"Pls excuse me...it seems I've wet my GEM": Q on windshield re-sealing
#1
"Pls excuse me...it seems I've wet my GEM": Q on windshield re-sealing
I spent about 90 minutes reading various posts on the age-old leaky windshield seal causing the GEM to fail (or partially fail) and freaky electrical gremlins to start appearing. Right now, I'm only having the blower fan remain "on".
From the posts I read, the one thing I didn't come away understanding was whether the people who've fixed this removed their windshield and installed a new gasket/seal--or whether they simply had their existing windshield and gasket re-sealed. Can anyone clarify for me?
My Ford dealer (who's pretty darn good) said I'm better off going directly to an auto glass place, and the guy I spoke with from SafeLite Auto Glass said all he can do is run a bead of sealant around the entire windshield gasket and hope that fixes it. Neither Ford nor SafeLite had any confidence that they could remove the windshield to replace the gasket w/ out cracking it....which would then result in my needing to buy a new windshield, too (which both of them indicated they would be more than happy to sell me).
Thanks, all....and Happy New Year!
Tim
From the posts I read, the one thing I didn't come away understanding was whether the people who've fixed this removed their windshield and installed a new gasket/seal--or whether they simply had their existing windshield and gasket re-sealed. Can anyone clarify for me?
My Ford dealer (who's pretty darn good) said I'm better off going directly to an auto glass place, and the guy I spoke with from SafeLite Auto Glass said all he can do is run a bead of sealant around the entire windshield gasket and hope that fixes it. Neither Ford nor SafeLite had any confidence that they could remove the windshield to replace the gasket w/ out cracking it....which would then result in my needing to buy a new windshield, too (which both of them indicated they would be more than happy to sell me).
Thanks, all....and Happy New Year!
Tim
#3
**UPDATE** Met with SafeLite glass guy today--no dice
Met a real nice guy in Hackettstown, NJ today who's been doing auto glass work about 27 years. He checked out my windshield seals (even pulled away a couple of them to see their condition) and didn't see any place where water could be coming in. I told him how many people on this board have experienced the same issue--and that they'd resolved it by having the winshield resealed.
Long story short, the guy told me he wouldn't feel right about charging me for something he knows in his heart isn't the problem. Instead, he suggested it may be that the front fender drains have plugged up with debris, dirt, etc and the water is seeping in through the cowling onto the fuse box & GEM.
Has anyone ever cleared their fender drains before? I assume they're tucked-up inside the plastic inner fender, so if anyone's got any tips on how best to get to them--either from the fender area or from the cowling, I'd sure appreciate it. I'd sure love to fix this now since my GEM has apparently dried-out and all my electrics are working fine at the moment
TIA,
Tim
Long story short, the guy told me he wouldn't feel right about charging me for something he knows in his heart isn't the problem. Instead, he suggested it may be that the front fender drains have plugged up with debris, dirt, etc and the water is seeping in through the cowling onto the fuse box & GEM.
Has anyone ever cleared their fender drains before? I assume they're tucked-up inside the plastic inner fender, so if anyone's got any tips on how best to get to them--either from the fender area or from the cowling, I'd sure appreciate it. I'd sure love to fix this now since my GEM has apparently dried-out and all my electrics are working fine at the moment
TIA,
Tim
#4
Process of elimination....
Well, for over a week now I've effectively kept all rain water from leaking into my truck by bungee'ing a small tarp over my windshield while I sort out what to do. At the risk of possibly getting my GEM wet again and having the electrical gremlins return again, this morning I decided to test whether or not the water might be coming in through the cowling.
I peeled back the tarp and left the garden hose trickling into the cowling for about an hour (being careful not to let the windshield get wet), and immediately noticed that the drains are nice and clear as the water was pouring out. As for the inside, it remained nice and dry. As the board suggested, it looks like it's gotta' be the windshield seal itself...
Looks like 27 years in the auto glass business don't necessarily mean a whole lot sometimes. Anyway, tomorrow I'm off to the place which does all the glass work for my Ford dealer and have them reseal the whole enchilada.
Tim
I peeled back the tarp and left the garden hose trickling into the cowling for about an hour (being careful not to let the windshield get wet), and immediately noticed that the drains are nice and clear as the water was pouring out. As for the inside, it remained nice and dry. As the board suggested, it looks like it's gotta' be the windshield seal itself...
Looks like 27 years in the auto glass business don't necessarily mean a whole lot sometimes. Anyway, tomorrow I'm off to the place which does all the glass work for my Ford dealer and have them reseal the whole enchilada.
Tim
#5
Tim, I had the same exact problem you had with your fan. I have a 2000 expy and the window was cracked up pretty good. the glass guy said it was really loose when he removed it and replaced it with a new window. I have to think that was the reason the gem module was getting wet. So far so good, but it has only been about two weeks. Mind you, the fan staying on only happened twice in a year. I have my fingers crossed that it is fixed.
#6
I had the same problem - GEM getting wet. I only figured out the GEM was getting wet after the dealership accidently cracked my windshield trying to figure out what was the problem with the truck, then they replaced the windshield - and presto, no more GEM problem..... so my recomendation is to replace the windshield totally and alert whoever is doing it to be generous with the sealant. GOOD LUCK!
#7
01expedownr and Skoiv-
Thanks for chiming in guys. As it turns out, Friday night we had our first rainfall since I had my windshield resealed and sure enough--problem is still there. Although my GEM is still working fine (it dried out last week allowing my fan control to start functioning correctly again) I have booked an app't to have my windshield replaced.
They quoted me $220 installed for a new windshield (I think they're also knocking off the $50 they charged for resealing my current windshield) so although I hate the idea of replacing something which isn't broken--it's worth it if it fixes my leak.
Stay tuned!!
Cheers,
Tim
Thanks for chiming in guys. As it turns out, Friday night we had our first rainfall since I had my windshield resealed and sure enough--problem is still there. Although my GEM is still working fine (it dried out last week allowing my fan control to start functioning correctly again) I have booked an app't to have my windshield replaced.
They quoted me $220 installed for a new windshield (I think they're also knocking off the $50 they charged for resealing my current windshield) so although I hate the idea of replacing something which isn't broken--it's worth it if it fixes my leak.
Stay tuned!!
Cheers,
Tim
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#8
#9
Absolutely worthless thread/OPddd - delete and remove
Don't ya just hate when you read a thread where:
- The starter never says what the solution was if found
- Accuses some in the business - dealer, specialist of not knowing what they are doing
- wastes your time reading
Almost as bad as someone years later putting this one to the top by replying... sorry...
- The starter never says what the solution was if found
- Accuses some in the business - dealer, specialist of not knowing what they are doing
- wastes your time reading
Almost as bad as someone years later putting this one to the top by replying... sorry...
#10
Don't ya just hate when you read a thread where:
- The starter never says what the solution was if found
- Accuses some in the business - dealer, specialist of not knowing what they are doing
- wastes your time reading
Almost as bad as someone years later putting this one to the top by replying... sorry...
- The starter never says what the solution was if found
- Accuses some in the business - dealer, specialist of not knowing what they are doing
- wastes your time reading
Almost as bad as someone years later putting this one to the top by replying... sorry...
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CountryBumkin
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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10-23-2015 02:57 PM