Weather stripping on our cars is an unsung hero. We rarely notice it, but if we didn&#;t have it, driving around would be a noisy, wet and miserable experience.
&#;Weather stripping, like the spare tire, or sway bar links, are totally ignored until they go bad or are damaged,&#; says master technician, author and instructor Bob Lacivita. &#;But they are important to your driving experience, comfort and health.&#;
Weather strip on cars (aka gasket) is apt to get damaged if it freezes to the door frame or glass, then tears when you open the door or trunk. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can also break down, or dry rot, the rubber, causing it to leak, lose shape or get folded.
&#;Although weather stripping is resilient, normal wear and tear, such as dragging your feet getting into and out of your car, or moving items in and out of the trunk, can quickly damage the rubber seal,&#; says Lacivita.
If that happens, it&#;s usually a DIY job, but you might want to call a pro if:
Car weather stripping is the rubbery lining that seals the gaps between the vehicle body and the doors, windows, trunk, hood and windshield. Weather stripping on a car serves various purposes:
&#;To test weather stripping fit, place a dollar bill between the weather strip and the part being sealed,&#; says Lacivita. &#;Feeling resistance when pulling the bill out signifies a good seal.&#;
If you suspect you have a weather stripping issue, here&#;s how to repair, replace and maintain weather stripping on a car.
When to Replace Weather StrippingIf you see dry rot or chunks missing, it&#;s time to replace your weather stripping. Also, if you have wind noise or water leaking near the door frames, check them for damage.
&#;It does get damaged by dry rot, or exposure to the heat of the sun and the cold of the winter,&#; says Thomas Patterson, Director of New Product Development and Technical Training at Glass Doctor. &#;Expanding and contracting causes fatigue in the EPDM [rubber] and causes it to loosen.&#;
How to Repair Weather Stripping on a CarTMB Studio
Time: 20 minutes to several hours
Cost: varies
Complexity: beginner
If you only have small tears or cuts, you can probably patch those with weather strip adhesive (be careful, it&#;s really sticky). Make sure to promptly wipe off any excess glue using a cloth and solvent-based liquid cleaner.
Similarly, if your weather strip is just falling or popping out a little, use a few drops of weather strip adhesive to hold it in place.
If your weather strip has lost shape or gotten folded over, you may also be able to repair it by cutting a small opening with a utility knife and inserting a piece of foam backer rod (lubricate it with silicone first). Use a metal rod or coat hanger to push it in.
If you can&#;t repair your weather stripping, you&#;ll need to replace it.
Pro-tip: &#;I recommend 3M Black Weatherstrip Adhesive,&#; says Lacivita. &#;I am not a fan of 3M Yellow Weather Strip adhesive. Once it fully cures, it&#;s worse than contact cement to remove.&#;
&#;It&#;s vital to allow the adhesive to cure and bond to the surface of the door!&#; says Patterson. &#;During this time, do not close the door before it&#;s done curing as it can cause the strip to shift.&#;
Maintaining weather stripping on a car will help keep it soft and flexible. From time to time, or when you find dust and debris on the weather stripping:
Link to I-ECO
&#;A good coating of any silicone-based protectant can always extend the life of the weatherstrip,&#; says Patterson. &#;When detailing the inside of the car, use the same protectant on the seals you used on the leather or vinyl trim.&#;
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Weather Stripping?It depends. A roll of generic self-stick or friction weather stripping costs less than $25. &#;On the other hand, a vehicle-specific weather strip that requires removing trim, or removing the sunroof, can run up to $800,&#; Lacivita says.
FAQsYes, but why? says Lacivita. &#;Besides being open to the elements and annoyed with road noise and parts slamming into each other, driving without weather stripping would be uncomfortable since the HVAC system has to work harder to compensate for temperature changes.&#;
If cared for properly, it should last the lifetime of your vehicle. &#;I would highly doubt that any normal vehicle owner will ever need to replace such items on their car,&#; says Patterson.
If your weather stripping is vehicle or part specific, you&#;ll need to order it from a dealer or an aftermarket supplier. You can also try to carefully remove a small piece to determine what type you need, such as if it fits into a channel, attaches with clips or is glued to the vehicle&#;s body. If you&#;re lucky, you can save money by ordering a generic roll.
About the ExpertsBob Lacivita was an award-winning General Motors master technician for 27 years and has been an ASE master technician since . For 25 years, he also worked as an automotive technical educator and administrator. Today he writes about DIY car repairs and vehicle maintenance for Family Handyman, Reader&#;s Digest and other outlets.
