Help me deal with a loose windshield trim/gasket/edging piece, on a 2007 Kia Spectra.
July 13, 2010 8:48 AM   Subscribe

Help me deal with a loose windshield trim/gasket/edging piece, on a 2007 Kia Spectra.

The start/end point of the trim is at the lower corner, passenger side of the windshield, and some time ago it worked itself loose and started flapping around at highway speeds. So, essentially there is a yard-long floppy chunk of plastic connected at the top corner of the passenger side of the windshield that flaps around and makes me nervous and is surely doing no good for anything. I can sort of tuck the stuff back in around the windshield, but it doesn't stay put. I duct taped it temporarily, and that worked OK, at least it arrested the flapping, but I need a real solution as we are driving 2500 miles in the next two weeks.

Here's a picture of a (not my) 2007 Spectra labeled for your convenience.

The auto glass company says they want $85 to put it back on, but that it'll be $125 if they need to take off the glass to do it and, oh, by the way, they won't be held responsible if they break the glass while trying it. Um. yeah. But they'll come to me, which is a plus.

The dealership has yet to get back to me, but I can't imagine that it'll be much better. In getting things done through them in the past it's always taken 48 hours. Can't do without the car for 48 hours this week.

My choices, as I see them:
  1. Suck it up and get the glass company to do it.
  2. Suck it up and get the dealership to do it.
  3. Do it myself I'd love some specific advice here. How? Does it require an adhesive? Special tool? Any other tips?
  4. Toss a cinder block through the windshield, blame it on local rapscallions, and get insurance to pay for it.
  5. Other (please describe)
posted by dirtdirt to Travel & Transportation (9 answers total)
 
Best answer: If you have less than 60,000 miles on the car, take it to a Kia dealer; you're still within the full bumper-to-bumper warranty even if you're not the original owner.
posted by Doohickie at 9:00 AM on July 13, 2010


Permatex windshield sealant, really lovely easy to use self leveling silicone adhesive, I would apply a bead to the trim backside and tape it in place until cured.
posted by hortense at 9:00 AM on July 13, 2010


Well, 4 is insurance fraud, don't do that. Also, the block through the windshield and really any glass breakage causes crazy glass in your car for every and lots of damage, if you weren't joking.

Why wouldn't this be covered by the warranty? A 2007 Kia Spectra has a "5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty" and I would imagine that your trim issue would fall under that warranty. It should be a free fix at the dealership.
posted by iknowizbirfmark at 9:07 AM on July 13, 2010


3M Super Weatherstrip and Gasket Adhesive (Fast Drying Yellow) is great for this sort of thing.
Before you glue, however, peel the weatherstrip back and make sure it's not grooved in such a way that it presses or clips into a track or moulding. If it does, equip yourself with a plastic mallet or deadblow hammer, apply glue to the weatherstrip, and tap it back (carefully!) into its groove.
posted by Jon-o at 9:18 AM on July 13, 2010


http://www.kia-forums.com/
posted by neuron at 10:16 AM on July 13, 2010


My first approach would be the dealership, and lots of whining about how I'm going on a planned road trip and really need this taken care of pronto, pretty please, you guys are awesome, etc.
posted by Big_B at 10:26 AM on July 13, 2010


Response by poster: Called the dealer, they set up an appointment with their glass vendor, the vendor was on time to our appointment and the whole thing took maybe 10 minutes.

Yay!
posted by dirtdirt at 2:00 PM on July 16, 2010


Response by poster: Oh: it was fully covered and no money changed hands.
posted by dirtdirt at 2:01 PM on July 16, 2010


Thus the charm of Kias and Hyundais. Glad it worked out for you.
posted by Doohickie at 12:18 PM on August 5, 2010


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