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Windshield Replacement Issues

33K views 28 replies 23 participants last post by  tdcody 
#1 ·
I recently had my windshield on my '11 WK2 Overland replaced by SafeLite with a non-OEM windshield (that's what GEICO will pay for). The repair has not gone smoothly and my windshield is making a buzzing noise and my rainsense wipers are not working properly.

They came to replace the windshield and as soon as I drove it the windshield started making a buzzing noise. I noticed that the rubber gasket around the bottom of it was coming up in places. I called Safelite and they apologized and came out right away and installed a new windshield. This time the problem got worse. Also, when the tech was taking off the mirror he broke the 2-piece cover that surrounds the windshield and said he would order a new one for me (not really his fault, the plastic clips are poorly made and extremely fragile, but safelite stood behind it).

Brought my car down to their shop and they used a heat gun to bend the gasket back into place - this improved the buzzing but it's still there. The manager said maybe since the glass is not OEM it doesn't fit right and he'll order me a new OEM windshield and a new gasket.

Yesterday, it rained and I noticed the rainsense wipers were not working properly, the windshield got to the point where you couldn't see anything out of it before it kicked in.

Anyone experience similar problems? Think the rainsense issue has to do with the glass or the sensor?
 
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#2 ·
Rain sense wipers have stopped working on every car that I replaced the windshield.
 
#7 ·
Only use OEM...there IS a difference between OEM, near OEM, and other non-OEM. I'd beat the crap out of that GEICO shenanigans....that's a lot of bull and you're entitled to OEM on that vehicle no matter what that cut rate outfit says. Glass these days can be somewhat structural, and may have properties in the OEM product not found in non-OEM. Make them fix it right, or call your states' insurance department. Bruce
 
#8 · (Edited)
Absolutely, INSIST that they use an OEM windshield, tell them that you've tried it their way twice now, and the aftermarket windshield does not "return the vehicle to the same condition it was in before it was damaged as they are required to do by state and federal law and the terms of your agreement with them" Use those exact words. Do not accept no, and escalate it to a supervisor every time you get a no. Repeat the same line each time.

I've never not been able to get an insurance company to pop for an OEM windshield...even on old cars. Safelite is about the best in the business, the issue must be with the glass itself not fitting well.
 
#9 ·
When we had our windshield replaced I looked up the insurance requirements for our state (MA)...since the Jeep was new (under 20K miles) we were entitled to an OEM replacement.

Even with that, the Safelite installers goofed up the first time and we had a buzzing at/near 70 MPH and the lower gasket was lifting off of the glass. Took it back in for replacement and they did it right the second time around. No gaps in the gasket and no problems with wind noise/buzzing.
 
#20 ·
When we had our windshield replaced I looked up the insurance requirements for our state (MA)...since the Jeep was new (under 20K miles) we were entitled to an OEM replacement.

Even with that, the Safelite installers goofed up the first time and we had a buzzing at/near 70 MPH and the lower gasket was lifting off of the glass. Took it back in for replacement and they did it right the second time around. No gaps in the gasket and no problems with wind noise/buzzing.
What did you do to correct the noise, I have the same problem.
 
#22 ·
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1uOYtiv_mE

Is this the buzzing noise people are talking about? That's the sound I'm getting from my windshield when driving 55+ mph ONLY on really windy days though. It sounds like it's coming from the lower drivers side area on my windshield but it could be originating from a different spot.

Not sure what's causing it though. Had my whole dash area replaced under warranty due to the top material delaminating, had the windshield replaced, and front bumper repaired in the last few months.



What do you mean by gasket?? Is that part of the seal on the windshield or that trim piece on the bottom of the windshield that the wipers poke through?
 
#25 · (Edited)
I've never had an issue with Safelite for any vehicle I've had windshields replaced on. They've always been great.

The one thing they always warned me about was lowering a window a crack before shutting the last door (at least while getting in) for the first 24 hours to minimize the pressure while the gasket settles. The pressure from closing a car door while the seal is curing can actually pop a windshield partially out of the seal and lead to leakage.

