Water on my cabin filter after windshield replacement

So back in September a rock hit my windshield and cracked it. No big whoop as my comprehensive insurance covers it with no cost. A few weeks later, I went thru an automated car wash and I noticed water running down the inside of the drivers side of my windshield. Called the windshield place that did it and no problem, we will send someone out to fix it. Guy shows up and fixes my windshield again. Both times the windshield was fixed while my truck was in the parking lot at work. Both times I noticed they couldn't have been there more than thirty minutes. The second time, the repair guy calls me and says it's all set. I notice my roof molding is still sitting up in the air and needs to be reseated. Which I do. The second guy also partially destroyed both my inspection sticker and the sticker for the automated car wash. All of this points to someone who might not have paid as close attention as he should. I went thru the car wash a few days ago. A few minutes after leaving the car wash, my fan motor starts to make a peculiar whirring noise. Like a leaf is caught in the blower motor. When I returned home I opened the glove box and removed the cabin filter and about 60 percent of it was completely soaked. There was also water on my floor mat on the passengers side. This never leaked prior to all this windshield hullabaloo and I'm wondering did the second guy do a crappy job in sealing my windshield also or is it possible a body drain could be plugged causing the water to pool and then work its way down to the blower motor. I'm ready to call them again and piss and moan about the crappy quality looking job with a still present leak, but before I do I want to make sure that this isn't something that is common under certain conditions. Any info is appreciated.

 

In over 50 years I have never had a windshield or rear window replaced that did not leak or have something screwed up (headliners generally get messed up). I had an '87 Eagle Premier on which the rear window replaced the previous day fell out while driving 70 mph; and a '91 Cressida where the upper left a-post rusted out a couple years later...

 

Will check that. Thanks. I hope it's just something like that, but my gut tells me something didn't get sealed correctly.

 

It's funny, I've had maybe a half dozen windshields replaced through the years and I've never had a replacement leak, that I know of.

 

I had a very similar issue a few months after a parking lot windshield replacement. Damp cabin air filter and water all over my passenger side floor board. Toyota thought for sure it was a/c drain- but it wasn't. The company that did the install took it out and redid the installation indoors. They also refunded Toyota's diagnosis fee.

 

Did the second repair take care of the issue?

 

I had the same problem on both our T4R and my Taco, these idiots install the windshields in about 15 mins and do a really shitty job. I noticed that they don't "waste" any time cleaning off the old urethane and you end up with gaps in the sealant when they put the new stuff on. My two big lessons - insist that they clean off all of the old urethane and never buy the cheap after market windshields - the cheap ones don't have smooth curves, water spot horribly and don't have the sound isolation layer in the middle of the glass.

 

I don't have a problem with quick work if it's done correctly and methodically, but it seems to me that both repairs were in and out so fast that there was no way it could be done correctly. But I've never installed a windshield so I'm not sure what's involved in it.

 

I worked for a glass company that did mobile replacement during the 90's for 6-7 years. My route was the entire southern part of indiana from indianapolis to clarksville and evansville.

Not a chain but we were competing with big chain stores. I have never, ever heard or seen of any technicians not completely removing all the old urethane down to the pinchweld and applying pinchweld primer.

These guys have a route to run and might have several jobs to do. I can assure you that no one is in that big of a hurry and risk call backs for something that simple.

Replacing auto windshields is a breeze. If it takes a technician more than 30 mins to replace a windshield in any modern car (correctly) then he's either a inexperienced scrub or hes wasting time on purpose.

 

One question, do the insurance companies keep a close eye on who installs the windshields and what type is installed? If it were me I'd take it to Toyota and have them put in an OEM windshield, those techs aren't in a hurry and it's done indoors etc...

This is unusual for me to suggest though, I rarely look for a reason to have a dealer service dept do anything.

 

That's good to know. Only question I have is if it's so easy, why am I experiencing leaks after 2 repairs? I had the vehicle set so the windshield was facing the sun to hopefully aid with both lighting and curing of the adhesive. I also didn't move the vehicle for at least 5 hours to Also remove the potential of improper curing of the adhesive.

 

It would be pretty rare for a dealership to do glass work. Most is subbed to a glass shop.

The problem isn't the glass, or the fact that it's done mobile, it's the tech.

