We don't need no steenking upper windshield molding... right?
 

Hi all,

Recently the upper windshield molding on my wife's 850 wagon decided to desert its post at highway speed, and was never seen nor heard from again.

In short, it's AWOL.

Now, just for fun, May's heavy storms have been leaking into the cabin via the gap created when the stupid trim flies off your car at 70+ MPH. There are two leak spots which are currently ruining our otherwise perfect headliner.

I've 'patched' it with about a mile of electrical tape until we get a few dry days for me to deal with this crap, but my question is this: do I really *need* that stupid trim piece?

I had a look at the retainer channel (which is obviously bent in the two locations where it's leaking into the cabin), and I'm wondering how to deal with it.

I'd like to rip that piece of retainer track out, clean the (then wider) gap very well, mask above and below, and then flow a heavy bead of 3M black urethane windshield adhesive in there--smooth, let dry, then cut the mask off.

Hopefully this would clear up my leak, my lack of upper molding, and look pretty darn sexy. Right?

Thoughts? Especially welcome are auto-glass specialists' thoughts :D

Thanks,

~OD

Stop cheaping out and get the windshield, seal, and molding replaced asap. Shop around; don't know about the molding (possibly a dealer item) but windshield, seal, and labor should not be more than $200-$300.

Not only is the missing molding causing a leak, that will eventually ruin your interior, but it is unsafe; that windshield is currently not secure.

I agree, if you're going to fix something, fix it right!

Thank you gentlemen. I promise I wasn't trying to "cheap out" just for the sake of doing so. My Subaru's catalytic converters crapped the bed last week, clogged, burned up the o2 sensors, and the newly-created back-pressure cooked the exhaust manifold gaskets and took the manifold out too.

All told, I'm out nearly $2k by the time everything's all fixed on my Subie, so I was hoping to avoid a pro job for this frigging windshield leak. Thanks for reminding me that's a crap idea :)

The 'shield itself is still fine, it just needs to be remounted. Let's hope I find someone more professional than whatever clown installed it last time. No clue who did it, but it darn sure shouldn't be leaking and ejecting its molding at highway speeds :)

Thanks you two,

~OD

Duct tape.

It fixes everything you know.

haha

When I purchased my 850 that trim was missing and I didn't even know it. I also had no leaks so I don't believe that trim could cause or stop a leak. I purchased a new trim for about $65 at the stealer. Wet hood liners are usually the result of a sunroof leak. Sometimes the drain holes are plugged.