Will the aging of the outer window seal cause water leakage?
3 Answers
The aging of the outer window seal will not cause water leakage as long as the glass sealant is not damaged or aged. Below is relevant information about car windows: Types of car windows: Car windows are generally categorized into four types—front and rear windshields, ventilation windows, heat-insulating side windows, and sunroofs. Composition of car windows: Standard automotive glass is made of silica glass, with silicon dioxide accounting for over 70% of its composition, while the rest consists of sodium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium, etc., produced through the float glass process. Finished automotive glass should have no visible bubbles or scratches.
Just two days ago, I noticed the passenger side carpet was soaking wet after washing the car. After some troubleshooting, I realized it was due to the window weatherstrip. My eight-year-old car has endured years of sun exposure and winter freezing, causing the rubber to harden and become brittle—small cracks were visible with just a slight bend. Rainwater was seeping through the gaps between the weatherstrip and the glass into the door cavity, and in severe cases, water would backflow into the cabin through the drainage holes at the bottom of the door. During the last typhoon, the car interior was practically a fish tank until I replaced the weatherstrip. I recommend using a credit card to run along the edge of the weatherstrip before each rainy season to check for deformation or detachment—this part is far more critical than you might think.
Veteran car owners might overlook this, but the window weatherstrip, seemingly insignificant, can actually let rainwater sneak into the car when it ages. My own decade-old car had a sudden mold outbreak on the door lining during last year's rainy season. Upon removing the door panel, I discovered a three-finger-deep pool of water inside. Over time, rubber weatherstrips shrink and deform, especially at the corners near the triangular rear window, where cracks are prone to form. Rainwater first seeps into the door cavity, and if it can't drain in time, it overflows through the window regulator opening, soaking the floor mats. Even worse, clogged drainage holes can lead to standing water rusting the door's metal panel. When replacing the weatherstrip, remember to ask the mechanic to clean out the crescent-shaped drainage holes at the bottom of the door.
