Windshield weather stripping.

[slampro]

I noticed something that seemed kind of weird. There is a gap along the top of my windshield between the roof.(see pics below). Looks like water could get in there, and maybe cause some problem(s)? I looked at our 2008 Escape, 2004 Ranger. They both have rubber around the upper edge. Is there something missing here?

 

 

 

Also, here is a few shots of a couple recent trips.

 

 

Edited August 28, 2013 by slampro

[plus 3 golfer]

Nothing missing.  If you pull up slightly on  the plastic trim piece that runs down the side of the windshield, you can see that the body panel is one continuous piece and forms a channel around the windshield.  Water that gets in the channel between the windshield seal and the roof channel and side body sheet metal is channeled between the windshield seal and the body sheet metal surface and would drain at the bottom of the windshield in the cowl area .  Now having said that, should debris collect in the channel and not be cleaned out, it's possible that the metal surfaces in the channel could be prone to rust.  That's probably why most vehicles have a trim piece or rubber seal that covers the channel.  

[slampro]

Well alrighty then. Just seems like there should be something there.  

[DaveofDurham]

. . . .   Now having said that, should debris collect in the channel and not be cleaned out, it's possible that the metal surfaces in the channel could be prone to rust.  That's probably why most vehicles have a trim piece or rubber seal that covers the channel.  

 

Tree debris can be a serious problem.  Take a look where the hood hinges connect to the body.  There is a small drain opening in this area and it takes very little to block the drain and cause a pool of water to collect.  Clearing the debris is difficult because it's hard to reach especially on the passenger side where the opening is reduced by the presence of the tube carrying windshield washer fluid.

 

See earlier thread titled "tree debris".  This happened to several of us in the spring when a lot of stuff was dropping from the trees.  I had it happen again recently and the collected debris was a few pine needles and one very wet seed pod that had expanded when wet and set itself down on the drain opening.

 

This promises to happen again in the fall.

[slampro]

Tree debris can be a serious problem.  Take a look where the hood hinges connect to the body.  There is a small drain opening in this area and it takes very little to block the drain and cause a pool of water to collect.  Clearing the debris is difficult because it's hard to reach especially on the passenger side where the opening is reduced by the presence of the tube carrying windshield washer fluid.

 

See earlier thread titled "tree debris".  This happened to several of us in the spring when a lot of stuff was dropping from the trees.  I had it happen again recently and the collected debris was a few pine needles and one very wet seed pod that had expanded when wet and set itself down on the drain opening.

 

This promises to happen again in the fall.

 

I think I may look for some aftermarket weather stripping to put in there. Would not be expensive, and should install easily.

[DaveofDurham]

I think I may look for some aftermarket weather stripping to put in there. Would not be expensive, and should install easily.

 

I don't think that would help with the tree debris problem because leaves, pine needles, etc falling on the windshield can work there way down below the wipers and then get carried to the sides where they can obstruct the small drain holes.