When is it Time to Replace Weather Stripping on Your Car?
Weather stripping is the rubber material that edges your vehicle’s doors and windows, creating a safe, dry seal between your car’s interior and the great outdoors.
Like all of your car’s parts and systems, weather stripping requires a little maintenance time and again. How can you tell that your weather stripping is worn out and ready to be replaced?
Automotive Training Center decided to help you out with three symptoms that may point to the need for a weather stripping replacement.
Road Noise
Have you noticed heightened road noise in construction zones or that highway hum associated with left lane driving getting louder? If so, the elements may be taking their toll on your weather stripping and disturbing that resilient seal that acts as a sound barrier for your cabin.
Replace your weather stripping and you’ll no longer have to keep twisting the volume dial on your stereo to enjoy your podcast on your commute.
Interior leaks
Not only does weather stripping seal noise out, it also prevents moisture or condensation from entering your car on a rainy day. That being said, if you notice wetness around your windows or door or trunk jambs when your windows and doors have both been shut, your weather stripping likely needs to be replaced.
Check the back doors too! As you can imagine, you’ll want to get any source of water inside your vehicle cleaned up right away and stopped at the source to prevent the damp environment that’s friendly to mold and mildew.
Retaining Heat or AC
Finally, weather stripping’s seal separates your cabin climate from the heat or cold outside the vehicle. If you have to blast your car’s heater or air-conditioning unit and only feel these affects for a short while (and have ruled out any possible issues with these systems), your efforts may be going (literally) straight out the window and replacing your weather stripping is a worthy fix!
How to Replace Your Car’s Weather Stripping
If you’ve resolved that your weather stripping needs to be replaced, you have a few options to restore the seal. It’s possible to find the cracked or damaged section and just replace that spot. However, it’s more effective in the long run to replace all weather stripping at once. This way, you know you’ve fully tended to the problem and that it’ll be a good while before you have to revisit it.
Either aftermarket or factory replacement car weather stripping is available. When you’re ready to make the replacement, perform the following:
- Remove the old stripping.
- Have a clean cloth and a mild cleaner ready.
- Clean the surface underneath the old stripping of any adhesive residue and towel it dry.
- Apply a slight trail of weather-stripping adhesive to the weather-stripping track.
- Set the new stripping in place gently first to make sure each piece lines up properly.
- Press the stripping into place and let dry.
Interested in More DIY Guides Like These?
If you enjoy being a do-it-yourself type when it comes to your car, you may be eager for more information about the various procedures automotive technicians employ during a routine service visit and perhaps taking a crack at them yourself.
To help fuel your curiosity and knowledge, we invite you to check out our free eBook all about how the pros handle routine maintenance. Get your free copy today!
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