 

Thats a good question, an honestly I cant tell you the reason.
Are you 100% sure that the windshield is in fact leaking? Can you physically see it leaking?

Heres what I would do weather permitting.

Mix you up some soapy water in a spray bottle.
Turn your heat or air con up to max.
Roll up all your windows to make sure everything is sealed as well as can be.
Spray some soapy water around the edge of the windshield in a bout 2 ft sections and wait for some bubbles to appear.
The pressure from inside the car will build up and start trying to escape.
If no bubbles...then the windshield is sealed good.

You might have to remove the cowling to get to the bottom.

 

Mobile glass replacement can be hit or miss as those techs are paid per job and want to knock out their work ASAP and move to the next one. Unfortunately, a lot of guys cut corners of the replacement process in order to do this. The urethane needs to be shaved back down to the pinchweld by means of a scraper or a "long knife". After doing so, the pinchweld needs to be cleaned *AND PRIMED*. Without primer, some of those spots where the urethane removal occurred will lead to rust. My assumption is that those techs that came out for only a few minutes must have pulled your A-pillar trim and/or cowl and just crammed some extra urethane in the spot where they figured it was leaking. This won't work.

*Water will always find the path of least resistance.*

Any reputable glass company should warranty their work of wind and water leaks (of course, impacts from golf balls, rocks, crazy ex's with baseball bats, etc. won't be covered). I'd demand that they completely remove the windshield and reinstall it at no cost to you and make sure they remove any existing urethane and prime your pinchwelds. If they aren't willing to do so, threaten legal action.

And definitely AVOID SAFELITE AT ALL COSTS. They produce their own glass which Toyota corporate says is not recommended as it is of a sub-par quality. They make cheap glass and turn around and make you think you're saving a ton. You get what you pay for. I've gone behind Safelite jobs in which their urethane never bonded to the glass and the windshield could be pushed out by hand. Scary scary stuff... as laminated glass, when properly installed, is stronger than steel and is big part of the structural integrity of the vehicle.

^Incredibly rare. I say that as I've spent the past 11 years as a glass tech for a Toyota dealer (used to be sublet, but the dealer went in-house for collision and used car inventory convenience)

 

It might be a good idea to make sure your cabin air intake under the cowling on the passenger side isn't plugged up too. I've read before that it's pretty easy for debris to get in that area which can lead to a wet cabin air filter and/or water on the passenger floor.

 

fyi, you can request OEM windshield when going through insurance, glass shop, etc. Huge obvious difference in quality of OEM vs cheaper ones. It was one of those mobile shops that put in oem for me.

 

I realize that it might not be from he install. I wasn't sure f there are other reasons why I might have water. A plugged AC drain sounds like It could be a potential problem. That's the exact info I was hopin to hear. I really don't want to setup another appointment as my next one (if there is need for one) will be at their shop. I just didn't want to call and say I still have water coming in if it isn't there fault. I want to say thank you to everyone who has commented. I appreciate you guys taking the time to help suggest issues. I will be looking into removing the cowl this weekend to see if I can figure it out. Does anyone know if there any body drains in that area also that I might need to check? Thanks again.

 

Yep when they redid the install my leak was completely resolved.

 

Not sure why you ar etrying to defend them but yes...yes they did do that shitty of a job, I know what I am looking at and I watched the whole process. I complained through the entire install and pointed out he was doing it shitty and even had to help him lift the windshields into place. He kept saying " no - it's fine you don't have to do that "...and they had to come back twice for the T4R and I made them replace the one on my Taco completely because the install was so shitty and the glass was shitty. Both the T4R and my Taco done at the same time, both they did not completely clean off the old urethane and reprime etc. Both had leaks and there was a gap in the urethane on the T4R that was so bad my wife called me on her way to work the next day and said she could hear air whistling through a gap...then she went to the car wash after work and water poured in from the headliner. In my taco I had two leaks and the glass was so shitty it had flat spots in the upper corners and severe visual distortion. My insurance was paying for OE glass and they kept bringing out shitty aftermarket glass too. Complete f-ing disaster and my insurance is still fighting them over the non OE glass that I am stuck with.

 

If you were standing there trying to tell me how to do my job.....i'd fuck your shit up too.