About four years ago the windshield had to be replaced on my truck. The installing shop replaced the windshield moulding with an aftermarket piece that is now coming apart. It split at the lower passenger side corner and wind/car washes worked it loose on the entire passenger side. I knew it had started to split, but didn't notice the extent until today when I started trying to track down where water on the passenger side floormat and airbag cover came from.
So obviously the moulding is done, but I am not positive on how I should go about replacing it. The two glass shops I talked to today had differing opinions.
One shop said that to replace the moulding, they would need to pop out the whole windshield and reseal it at $125...not much less than a whole new windshield for this truck. Another shop I called said that the moulding should be replaceable without popping the windshield loose and should be much less than $125.
I'd rather not have to reseal the windshield, but given that some water got in after the moulding came loose, should I? My understanding is that the moulding is primarily decorative, but does it function to direct water away from the main seal? I am just not sure if the little bit of water I found inside (not much) indicated the whole thing should be resealed, or if it was just normal for some water to get in on a windshield with very compromised moulding.
Assuming just replacing the moulding will take care of the water entry and the wind noise that's driving me nuts, can it be done with the windshield on? It's coming off easily enough. I'm pretty sure I could just pull it all the way off easily, but don't want to try until I have a replacement moulding in hand. The moulding has channels that fit around the windsheild except in the corners. It seems like a new one could be worked into place with some patience, even though it is one piece on this vehicle for the entire windshield.
I went to Pull-A-Part today to see if I could luck out with some moulding there. The only Rangers with moulding that would fit my truck were in rough shape and the moulding wouldn't budge. The channels that attach to the windsheild would just rip off...but these trucks had about a decade on mine and what appeared to be original moulding. What's on my truck is much softer and pliable.
Also, I'm guessing the window places are the only real source for new moulding? I couldn't find it on Rock Auto under windshields or weatherstripping.
Thanks for any pointers on this...simple problem, but annoying, and this is the first time I have ever had windshield moulding fall right off. I wish the shop that installed the windshield four years ago would have just reused the OEM moulding instead of giving me this Chinastrip.
So obviously the moulding is done, but I am not positive on how I should go about replacing it. The two glass shops I talked to today had differing opinions.
One shop said that to replace the moulding, they would need to pop out the whole windshield and reseal it at $125...not much less than a whole new windshield for this truck. Another shop I called said that the moulding should be replaceable without popping the windshield loose and should be much less than $125.
I'd rather not have to reseal the windshield, but given that some water got in after the moulding came loose, should I? My understanding is that the moulding is primarily decorative, but does it function to direct water away from the main seal? I am just not sure if the little bit of water I found inside (not much) indicated the whole thing should be resealed, or if it was just normal for some water to get in on a windshield with very compromised moulding.
Assuming just replacing the moulding will take care of the water entry and the wind noise that's driving me nuts, can it be done with the windshield on? It's coming off easily enough. I'm pretty sure I could just pull it all the way off easily, but don't want to try until I have a replacement moulding in hand. The moulding has channels that fit around the windsheild except in the corners. It seems like a new one could be worked into place with some patience, even though it is one piece on this vehicle for the entire windshield.
I went to Pull-A-Part today to see if I could luck out with some moulding there. The only Rangers with moulding that would fit my truck were in rough shape and the moulding wouldn't budge. The channels that attach to the windsheild would just rip off...but these trucks had about a decade on mine and what appeared to be original moulding. What's on my truck is much softer and pliable.
Also, I'm guessing the window places are the only real source for new moulding? I couldn't find it on Rock Auto under windshields or weatherstripping.
Thanks for any pointers on this...simple problem, but annoying, and this is the first time I have ever had windshield moulding fall right off. I wish the shop that installed the windshield four years ago would have just reused the OEM moulding instead of giving me this Chinastrip.