New windshield installed, glass is out too far?

[compu_85]

Allright, I just got my car back from having the windshield re-replaced, after the glass place installed one without the tint at the top. So now that its home, I notice that the rubber strip along the edge is pushed forward, like the glass is too far out.

Driver's side:

Passenger side:

Factory glass on the Passat:

So, is this going to make a ton of wind noize? If it is, they're gunna get to install windshield number 3.

-J

 

[PDiesoiler]

Looks like they either didn't clean all the old seal off the mating surface or is it possible the pane is thicker?

 

[WDM]

That's a crappy job they did there, good luck getting it right!

 

[dlai]

I would also be worried about wind noise and water leakage. You should probably get them to redo it, if possible. Did you take it for high speed run or water test it yet?

 

[compu_85]

Nope. As you can see, the installer's tape is still on the car. I'll take it for a run Sunday or Monday prolly.

Hooray! 3rd windshield in 2 months!

-J

 

[oldpoopie]

I had to have a windshield re-replaced after the installer set it in place off center. The rubber seal didnt even reach the glass on one side. Wind noise was extreme.....

 

[Doug Huffman]

If you didn't pay for it, like an insured replacement of a broken glass then there is no quality control. You're not the customer and the insurance company doesn't care as long as the glass is 'legal'. Good luck.

 

[jasonTDI]

That's not true. As an agent for a long time, all the work is warranted from the installer. Also the carrier will take care of it if it's wrong. Unless you have an **** for and agent and billy-bobs insurance.

 

[compu_85]

Yes, our agent is a good guy. If worse comes to worse I'll get him involved again.

-J

 

[dieseldorf]

J, he may not have shaved away enough of the old adhesive. I am on my 3rd windshield and watched the guy change it a few months ago. He shaved away almost all of the previous layers of adhesive.

 

[dieseldorf]

 

[compu_85]

Thanks for that pic 'dorf. I'll take it with me when I go there tomorow or Tuesday. They must be really glue happy there... I spotted some glue they had gotten on the metal 'ridge' above the glass. Sence my car is black, I guess they figured I wouldn't notice :/

-J

 

[Audi5000TDI]

I had mine replaced a month or so ago.... I called them at 2 pm, they rushed out to do it that afteroon. I watched them like a hawk on the prep and the install.

They need to get in there and take the old adhesive all the way down to the painted metal surface. You want the glass centered, and the seam at the roof line flush with the roof and as aerodynamically clean as possible.

They did a good job on mine, only $160 cash. These guys are inexperienced that did yours, the quality of work is unacceptable in my book. Poor prep work is a poor finished project.

 

[dieseldorf]

J, in my photo the black weatherstripping is right against the glass even though it doesn't appear to be.

I watched the guy do the work. They cut the old glass out, he then shaved down the old sealant 'til it was virtually flush with the window frame using a huge razor knife. He went around and touched up (using a paint stick) any bare metal he exposed.

He then heated his sealant, applied a very heavy bead (used nearly 2 tubes of the Sika sealant) and put the windshield in place.

 

[jasonTDI]

Centered is important or you will get a stress crack down the line when you hit some rough roads.

 

[compu_85]

Well, I went back to the glass place, and they relucently agreed to install another new piece of glass.

The owner made a couple of interesting statements... that he didn't understand why I was going through all this trouble to have the rain-sensing glass and that for the money it's costing me I could pay someone to operate the control for me, and that cars with my milage will have wind noize (He is an expert on this because he had a 77 Rabbit).

I should snap a pic of the side of the glass... you can see 2 different colors of glue

 

[pepper10]

Don't forget that they must use the proper adhesive. VW's use one that stays flexible. DD posted a pic of it above. Good luck..

 

[WDM]

Its too bad pieces of **** like this moron are allowed to stay in business (and obviously unfortunate for you).

 

[compu_85]

Hey, this is a national chain!

Hmm, I doubt there is a snowball's chance in hell they're gunna use the VW sealent (after it took them 2 weeks to find out they can't use the VW glass even though it only costs $1 more, I'm not gunna bother. I don't want to tick these guys off further and have them do something stupid to my car!)

