The windshield in your vehicle will keep the weather out and protect the driver from road debris and the weather. If you notice water coming in around the glass, you may need to have a windshield repair shop check the glass and seal to determine the best solution.

Rubber Seals

Older cars, trucks, and SUVs may have older-style rubber seals holding the windshield glass in place and sealing the glass to the metal vehicle body. Thees seal slides on a metal lip formed in the sheet metal during vehicle manufacturing.

Eventually, the rubber can deteriorate from exposure to the hot sun and cold winter temperatures, allowing leaks around the seal. The most common fix for this is to replace the rubber seal and requires a windshield repair shop to remove the glass to inspect the sheet metal lip, the seal, and the glass.

If the sheet metal is rusting, the repair shop can clean the area up and apply a rust converter to the metal to stop further rust and ensure the integrity of the sheet metal. If the rubber seal is torn or damaged, replacing it with a new one is the only option, and most shops have some on hand or can get them from the local auto parts store.

If the glass is old, damage to the edge can be a problem, and replacement glass is harder to find for older cars and trucks. To combat the leak, the windshield repair shop may need to add a sealer to the rubber before installing it to ensure good adhesion around the glass.

Urethane Seals

Modern vehicles use a durable urethane sealing system on the windshield. However, they can still develop leaks with time. While the urethane seal is under the glass, temperature changes will still affect the seal throughout the year. If the seal begins to leak, the same concerns can arise, and taking the vehicle to a windshield repair shop to remedy the problem is essential.

The only way to get to the urethane seals is to remove the windshield from the vehicle, and once that happens, the seal needs replacing. The tech will have to remove the urethane from the glass and then clean the windshield thoroughly to ensure the adhesion of the new seal material. 

The vehicle mounting surface must be cleaned and prepped to ensure the urethane will seal when reinstalling the glass. Once the windshield is in position, the urethane takes some time to cure, but most products dry enough to allow you to drive the car in a few hours. If the windshield is still leaking after the repair is complete, the repair shop may need to look for any damage they didn't see the first time and replace the seal a second time.