Car window problem

[DVad3r]

Hey guys, Im having a problem with my car. Every time it rains or I get my car washed, I get a build up of water that streaks my side windows every time I roll them down. For example I will roll into a car wash, my car will come out sparkling, I will roll down my drivers side window 20 minutes later, and when I roll it back up again there will be streaks of water along with the car washes wax and soap, which stains my window. Ill have this problem for 2 days or so before that water dries up or evaporates. I checked the drain holes at the bottom of my side doors and they are not clogged up or anything. My dad is saying my car was corrosion proofed or something and there might be a build up of something inside my door.

Anyone have experience or thoughts on this? Im gonna take it to the mechanic to get it checked out eventually but I just wanted to see what people say here. The car runs great aside from that, but it just pisses me off I wash my car and I get those streaks.

Car is a 2001 Lexus ES300 btw.

Thanks.

 

[Saga]

Interestingly enough, I have this exact same problem with an 05 GMC Canyon. After I wash my car I literally cannot roll down the windows for two days. Sort of irritating on the hot days when I have to waste AC instead of just using 55mp5-2window AC.

 

[iamwiz82]

Sounds to me like the belt molding is wearing out and letting water get in there.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Sounds to me like the belt molding is wearing out and letting water get in there.

Ya perhaps but my dads 1992 Toyota Camry doesnt have this problem, and that belt molding is old. And ya I am going to be really annoyed in the summer time when I practically always drive around with my windows down.

 

[thomsbrain]

i'm thinking the bottom part of the window seal just isn't sealing anymore. i've never experienced this on any car, but i can imagine it happening.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Sounds to me like the belt molding is wearing out and letting water get in there.

Ya perhaps but my dads 1992 Toyota Camry doesnt have this problem, and that belt molding is old. And ya I am going to be really annoyed in the summer time when I practically always drive around with my windows down.

Have you rolled down your window when there was ice on it, damaging the molding?

 

[FeuerFrei]

Take the door apart before it dries out. Eyeball the innards.

My '93 Corolla dries out within 8 hrs or so.

 

[VTHodge]

Have you tried applying RainX to the window? It might help.

 

[funboy6942]

Oh this is too funny I have to post. Your thinking that your car door is filling up with water some how and coating your window?

OK take a look on how a door is made and you will see that just cannot happen, as seen here, no that is not your door but that is how all doors are made. There are several holes in the door that are huge behind the panel, and several small holes that hold the panel on, if it were to fill up with water, if that is, it would surly leak all over inside your car through the panel and youd be bitching up a storm about wet carpets.

What is happening, and you must never have owned many cars, is that behind the rubber trim, on the outside of the window, is felt, that felt gets wet when you wash your car, and because it is inside the door, sort of, takes several days for it to dry, if your window, and the rubber, is making a good seal. Therefore till the felt dries completly, every time you roll your window down, it will continue to streak your windows, again till it dries. The felt there usually behind the rubber seal to keep your window clean and so not to scratch your window, also so not to make squeaking sounds every time you roll the window up and down, there is no fix for this, other then to keep a small bottle of window cleaner and some rags in your trunk. For some reason or another it takes longer for the felt to dry then on other cars, I know on my 88 Lincoln I cant roll the windows down for atleast 3 hours after I wash and clean the car or it will streak my windows, I just deal with it.

Thank you, and come again.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: funboy42
Oh this is too funny I have to post. Your thinking that your car door is filling up with water some how and coating your window?

OK take a look on how a door is made and you will see that just cannot happen, as seen here, no that is not your door but that is how all doors are made. There are several holes in the door that are huge behind the panel, and several small holes that hold the panel on, if it were to fill up with water, if that is, it would surly leak all over inside your car through the panel and youd be bitching up a storm about wet carpets.

What is happening, and you must never have owned many cars, is that behind the rubber trim, on the outside of the window, is felt, that felt gets wet when you wash your car, and because it is inside the door, sort of, takes several days for it to dry, if your window, and the rubber, is making a good seal. Therefore till the felt dries completly, every time you roll your window down, it will continue to streak your windows, again till it dries. The felt there usually behind the rubber seal to keep your window clean and so not to scratch your window, also so not to make squeaking sounds every time you roll the window up and down, there is no fix for this, other then to keep a small bottle of window cleaner and some rags in your trunk. For some reason or another it takes longer for the felt to dry then on other cars, I know on my 88 Lincoln I cant roll the windows down for atleast 3 hours after I wash and clean the car or it will streak my windows, I just deal with it.

Thank you, and come again.

In other words, the belt molding needs to be replaced.

 

[funboy6942]

For what? To replace it with another one that will do the same thing and piss money away??? Maybe the new one will only take a day to dry, but if he is always garage parking his car its going to take 2 days to dry regardless if he buys a new one or not.

The "belt molding" felt is holding the water, not the door is filling up with water and coating his window. A new one is going to get wet too and do the same damn thing, but go ahead and have it replaced

 

[DVad3r]

Thanks for the response. I am gonna get this checked out with a mechanic friend, but ya Im pretty sure its not the door collecting water, what I meant was something inside is wet and holding water. Still 2 days plus is a long time to dry, a few hours would be good.

 

[wetcat007]

This is pretty common in most cars I've driven shortly after a car wash, although 2 days seems like a very long time.

 

[Lemodular]

Originally posted by: funboy42
Oh this is too funny I have to post. Your thinking that your car door is filling up with water some how and coating your window?

OK take a look on how a door is made and you will see that just cannot happen, as seen here, no that is not your door but that is how all doors are made. There are several holes in the door that are huge behind the panel, and several small holes that hold the panel on, if it were to fill up with water, if that is, it would surly leak all over inside your car through the panel and youd be bitching up a storm about wet carpets.

What is happening, and you must never have owned many cars, is that behind the rubber trim, on the outside of the window, is felt, that felt gets wet when you wash your car, and because it is inside the door, sort of, takes several days for it to dry, if your window, and the rubber, is making a good seal. Therefore till the felt dries completly, every time you roll your window down, it will continue to streak your windows, again till it dries. The felt there usually behind the rubber seal to keep your window clean and so not to scratch your window, also so not to make squeaking sounds every time you roll the window up and down, there is no fix for this, other then to keep a small bottle of window cleaner and some rags in your trunk. For some reason or another it takes longer for the felt to dry then on other cars, I know on my 88 Lincoln I cant roll the windows down for atleast 3 hours after I wash and clean the car or it will streak my windows, I just deal with it.

Thank you, and come again.

This is correct

for those with windows that will not dry for a few days, a couple of things may be happening: Condensation and/or clogged weep holes (bottom of door)

 

[DivideBYZero]

Muffler bearing.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Hey, just be glad that you only get streaks. My car scratches my front passenger window, the rear passenger window squeaks badly, the rear driver window motor is about shot and barely makes it to the top, and the front driver's window whistles some because of a bad gasket.

Now, wet streaks doesn't sound too bad anymore now does it?