Leaks after new windshield? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

smartin · #1 04-27-2004, 11:55 AM

Last year (October 2003) - had new windshield installed - chip/crack from rock in highway. 1985 300TD wagon. Earlier that year - I patched 2 holes at springs (connection) for hood - right and left side. My tests for leakage included dousing areas with water hose - Also - carpets had a chance to dry out. The rainy season is late in the year - and early in the year (December - March). I was doing some rust repair on the floors - under the insulation - (February 2004) noticed that the carpets were wet again. I have looked under the dash - driver's side - leak is just behind hood release. It seems that if I apply water to side of windshield - down pillar - water drips in wall that the release handle is fastened to - I can see the drip if I look into a round hole in the sheet metal. I was wondering - when the rubber (windshield) seal was installed - does the rubber go OVER the black "gutter" black piece that runs down the pillars - over the area where it connects to the pillar - I noticed that some of the rubber was over it on drivers side - and some was pushed down into a groove between it and the windshield - on passenger side none of it is over the gutter piece. Leaks on the passenger side too. I did notice that the channel that the rubber seal sits in was clean - no rust - I noticed when the windshield was installed. Sorry so long a post.

leathermang · #2 04-27-2004, 01:05 PM

Did they use any sealer when they installed the windshield ?

smartin · #3 04-27-2004, 01:43 PM

I don't know - it was done while I was working - looks like some sort of sealant outside - is that what you mean? When I look under dash - I can' t find anything obvious - Can I remove pillar covering to look at seal from inside - this is the vinyl piece that runs up from dash to top of windshield inside of car. Thanks

leathermang · #4 04-27-2004, 02:04 PM

When you said " no rust - I noticed when the windshield was installed. " I assumed you stood there.... to learn about how the pros do it in case you wanted to DIY sometime....
I don't know the answers to your questions... I just believe in using GOO when installing windshield rubber.... and some people don't....the shop manual specifies using it... and give a part number..... if they had you might not have a leak even with it not tucked in at all the right places... if that is what has happened... but to me the windshield seal should not let the water get to the lower place you describe... if done correctly....

smartin · #5 04-27-2004, 02:37 PM

Hey thanks for the quick reply - I only took a couple of good looks while they were doing it - They came to my office. As i look from under the dash - the leak is not at the bottom (corner) - no wetness there. Rather it looks like it comes from somewhere up the side (pillar area) - drip is down just behind hood release - release is just under pillar area - cannot tell - (insulation covering) - there is a double wall where the releas is mounted - water is behind it. This is why I suspect that the pillar are is leaking - may or may not be actual seal. Thanks

Eric Eliel · #6 04-27-2004, 02:45 PM

Is not clear from your post whether a NEW seal was installed or the old seal was used. If a new seal was installed, was it a factory seal or an aftermarket. At this age the seals are pretty dried out and shot.

smartin · #7 04-27-2004, 03:05 PM

New seal - with MB logo - paid a little more than average for it as I recall. Thanks

leathermang · #8 04-27-2004, 04:52 PM

Do you have a sunroof ?

Stevo · #9 04-27-2004, 05:39 PM

A couple of months ago a "windshield" guy came out to the house and fixed a couple of rock cracks in the windshield of my "79" 240D. I mentioned I had a leaking rear windshield in my "78". So he takes this "transmitter" gizmo, sets it on the package tray and goes outside with the receiver half of this "leak finder" and puts a small piece of tape where the leaks were. Anyone else have any experience with this?? I fixed them with windshield silicone.

Eric Eliel · #10 04-27-2004, 07:16 PM

Did he glow in the darK? :-)

smartin · #11 04-27-2004, 08:55 PM

I have a sunroof - But (for now) water was applied only to edge of windshield. (Not sunroof area) This not to say that the sunroof does not leak - only that water is getting (for now) at the edge of windshield or somewhere lower. Is it possible to check pillar for leak from inside - if I remove the vinyl moulding first? Has anyone had experience with this? I have not (yet) heard of anyone here with the transmitter method. Thanks again.

notlostmaybe · #12 04-27-2004, 11:07 PM

there are drain holes below the hood springs, that if clogged
will drain water into the floorboards/underdash. your "patch"
sounds like you plugged a drain. unless you have rust holes,
you plugged what need not be plugged. oval, about 1/2" long?
working up from under the wheelwell, with a stiff wire/coathanger, clean out the lower drain. blow the whole hinge
area out with compressed air.
the windshield gasget should be symetrical. my experience is
that if you have a windshild leak, it shows on the windshield.

don

leathermang · #13 04-28-2004, 08:35 AM

At this point in time you really have nothing to lose in trying some of that ' windshield silicone' sealer.... a couple of dollars... but the trick is to carefully clean under the rubber around the windshield... which will take at least an hour to do a good job... but could sure be worth it.....use an old t-shirt material pulled tight on a narrow spacking scraper.... and something like Klix88 grease and silicone remover.... available in gallon cans to wipe cars after all the primer and sanding has been done to remove hand print oils before shooting paint.
Remember to do the inside rim also..... and follow any other instructions on the tube.... with regards to temps or cleaning methods....

R Leo · #14 04-28-2004, 11:49 AM

Even a new gasket is no guarantee that your leaks will end. My experience is that replacement aftermarket gaskets aren't manufactured very well and do not fit the corners of the windshield.

I've had to reseal my 300D's windshield on the glass side of the gasket. I used 3M 08606 windshield sealer. DO a search on that item and you'll find my write-up.

smartin · #15 04-28-2004, 12:25 PM

Is it just a coincidence that the leak occurs on both sides - same area? The windshield seal had the MB logo on it - is it after market? The patch was for the area just under spring - where it attaches to body - had to take hood off to get at it - the drain is at least 5 inches in front of (forward end of car) - and goes to drain in wheel well. Is there another drain under that spring? When I (hanger) wire from under the wheel well - it is clean - water does come out freely when it is applied from edge of windshield - it just seems that there is water getting through on the (edge going up) sides on windshield. When I apply water at bottom corner of glass - no leak - when I apply water about 4" up the side - leaks. The black moulding that goes up the sides (sort of a continued "gutter" that goes all the way down the side of the car on the roof) has screws (3 each) that hold it in place - I found 1 each of these screws in the drain area - I know that they are from the moulding because they match the others - and were replaced with oddball screws ( one long, one short) The replacements were metal - (magnet could pick up) the originals could not be picked up with magnets. I know that when I did the (under spring) patches - there were no screws in there. I spoke with Phil (Fastlane) - there is another seal strip that goes in on the sides along with the large windshield rubber seal? I also discovered that the (one side only) of my windshield has a rubber piece that is sticking out from bottom edge of rubber seal - sort of an extra strip - filler? Anyone?