Hi all!

First post- wont be my last!

I bought a new 2009 TSX a couple months ago. I recently noticed a "L" shaped crack on my windshield (behind my rearview mirror-the only reason I only found out because my girlfriend can see it from the passenger side). Doesn't look like a rock hit it, if anything, there is a little mark in between the crack (as if a tiny pebble might have possibly hit it).

I also remember going to thru a hands off car wash a week prior. Like this thread below metions, I have also experienced where the left rubber weather strip came apart in the back and was violently hitting my car in all directions.
This could have also been the cause of my windshield to crack.

I am going to the dealership tomorrow and I need advice!!!

I am going into it sayings its a manufacturing defect. Has anyone else experienced this crack?

If that doesn't work I should mention the weather strip, right?

Thanks in advance!!!

(Here's the link I found on this forum about the weather strip problem)

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tsx-problems-fixes-145/rubber-weather-stripping-coming-loose-730548/

 

The weather strip should be repair under warranty, so take it to Acura tomorrow and ask them to repair the strip and replace the windshield at the same time.

Be firm and ask to speak to the district rep if they give you any grieve. Your car is only two months old.

I went through a number of different touchless car washes in the past 19 months and experience no such problem. Probably because none of them use excessive water pressure or my weather strip is not defective.

 

Thank you 09TSXTech for your insight!

To follow up: Do I say the weather strip caused the crack?

If they tell me that it isn't a manufacturing defect because something hit my windshield, should I relate the weather strip as the probable cause?

I didn't have a good experience when dealing with this dealership so I want to make sure I go about this correctly!

If they said they would repair it/ not replace it, should I agree?

If they do replace it, I need to make sure it's an 'OEM'?

Thanks to all again.

 

Most windshield crack in my experience occured in the lower or middle part of windshield. So for your crack around the rear mirror is pretty odd and you can probably attribute that to the weather strip.

Bring a friend (with mechanical background preferred) with you so you won't feel intimidated by the service advisor. BTW, you don't have to take the car back to the original dealership for service and warranty repair, any Acura dealer will be able to perform warranty and other service on your vehicle.

Cracked windshield should be replace as it form part of the structure of your car, it's a safety issue. If for whatever reason you flip your car you will lose a large amount of strength that the windshield supply and might end up collasping the roof.

 

The technician said something hit it (there is a very small mark).
As far as the weather strip goes, since I was in a car wash- he said my manufacturing warranty won't apply. My insurance deductible is also $1,000. I'm screwed.

Anything I can do/try?

May not be the most ethical thing to do... but what about going to another dealership and saying that I was just driving on the highway?

This is BS! I'm too nervous to take get my car washed now because of this strip! (It's too cold/ wet here to hand wash until summer).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

No sure about the windshield, but definitely go to another dealer to get the weather strip fix. A normal car wash shouldn't rip the strip out, that is a defect.

Sounds like the dealer is trying to weasel out a repair. Try another dealer and prepare to talk to the area district rep. See if there's any TSB out there regarding the weather strip issue. Can any forum member here recommend a decent Acura dealer he can go to?

 

Again, 09TSXTech, thanks for the quick responses through this stressful time. I really appreciate it.

Yeah, the technician wasn't friendly at all. If I wanted them to check the weatherstrip, he said I would have to make another appointment (I was the only one in the service garage).

I will go to another dealership to see what they have to say but I don't want to mention the car wash... what do I do? Although from my point of view, it shouldn't matter that I went through one... that's why I said it in the first place.

 

go to another dealer or call acura client services..

 

In Florida (can't speak for where you live) your insurance company has to replace the windshield under comprehensive coverage (not collision where a deductible would apply). Check with your insurance company before asking Acura about the windshield again.

It's well known the weatherstrip/garnish comes loose on these cars (providing it's the one I'm thinking of on either side of the windshield)

Get the glass done first for if you do the garnish first, chances are they'll screw up the garnish while replacing the windshield.

If nothing else, call Acura Client Services.

 

Thanks guys. I'll post the results (if anyone cares) or if someone faces this situation in the future.

 

@Heavyduty, the weatherstrip is actually those two rubber strips running down the sides of the roof. The metal clip on the is what I believe caused my window to crack.

The guy at the dealership said since I went through a car wash, my warrant won't apply. Is this true? I read through the warranty and couldn't find such a thing.

I have to speak with the service manager, but now I'm worried about bringing up the car wash.

Does it matter that I went through it? Help!

(Ps. I am located in Washington)
(Pps. After reading through numerous threads, I not only learned that I should hand wash my car but now I know what to buy and how to use it! I love this site!)

Thanks again!

 

The slot on the roof is called a run channel, I think? So the rubber garnish came loose, flapped and cracked the windshield. Got it.

I can see the dealer telling you to talk to the car wash owner. I can also see the car wash dude telling you to take a hike.

I don't do the spinning brush car washes, I try to do it by hand, but if I'm in a pinch, I'll do the touchless for a 1/2 a$$ quickie.

Have you called your insurance carrier?

 

Yep! That's exactly what happened.
It's cold/wet here in Washington so I had it done at a touchless carwash. But when it was drying my car off, thats when the rubber piece came lose and whacked my car all over.
I talked to my insurance agent... $1,000 deductible.

 

Dayum. You're stuck. Most car washes do have a disclaimer that states they don't cover "non-original items installed on the car."

You can try to invoke that since it's original equipment and their driers blew it off the car. Talk to them first, if no go, then demand the name of their insurance carrier or call the cops, I guess.

 

Are you talking about the area like if you look at the side of the car above the doors that little seal that runs along the top?

 

I have the same issue I was driving at the time and I heard a loud snap. No one was in front of me so I figured maybe i just ran over a rock later I heard the same thing about once a week when the car flexed over a bump now the crack finally moved past the black area behind the rear view mirror thats when I realized what was going on. I don't know what to do but I'm really upset that this happened to more than just me...I just took it in to setup an appointment to fix the engine ping and he told me no other TSBs existed well I found a whole list and I have almost 100% of the 30 listed I'm going to be heated when I call.

I posted the TSB list under the sticky under problems.

EDIT:
Oh it also occured during cold weather...as soon as the window gets hot it stars to pop. I no longer use the defrost because of it to stop the crack from happening anymore.

 

rgoldd, yes the rubber weather strip. im still agonzing over it. i hate talking to them blahh.

 

principle, is there any tsb for the weather strip? if so, what can i do with it?