As far a the Jeep, while I haven't had to have a windshield replaced on it yet, I can see why it might cause issues. I'm actually perplexed why Jeep thinks it's a good idea to have glass sitting on top of a gasket instead of the edge sealed by it. The back glass is worse and literally just stuck to the back gate. I actually thought it might be flipper glass at one point.

The windshield actually looks like they forgot to run part of the gasket around it. It seems to me, that would create more potential for turbulance and wind whistle...or buzzing if it doesn't stick right.

It's a bad design, in my opinion and actually looks sloppy.

As far as the RSW, I agree that OEM should be used with this system. Aside from a system that uses other kinds of sensor technology not built into the glass, there's no getting around the need for pretty specific glass.
 
#12 ·
I just had my windshield replaced and insisted on OEM. Thankfully, I got it (says Mopar). My issue has since been that everytime I start the car, the wipers go on for once pass. I have the AUTO setting on as I have had since I owned the car (Sept 2011). I just can't get it to stop doing this!!

Any thoughts? Anyone else had this problem?
 
#13 ·
I just had my windshield replaced and insisted on OEM. Thankfully, I got it (says Mopar). My issue has since been that everytime I start the car, the wipers go on for once pass. I have the AUTO setting on as I have had since I owned the car (Sept 2011). I just can't get it to stop doing this!!

Any thoughts? Anyone else had this problem?

From my understanding from the reps at Abra Auto and Glass, That there are 2 types of windshields used for the JGC one is for the Non Auto wipers and one for the ones that do have it. You may have an OEM one for Non-Auto wipers. Which could cause the problem. Just my guess. May be completely off. :confused:
 
#15 · (Edited)
From just going through this on a previous car with rain-sensing wipers, the sensor that sits under the windshield needs to be resealed to the new windshield properly. For my old car this meant an entirely new sensor was needed because once you broke the seal between it and the old windshield, you could not repair it to seal properly on the new one. That was my old car, not sure if that's the case with these Jeeps. At the least, you'd need the right kind of gel sealant to make sure there was no air bubbles at all between the sensor and new windshield.

ETA: you can't have any air between the sensor and windshield glass because that messes up how he sensor "sees" the rain pitter pattering on your windshield. On my previous car it took a new sensor and a big gob of the right kind of gel (didn't look like silicone) to restore the functionality of the rain sensor. The dealer did not know this, btw, and had to research it after I brought my car back in after my windshield was replaced and the wipers were not working. To everybody above who has had glass replaced by one of these "auto glass specialists" I would recommend going back to the dealer and have them inspect the rain sensor for proper seal. It probably isn't.
 
#16 ·
I've been hit with multiple rocks since getting my jeep back in august.
three of the rocks were loud noticible hits. one left a little tiny mark all the way at the top of the windshield, no bid deal.

Well, this morning i get hit right in the middle of the windshield and it created a type of chip, that I think can be repaired. i would like to just ignore it but i have a feeling it's location is going to annoy me....LOL!
I had a similar chip on my last car and never fixed it because it was all the way in the corner on the passenger side and i forgot all about it

I think right now I might just have it repaired since the Long Island Expressway is a death trap for windshields. with my luck ill have the windshield replaced and get hit with another rock the next day...LOL
 
#17 ·
Safelight sucks. I had the replace a windshield on another suv and it was not sealed right. It started raining that night and flooded the radio, AC, gauges, and everything else that was electrical under the dashboard. Needless to say I will never use them again. But yes I agree use OEM glass.
I already have 4 big chips in my glass. Must be really soft glass
because it usually takes a BIG WHACK to chip my previous dodge ram glass. Maybe it's a steeper angle or something.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Had a chip in the 1st 200 miles. Took it in for "star repair", it was about 1/4" diameter, but just below eye level for the driver. Unfortunately, I had an idiot do the repair (at a recommended dealer, from the sloth looks of the guy when he took my keys, my instinct was to grab them back and run - my instincts were 100% correct).

The dealer told me the repair would take 20 minutes. 1 hour later I asked for my GC back, and they told me it would be a bit yet. After another 1/2 hour they give me the bill, and then pull my GC out. Got in and - not only did the spot not look any better, the repair idiot had made a curved 1" long scratch in the windshield.