-J

 

[WDM]

Hey, this is a national chain!

...of morons?

 

[pepper10]

Hey, this is a national chain!

Hmm, I doubt there is a snowball's chance in hell they're gunna use the VW sealent (after it took them 2 weeks to find out they can't use the VW glass even though it only costs $1 more, I'm not gunna bother. I don't want to tick these guys off further and have them do something stupid to my car!)

-J

It's not a VW sealant but it is necessary for these cars as it affects the handling and crash protection. Don't ask me why. It's just what I read somewhere. Maybe DD can chime in on this. I had my windshield changed 2 months ago by JN Phillips, a large chain in the North East, and the guy knew to use this type for our cars.

 

[compu_85]

Ok, just got back from having the windshield re-re-reinstalled. The glass is further back now. Not perfect. But good enough I guess. Buuttt...

I was putting the mirror back on and the mount fell off the glass. Guess they get to see me again tomorrow

-J

 

[dieseldorf]

Oes

SIKA is the OE supplier for many of the Euro marques.

Sikaflex® is a family of one-component, polyurethane adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Cure mechanism is moisture or heat. Sikaflex is pumpable and sprayable and is available with either high or low viscosity. Typical applications include FMVSS direct glazing, bonding and sealing glass, plastic, metal and composites. One of the most important applications for Sikaflex is direct glazing. Direct glazing is the bonding of automotive windshields, backlites and side glasses into the vehicle body. Sikaflex has been commercial for more than 30 years. Current OEM users include Mercedes, BMW, Audi, VW, and Renault. Sikaflex can be used primerless to glass and topcoat paint. Cure times for Sikaflex range from 2 minutes, 1½ hours, to 3 days. For the US aftermarket industry, Sikaflex is the number one supplier for glass replacement. More than 5 million windshields per year are replaced using Sikaflex is manufactured and serviced worldwide.

 

[Sooch]

I've got $10 that says the company compu_85 is stuck using is Safelite.

 

[compu_85]

Nope. Henderson Glass.

I should take a camera to get the look on the guy's face when I show up there again.

-J

 

[compu_85]

Ok...

So now with glass no 3... The rear view mirror fell off in the parking lot when I picked up the car :/ They glued it on the next day and then said the VW glue takes longer to dry and I should wait a day to put the mirror back on.

Then I was driving up to Grand Rappids today, and noticed there was a ton of wind noize. It's coming from the from the front of the glass by the wipers. Now... here's the troubleing thing.

There is air coming between the dash and the windshield. There is a large stream of air coming through right below where the left edge of the driver's wiper is. Turning the fan off and the reserc on makes a huge racket, and more air comes through between the dash and the window.

Should there be air coming through there? Did they goof on the sealing again? I really don't want to take it back again...

-J

 

[ThePapaJohn]

Ok...

....
There is air coming between the dash and the windshield. There is a large stream of air coming through right below where the left edge of the driver's wiper is. Turning the fan off and the reserc on makes a huge racket, and more air comes through between the dash and the window.

Should there be air coming through there? Did they goof on the sealing again? I really don't want to take it back again...

-J

Take a small lit candle inside the cab, and have someone run a fan or blowdryer with no heat to the outside window. (Yes, hold the candle near the windshild.) If you see the smoke trail change I would be taking it back. You will end up with water working its way in ....

And I'm sure if you took the candle to the outside of the car, with the defroster running on HI, it would pull the smoke down some as well....

John

 

[WDM]

Can't you take it somewhere else, those guys are ****-ups? What does your insurance company think about needing a fourth windshield to fix one?

 

[Sooch]

I think it's time to ask for a refund and take it elsewhere.

Oh, and I guess I owe you $10 ...or at least a beer or two.

 

[compu_85]

I'll be talking with state farm about this tomorow. Have to go in anyway... Someone in a pickup thought it would be fun to ram their trailer hitch through the VW logo on the Passat then drive off Damage doesn't look too bad... The radiator is bent, but not leaking. Hood and headlights seem fine.

Oh the fun never ends when Murphy is your 2nd cousin....

-J