Windscreen seal failure

I was out for a long drive yesterday to go an collect someone. Then out of the blue the Jimny started making a weird noise. A bit like fine icy rain/hail, almost a rattle. But seemed to be coming from the roof.

On pulling over I could see a small seal had come out from presumably behind the windscreen and had been flapping about. Not sure if the noise is from the seal flapping or the gap it has left.

Called in at the dealership at lunch time, they have photographed and I'm currently waiting for a call back after they have spoken with Suzuki.

Anyone else had a similar issue? I don't recall seeing anything in the forum of late of such an issue.

 

 

Is that part of the roof trim that covers the join between the ivory and black paint?

rogerzilla wrote:

Is that part of the roof trim that covers the join between the ivory and black paint?

Not 100% sure. You can't see it above the glass, although there is a recess. It looks like it should be behind the glass. But the dealership wasn't sure either. It is a soft stretchy rubber. I suspect there must be a proper bonding seal holding the screen in place and this might just be a weather seal of some kind.

I bet it is just a gap filler to reduce wind noise, as it is a bonded screen, I wouldn't think it will affect the actual sealing?

Soeley wrote:

I wouldn't think it will affect the actual sealing?

Me either. Bit odd that it has failed, although the car was in for a service last Monday. I wonder if they used the high powered pressure washer along the top of the screen?

One of my BMWs played a whistle from the windscreen when you hit 75mph. I put up with it for a while and then booked when it was due a service. I think they took the windscreen out and re-fitted.

As most windscreens are glued in, I suspect that the trim on yours is just a weather seal, but it might be there for noise reduction.

Robin

In Suzuki terms they are "Windshield Dams"   

There is a upper dam and two side dams
They are installed on the glass before it is placed on the car and sit outside of the bonded area. Whilst they go most of the length of the top and sides they do not seem to join completely with each other at the sides
The installation instructions for them suggests they are attached (self adhesive??) to the windscreen before it is mounted. As you then install it you are supposed to ensure that they "fit to the roof panel and side panels" so they must have some sort of part in the body they clip or otherwise attach to.

Perhaps a key message in the workshop manual is "Do not apply excessive water pressure"

Parts 2 and 4 in the picture

Haven’t heard of any Gen 4s doing this. My evoque had a rubber seal pop out on the side of the pillar and scared the life out of me on the motorway as it slapped against the window. I think it got disturbed when I had the roof wrapped but equalling it would come off when I pressure washed the car so it could be the dealership has gone too close with the pressure washer. Even though I trust my dealer with my car I still don’t let them wash it and ask them to leave it. 

Well, the dealer just called. Apparently Suzuki are rejecting it as the warranty doesn't cover such things..... back to Customer Services I guess 

Although I need to check, but I thought there was a 5 year bodywork warranty, I'd have assume such a thing might have been covered under that anyway.

Jet washers in the hands of bunkernuts can do some very expensive damage to cars as well as the basics of quick car washing. When used incorrectly water and chemical cleaners can be driven behind all sorts of seals, decorative trim and door locks. I've seen warranty claims for damaged parts rejected for a number of cars of different marques, as jet washing has been carried out irresponsibly. High pressure water jets can be used in a range of applications that include removing scale, corrosion and painted surfaces, cutting steel sheet and accurately cutting complex shapes of automotive carpets. Would you really want to let some unskilled person with a jet washer loose to clean your car with one?

You are of course up against the age old problem of burden of proof. It's OK if you had noticed at the point of collection but it's going to be increasingly difficult after that.

This is a manufacturing problem, not a washing technique issue. We appear to be preparing the gallows for the poor person that washed a car......
We don't even know if they used a pressure washer, it could simply be time, rain and wind pressure, the stuff the front of a vehicle should survive.