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Weatherstripping Replacement |
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 There’s one more job you can do yourself, although it actually qualifies as an exterior-interior job. It’s replacing weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is the rubber like gasket that seals around doors, windows, sunroof, and trunk openings to keep moisture out.
It’s a good idea to inspect your car’s weatherstripping once a year for damage or wear and replace as needed. If it’s brittle or damaged, it can let water in to ruin upholstery or anything stored in the car’s trunk. Here’s how to replace weatherstripping:
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Find replacement parts. Your car’s service or technical manual can help you identify which part is needed and the part number. For many applications, generic weatherstripping of a specific design and dimension will do fine. You can find this in an auto parts store. Otherwise, you may need to visit the dealership’s parts department for an exact replacement.
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Carefully remove the old weatherstripping so that nothing else is damaged and the new part can easily be put on. Weatherstripping is installed with fasteners, clips, special glue, or a combination of these.
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Clean the surface to make sure that the new weatherstripping will fit tightly. If you’re using new weatherstripping adhesive, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning and preparing the surface.
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Test the insulation without adhesive or fasteners to make sure the weatherstripping will go on easily and is the correct size.
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Install the weatherstripping with adhesive and fasteners as needed. Allow the adhesive to dry as recommended by the manufacturer before using the weatherstripping (such as closing the door).
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