How You Know It's Time To Replace Weatherstripping
The weatherstripping on your car should last many years without any issues. It can break or wear out, though. When that happens, you'll face a few issues:
- Moisture can get into your vehicle, and cause rust inside the door.
- The interior of your vehicle isn't as insulated anymore. (You may notice road traffic is louder and more noticeable in your car, or heated/cooled air may escape, making it less comfortable.)
- Your car may be easier to break into.
- Without weatherstripping around a door frame, metal-to-metal contact can occur. (This contact may lead to paint damage, or even cause the window to shatter when you close the door.)
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you have damaged or worn weatherstripping on your car. If you're not sure if you're dealing with this problem, this guide may help you confirm the issue.
What Causes Weatherstripping Damage Or Wear?
Image Credit: PriusChat
These factors either damage or speed up the wear and tear process of weatherstripping
- Prolonged exposure to moisture and/or the sun
- Excessive wear (opening/closing one door much more often than the other doors)
- Ice damage - During winter, water can freeze around the weatherstripping. If you pull the door handle hard to break the ice, you can tear the weatherstripping right off the car door. De-icing your car can prevent this from happening, though.
- Attempted break-in
Telltale Signs Of Worn Or Damaged Weatherstripping
You don't have to inspect the weatherstripping on your Toyota every now and then. If one of your weatherstrips fails, you'll notice some signs, such as:
Noticeably heightened road noise in the cabin. The weatherstripping serves as a sound barrier for your cabin and reduces whistling sounds from wind.
Moisture may begin leaking into the vehicle from outside. Signs include any water seeping in from somewhere, or any wetness on or around the windows, doors, trunk jambs, flooring or seats.
You may find you need to crank up the heat or A/C. If you ruled out other issues with your Toyota's HVAC system (such as a clogged cabin air filter), the weatherstripping may be bad. Heat or A/C can escape through the gaps the weatherstripping can no longer seal. This causes you to crank up the heat or A/C.
Identifying The Damaged Area(s)
Do you have a hunch that you need to replace the weatherstripping on your Toyota? It's easy to figure out if you need to replace the weatherstripping. First, you want to give it a physical inspection. Grab a flashlight and inspect the following areas:
- The frame of each door
- Around each window
- The top of the windshield
- Around the sunroof
- Around the rear window
- Around the hatch or trunk lid
Look for any physical damage, such as:
- Cracks
- Breakage
- Splitting
- Looseness
- Peeling off the body
If you have difficulty finding the damaged area(s), take your Toyota to a car wash. Sit in your car while it goes through the car wash. Next, look for the area(s) where the water seeps in.
Replacing The Weatherstripping: Three Important Tips
We want to share three important tips about replacing the weatherstripping on your Toyota:
First, you'll save a lot of money by ordering genuine OEM weatherstripping parts from us. We offer wholesale pricing and fast shipping.
Secondly, you can opt to replace only the damaged area(s) or all the weatherstripping on your Toyota. If your car is older and the weatherstripping isn't what it used to be, it's a good idea to replace it all. This way, you don't have to worry about it for a long time.
Lastly, some people cut out only the worn section and then replace it. That can be a problem, though. There will be a crack on each side of the section, even if you seal them. It can also be hard to find stripping that matches the rest of the stripping in that area. It's just better to replace the weatherstripping in its entirety. For example, replace the entire weatherstripping around the door frame instead of just one section.