Thomas Patterson is Director of New Product Development and Technical Training at Glass Doctor. He has been in the glass business for 45 years and worked on thousands of vehicles. Glass Doctor is a Neighborly Company, with more than 300 retail locations.
As a car owner, you have probably heard the term "weather stripping" before, even if you aren't sure what it means. Weather stripping is a very important function in your car, and you can even find it in building such as your home or business. It can be used in any place that has doors or windows, so it could be in more places than you think.
Get a free quoteWeather stripping, also known as "weather seals" or "weather strips," is the rubber material that covers the edges of your car's doors, windows, windshield, and trunk. These pieces of rubber act as seals to keep out cold air, rain, snow, wind, and even bugs! Along with protecting your interior against the harsh weather elements, it will prevent road noise from disturbing your ride. They also ensure that your windows and doors stay shut while you are on the road.
In order to function correctly, weather stripping must be fitted to your specific vehicle. All cars come with the seals already, but with usual wear and tear, they will need to be replaced. If you need new weather stripping for your car, you will need to find one that is made for your make and model to ensure that it fits properly.
Weather stripping is extremely important for a lot of reasons. First of all, they prevent metal-on-metal or metal-on-glass contact which will protect other parts of your car. They also protect the interior from the weather and road conditions. But most importantly, they help make your ride more enjoyable. If you had to drive a car with loud road noises in the background all the time, you would certainly get frustrated.
There are many different kinds of weather stripping in your car that you should look out for, here are a couple of examples:
Like almost any part of your car, your weather stripping will likely need to be replaced at some points. Some car parts have specific recommendations when it comes to their replacement. Maybe after a certain amount of miles or years, that part might need to be replaced. This is a little different when it comes to weather stripping. How long your weather stripping will last depends on what kind of car you have and your driving habits.
Since there isn't a cookie-cutter answer for when you should get your weather stripping replaced, it is even more important to look out for the signs that it is worn out. You might find that water is leaking into your car, even when all the windows and doors are shut. You might notice musty or moldy smells from inside your car or hear loud sounds every time you pick up speed in your car.
Want to learn more about weather stripping and how you can tell if your's has gone bad, click here!
While, technically, you can drive without properly working weather stripping, we don't recommend it for a few reasons. Here at Wrench, we suggest that you get your weather stripping replaced as soon as you notice a tear or hole.
Compromised weather stripping can cause a variety of annoyances and even lead to bigger problems down the road. If water leaks into your car due to a hole in your weather stripping, that could end up causing mold in your interior.
If you think your weather stripping is starting to show signs of wear and tear, you will want to book an appointment for a weather stripping replacement. Luckily for you, Wrench's ASE-certified mobile mechanics can perform that service at any preferred location. If you live in one of our service areas, you can get our weather stripping replacement services done at your home, office, or even the local shopping mall.
To book your appointment with Wrench, simply go to the homepage of our website, download our mobile app, or give us a quick call. We will get a little bit of information about your car and then we will provide you with an honest quote for your weather stripping replacement service.
The first thing we will need to know is what kind of car you have. You should be able to tell us the year, make, and model of your vehicle. You will also be asked to give us the VIN and license plate number. This information is super important because it helps us figure out what parts we need to order or pick up on the way to your location. Without this information, our mobile mechanic wouldn't arrive prepared, leaving your car without functioning weather stripping for even longer.
Once we know what kind of car you have, we will need to know what service it needs. Since you are looking for a weather stripping replacement service, you will be able to book it directly and any additional services you might need. If you have been putting off that tire rotation or oil change, this is a great time to book those services as well.
After we have gotten all of that information, we will calculate an auto repair quote for your services. This quote will include all the expenses such as part costs, labor, and service fees. Everything will be broken down so you can easily understand what your money is going towards. With Wrench, you won't have to worry about paying any hidden fees because we believe that honesty and transparency are the best customer service traits. We will always give you the full picture before you book your appointment so you can make an informed decision.
When you are finished looking over our quote for your weather stripping replacement service, you will be able to choose a date, time, and location for your appointment. No matter where you choose to have your Wrench service, you will be able to spend your time however you please. In no time, we will get your car repaired and you will be able to hop back in and head out to your next destination.
So what are you waiting for? Book your weather stripping replacement appointment with Wrench today!
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Automotive Weatherstrips.
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