubber, very weird. I assume at first it was like that but later years they sealed it.

Seeing all that salt I would worry about truck frame more than that

 

No. I've had a few windshields replaced by Safelite and never had a problem with any of them. That looks like a butcher job to me. I don't recall that they had to remove the cowl with my Tacoma, but I wasn't there when they did it.

Was that at their shop or did they send the guy out?

Probably doesn't matter either way, I was just curious.

I'd call and file a complaint with the shop that did the job.

If it was done through your auto insurance, I'd contact them.

 

This Fall, I was in my upstairs office on a call, and got bored, so I started pacing and looking out the window. I noticed the Safelite guy replacing the neighbor's windshield street side,, he was not gentle at all on her less than 6 month old Highlander. To be fair- she could have moved in the back garage or alley, or he could've asked(I assume),,,, not saying that was the problem.

 

Not a fan of safelite, had them replace the windshield on my old F150. It leaked air and made a hissing sound in the cabin at freeway speeds. Called them to fix it and they came out with caulking and tried to seal it. Failed and had to call again, still didn’t fix it. Talked to my insurance person and was sent to a local company that replaced the safelite windshield. No problems with their work at all. Since, I have returned to them when needed. Good luck with the repair.

 

Looks like that one is in pretty shape. Faded, dried out, never any protection applied. Just order a new one. If you contact install, their just gonna say the same. FYI, never use Safelite, hacks.

 

You should keep that cleaned and coated with a dressing. I had to replace mine and the cost for a new one is stupid money. Mine broke apart so I bought one from a newer model in a junkyard.

 

The cowl should always be removed when replacing a windshield. I had a first year Solara that had a water leak after a windshield replacement where they removed the wipers but not the cowl. They did it in my driveway and I asked when they did it and they insisted they could slide it under. Big mistake. You could not tell it was leaking at a car wash but I was about to leave for vacation and removed the mats to vacuum and saw white fuzz growing on the wet carpet in the drivers rear floor. Had to remove seats, console and carpet and it took quite a while for the company to find the source. It only leaked with the windows closed in the rain while driving, you never saw it drip but water was being sucked up at the bottom of the windshield. The urethane gets pushed out of the way when you slide the windshield under the cowl and leaves gaps. You can't see it with a garden hose or pressure wand. The cowl should always be removed and yes they may break some clips but these are easily replaced.