Window tinter sliced my windshield gasket. Should I be concerned?
 

I'm a total 911 rookie here... So please with my dumb questions.

I had the front windshield tinted to cope with the florida heat. It's clear, but has UV protection.

Anyway, they always trim the film on the outside of the car before putting it inside. It looks like he may have inadvertently trimmed a small chunk out of the bottom of my new windshield gasket. I noticed the piece was flopping a bit in the wind on my way home after having it done.

It it just cosmetic to cover the outside edge of the glass or am I at risk for leaks now? It's a small chunk, maybe 5-6mm on the bottom passenger side of the gasket.

I'd just glue it back down, should be fine. Tim

Unfortunately the piece is gone... It was hanging on by a thread when I knocked it off at the self serve car wash. Didn't bother to retrieve it.

Tint guy is going to replace the trim. As I guess he should. The trim piece is literally brand new.

Any idea what the part number is? It's an 85 coupe. I went on Pelican and there are 9000 different versions of this wildly ranging in price.

Make the tint weenie replace it.

He is...

I just need the part number. I'm overwhelmed by the number of options on Pelican.

make them replace, leaking water = rust = problems you dont want or have now

Any idea what the part is?

Which car? '79 or '85?

do a search for 911-541-225-03 and add the specifics for your car They range in price from $28 (URO) to $141 for the superseded Porsche part.

The gasket holds the windshield in so the windshield has to come out to replace it. Is the gasket cut through?

Do a search for windshield R and R because apparently not all gaskets are created equal.

Sorry, it was the 85.

Seriously? The glass has to come out to do this? Ugggghhhhhh.

Not my car. A random white carerra pulled up where I was having lunch and took this pic. The yellow part is where he cut the chunk out.

[IMG]https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8794/2...26a43e6e_c.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/L5Amtx][/IMG]

So after seeing the pic, you're sure the glass has to come out?

Yes the glass has to come out.

The last thing I would do is replace the whole seal due to a small piece being sliced off - if the missing piece/chunk bothered me, I would simply fill and form it with black caulk (water based, since it is easier to shape and work with that RVT).

Agreed, you may be opening a can of worms. Yes window has to come out and you better use the correct rubber....Tim

If it were my car I would have a new seal put in and have them foot the bill if they were willing.

Not a big deal to take the window out and replace that seal any good glass shop can do it in no time.

Be nice to see actual damage....if it's a mere sliver, personally can't see making a big deal about it. Tim

I'll see if I can get a pic... It's not huge. But I literally just put a new windshield in with brand new trim. So it bugs me :)

Trim and windshield are new, how old is the windshield gasket?

Everything related to the windshield is brand new. I had a new dash put in and they had to take the glass out to get to the dash. Unfortunately somebody used something extremely sticky and they had to break the original glass out to get it removed. So we replaced the glass and all the seals. So everything related to the glass and the seals were brand new.

Here's a pic of the damage. My race shop looked at the pic and said to replace. He felt it was taking a change with water intrusion and rust with any seals compromised on the outside...

Thoughts?

[IMG]https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8147/2...60999027_c.jpg, on Flickr[/IMG]

The tint installer should not have cut the seal. He should compensate you for part and install Just a word of caution the seal is easy to replace if whoever installs it is familiar and has done it a few times. Believe me been there done that. You are not sure if you have a good seal so wise to have it replaced by someone experienced. The windshield seal is a weak point in the windshield assembly since you can't see trapped moisture under the seal.

I'm trying to figure out why you didnt have the window tinted while you had the windshield out. :confused:

Totally understood. The first guy that tried to install the new windshield had an epic fail. Wasn't till we call the shop and said don't send anyone that hasn't done at least 5 or 6 of these. The second guy was quite good.

The car is way far from that shop now so I found someone local this morning that has done a lot of these. I asked him what he knew about 911 windshields and his first response was that "they're difficult". I liked his answer :) He's done a bunch and has also done all sorts of vintage cars. So he's my guy. Now I have to get back with the tint shop and give them the bad news.

The guy I spoke to today who I'm going to give the work to (independent glass shop, not a safelite) also said to be careful of OEM branded parts as MB and Porsche are starting to outsource their manufacturing to China. Parts don't fit nearly as good, despite having an OEM label on it. I'm going to check with Pelican and see what they have.

Didn't know I was going to tint it at the time... After having the car out in the Florida heat, I decided it would be a good idea. But then again, when you tint your side windows they don't remove the glass either :) It's normal to trim the tint on the outside of the car and it was was just a weird fluke where the guy wasn't paying attention with his razor blade....

Maybe our cars are too old, but the tint shop I go to has a machine that cuts the film based on the make, model, etc. he enters into the system.

Todd

Unfortunately my tinter doesn't have a digital template for a 30 year old aero beetle lol.