The glass windows, sunroof, and windshield of your car may enhance your driving experience when they function normally, but they can also cause serious annoyance if they spring a leak. Water leakage into your car can lead to everything from damp passengers to musty smells and electrical damage.
If any of the auto glass panels on your vehicle leak, you need to take action before the leak gets any worse or any significant damage occurs. Here are some key points to help you understand the potential issues you face, why and where the leak has developed, and what steps you need to take to correct the problem.
How to Diagnose a Leak in Your Auto Glass
Water can seep into a car from a variety of entry points. The sight of water on or near your windshield, for instance, doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem with the windshield itself. The water may have migrated from a leaky door seal, leaky side window, or other structural malfunction.
You can sometimes confirm a leak in the windshield by administering a light sprinkling of water to the windshield and then watching the water to accumulate around the dashboard. Another technique involves soaping the exterior, running the defroster blower with all the windows sealed, and watching for bubbles.
Water stains on upholstery can indicate a leaky window, windshield, or sunroof even if any water has long dried. The pattern and location of the stains may tell you whether the water comes from a side window or from the sunroof.
Why Auto Glass Leaks Happen
You may have little doubt about the reason for your auto glass leak if you have a significant crack in a window. Wide cracks in glass can permit water to enter. If your glass appears intact, however, suspect the seals or other structural components that surround the panels.
The rubber seals around windows can develop gaps over time, potentially leading to water leakage. The urethane that adheres windshields to car frames can also form an imperfect seal. This problem sometimes occurs if you have an unskilled or inexperienced technician replacing your windshield.
Sunroofs have gutters running around all four edges. These gutters collect any water that might enter through the sunroof, routing the water to drainage housings and tubes that send the water harmlessly to the ground. Clogs in this system can cause water to pool and your sunroof to leak.
What Leaky Glass Can Do to Your Car
Of all the types of damage water leakage can do to your car, the most common issue involves damage to the electrical system. Water that gets into the door or dashboard circuits and motors can cause these components to stop functioning, requiring potentially expensive diagnostics and repairs.
Mold growth presents another problem in cars that have leakage issues. Mold not only makes vehicle cabins smell bad; it can also cause respiratory issues in people with asthma or allergies.
How to Address a Troublesome Leak
Professional auto glass technicians know how to troubleshoot and fix all kinds of auto glass leaks. For example, a skilled application of butyl sealant can fill a leakage point along a windshield seal. Special resins can repair small cracks, although large, deep cracks may call for replacement of the glass panel.
A leaky sunroof may need nothing more than a thorough cleaning of its clogged drainage system. You can also have the sunroof glass replaced if a crack in the glass has caused water to enter.
Get that leaky auto glass fixed before your vehicle sustains additional damage. Contact Aaron Auto Glass to receive a quick quote or schedule a visit to our shop so that we can evaluate the problem and provide effective solutions.