So recently I noticed my upper windshield trim/ molding seems to have created a little gap and I bought a replacement for it, However I expected it to be somewhat of a easy replacement or at the very least a well documented fix.

I can’t seem to find any information on how to replace it
as well as the difficulty level of the fix. Is it in some sort of manual online? Or, If it’s easy enough to explain could someone help me out? Thanks.

 

That gets replaced along with the windshield you can't install it properly otherwise.

 

Oh for real? Any way I can have someone lift the glass and set that in or you does it really need a whole new windshield?

 

Glass has to be removed not necessarily replaced. Can't just lift the glass up a bit and put it back down.

 

What kind of a gap? I wonder why there is suddenly a gap, they don’t shrink. Ca you post a picture? Also, since you are using a non-genuine replacement, I would be concerned about how it might look once installed. These aftermarket parts just never have the same look and fit of the genuine Lexus parts. JM$.02

 

yeah I have a video of it here, I currently live in Cali so I was unsure if the sun might have shrunk it since the original owner left it have in the garage and half outside. I’m the least knowledgeable about windshields so it’s just assumptions.

 

I see two things:
1) It looks like the car was repainted, and the paint is starting to come back from where there was probably a tape line along the windshield molding
2) The windshield was replaced after a repaint, and it wasn't in exactly the same spot

Replacing the moulding won't help in my view. Removing the glass to relocate the moulding is the only thing that would work, but then you might introduce other problems

Not much you can do for a reasonable price. I'd leave it alone as long as water isn't settling in that opening. It should be able to drain to the cowl.

 

Wow was not expecting any of this, where would the water come out from? I want to test to make sure it pours out, also I hear wind coming from that corner with the big gap which is why I got the idea to “replace” the part. Are you referring to the orange ish color near the rubber trim? I thought that was rust or like a rust stain.

 

Poor windshield installation is very common the industry swaps glass like it's a fast food operation in and out as fast as possible. If you plan on keeping the car a long time it's best to have the glass removed so you can inspect for rust issues.

 

With regards to the tape line and the repaint, I was looking at this line along the top of the windshield. It could just be a reflection in your video. This isn't really a huge concern as long as you keep the car waxed and take care of it. I've had repainted cars that have lasted a long time by just taking care of them


The arrow I drew also posts to a spot that looks like rust to me. I would check if that's just dirt, and try to touch that up if it is rust before it spreads. However, that looks like it's probably from a rock chip and not from the windshield installation.

In terms of water, I would imagine it would go in here:


And go along the inside between the windshield and the trim pieces to the cowl (underneath the hood, where the windshield wipers are). From there, it would probably drain to the ground


Lex2K is correct - the best way to take care of this is to have the glass removed so you can check. But there's a lot of risk in my opinion, and there are a lot of unknowns. The installer may put the windshield in worse than before, damage the dash, or break the glass if they aren't careful. If the wind noise isn't too bad, I would be inclined to leave it alone

 

This is why I remove windshield glass myself (I don't install them) but that's not an option for most people. Having said that it's not too difficult to find a glass shop that is competent they do so many installs that the techs have become very good at it.

What they won't do is any rust repair, they apply 3M primer and call it a day. That's the problem with bad windshield jobs they damage the paint but you won't know it for many years.

 

i really appreciate you guys breaking it all down for me thanks. Definitely going to look into everything tomorrow. I never considered that big discoloration being paint, I tried wiping it with isopropyl alcohol and nothing came off.

in terms of of that being rust or dirt I’m sure it’s dirt I peeled some out of the trim today funny enough.

[Edit] it’s actually a little rust spot where the arrow is pointing at you are right

The wind noise isn’t bad at all, originally thought it was my AC for some reason but noticed it’s only coming from that corner.