Minor door seal problem.... maybe.
 

We have a brand new 2013 Camry, and on the old (still in use at 400,0057 miles) the window cover for snow is the kind that covers the windshield and is held in place with the two ends being trapped inside the car by simply closing the doors on the two ends.


The old girl never had a problem with leakage, but the new Camry allows rain and melting snow to drip inside the car on both sides. Maybe its the door seals not being as thick or as soft as on the old Camry? Anyone experience this at all? Is there an easy solution?


thanks for any help


zfk55

Your placing something over the windshield that is held in place by the doors being closed on the ends?

Yes, Joey. Its something we've always used on the vehicle windshields here in Lost Prairie. They're all very thin and light weight material that stops ice and snow from adhering to the windshield.

As you state, door seal or door pressure may be less. The water may adhere to windshield cover material then be routed by gravity past the seal. Check door fit to chassis on odd chance it is too far out. Perhaps the seal material is not as flexible as old in cold temps.

Suppose could try a little silicone grease on the door seal to improve sealing. Silicone does not damage the seal material.

If the cover has tabs, lines, ribbons, etc. that extend into the car, could attach something before it enters car to act as a water break. The water will stop before entering car and drip to the ground.

Make sure seal and area it contacts are clean.

I have never heard about these covers. Never seen anything like it here in the northeast.

Very common up here in NW Montana.


Custom-Fit WinterShade - Keep Snow and Frost from Covering Your Windshield


Toyota


Thanks Joey. Now that you mention it, I'm sure it's the seam edging on the cover itself. I'll have to find some sort of solution because of the ice that happens most every night here in Lost Prairie.
The outbuildings are full with motorized summer equipment and target changing ATV's necessary for range operations.


We're thinking that we'll probably have to build another structure just for this new Camry, We've gone the whole 9 yards with this car. Paint and interior sealing and full undercarriage coating to keep this infernal chemical used on the roads up here from corroding anything exposed. That treatment is $350 but well worth it.


I checked the difference in the door seal material between the old and the new Camry and found the older one has much beefier seals.


Thanks for the responses.

Looking at the sales photo speculating the shield has a thicker trim around the edges of the material the door closes on. The door seal may not be able to comply with the thickness changes, plus the top of the door may have less clamp up force.

Or the shield material is overall too thick for the door seal design.

Could try rolling up edge of shield then close door on it on the outside of the seal so the metal portion of door frame and door are what keep it in place.

If you know someone who sews they could modify the shield area that extends into the car. Shorten it and add a thicker trim, the trim thick enough to catch behind the gap between the metal door and chassis. Plus also add a small short stiff tab perhaps of nylon webbing you could hold to stretch and locate the shield edge before closing the door. In this setup the shield edges are retained by the metal portions of the door, not seal.

How long is your shorting range?

Thanks for posting the link. I was really perplexed. Pretty neat little thing, as long as water isn't leaking!

M<y pleasure, Platonium, and Joey... I'm going to try a couple of your ideas. Good thinking.
And our shooting range is 500 yards. I'll post a few pics later. We have a winter setup for shooting even in sub-zero temperatures.
Thanks again!

Pierre

There is a 600 yard range a little distance away but typical usage appears to be 1-200 yards.

As to driving, have seen the same thing. Typically a 4-wheel driver passing at excessive speed then catching up to them after they drove off the road or rolled over. The road is too slick to walk on yet drivers think they can drive on it because they have 4-wheel drive or traction control. Perhaps this is the power of advertising for this or that vehicle showing drivers overcoming all obstacles catching up to the reality of the limitations of the tires on ice.