I go back in to complain and they ask me - "what do you want us to do". I tell then they owe me a new windshield. The service manager looked at it and proclaimed it was "not so bad" and gave me my money back.

What the service manager said happened was the idiot did not follow procedure and clean/blow out the chip before installing the suction device on the windshield. Because of this, a small piece of glass was trapped under the suction cup and when they removed it after the "repair", it scratched the windshield. The chip was also not filled flush and level.

This was my 1st experience at chip repair. I was also trying to avoid having to replace the entire windshield on my GC less than 1 week old.

So if the guy you hand your keys to looks like a slovenly idiot, they probably are. Grab your keys and run for the door. I know next time I will. This is the largest glass service company in the area I live and I am resonably well connected in the community. Trust me that they will lose MUCH more business than the cost of replacing my windshield after I have spread the word around. Not that I would ever step foot inside their shop or let them touch my GC again.
 
#23 ·
I have the exact same buzzing noise when I'm driving coming from the windshield. Just like the video! Is it the seal around the windshield that's got leaks? My dealer couldn't replicate the noise. Of course I drove off from the dealer and it started buzzing within 3 minutes.
 
#24 ·
I had my windshield replaced due to a stone hit. I used a company called "Glass America" because they use only OEM glass. No aftermarket like Safelite. The tech replaced the glass and when he tested the rain sense, it did not work. They then replaced the sensor and was willing to replace the windshield if necessary. The sensor replacement worked. I would recommend "Glass America" based on my experience.;)
 
#26 ·
Hi All,
I recently had my windshield replaced and had rain sensor issues. I would get the ghost swipe on startup and rain sensor appeared to have hugely decreased sensitivity and poor performance, but did appear to have some sort of sense working - ie if you hosed down the windshield it would swipe.
Glass was from PGW.
I searched all over the forums, finding similar cases of the same problem both with aftermarket glass and some even with OEM glass.
There were some postings that it took 2-3 replacement glass to get them to work.
One post I came across mentioned a number of carwashes eventually solved the issue.

So I let the problem run its course, and fortunately it was a rainy week. As the week went on the sensor got better. Its now working 100% as it once did.

I suspect that there is some sort of learning curve built into the programming. There seems to be no documentation on it anywhere.
I thought I would share..before rushing out to get another pane of glass, let it run its course.
 
#27 ·
If you installed OEM Mopar glass then you will be fine! There have been a number of complaints by owners who installed cheaper knock-off windshields. Don't do it . . . pay the extra and get Mopar glass! Those rain sensors are VERY finicky!
 
#29 ·
2014 Summit. I had my windshield replaced by Safelite recently. Their initial plan was aftermarket glass, but they installed Mopar when I requested this through my insurance company. The mopar windshield does not look exactly the same - the original had a logo and ID/part numbers in the center bottom of the glass, while the new one has emblem and numbers on the passenger bottom. But it says Mopar.

My Rainsense wipers work reasonably well (never worked particularly well from the beginning), but I did have two different problems - the windshield cowl gasket is coming up in places, and the Smartbeam headlights did not work properly (would turn on/off erratically and inappropriately, when they worked very well originally). I had specifically left the jeep at a dealer for Safelight to work on because I was aware that recalibration of the Smartbeam camera was recommended after a windshield replacement, and Safelight said the dealer would do that. The dealer (Putnam Chrysler in Burlingame, CA) claimed to know nothing about any method to recalibrate the camera. They actually didn't seem to know there was a camera at all. They were unfamiliar with the term "Smartbeam headlights". Not confidence-inspiring...but par for this dealer.

After conversations with Chrysler customer care and bringing it to another dealer for this problem and several others (steering wheel vibration at highway speeds, rough 2-3 shift, etc.) the second dealer recalibrated the camera and it works normally now. Unfortunately, I am still stuck with the other problems and another uncooperative dealer (Stevens Creek Chrysler, San Jose, CA).

Incidentally, if anyone can recommend a competent dealer in the San Francisco Bay Area that doesn't act like they're doing you a favor by servicing a vehicle under warranty/service contract, please let me know.

Dave G.
 
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