Really odd problem with glass

S

Scottwax

New member
I have a customer with a Lexus ES350. When I clean the glass after washing, the exterior of the driver's window and ONLY the exterior of the driver's window gets a film on it when I go over it with Quikshine or NXT Glass Cleaner. No problems with the other windows or the interior windows. The owner does not smoke in his car (he does chew nicotine gum though, trying to quit for good). He no longer smokes cigars either.



Anyway, the last two times I've had to polish the glass to get most of the film off and then go over it with a ONR dampened MF towel and follow with a dry one.



Any thoughts as to what I might be dealing with? I have another customer with an ES350 and have no problems with that one so it is specific to this vehicle.
 
Is it possible that portion of the window was abrasively polished at some point (even by the dealer before delivery, due to shipping or lot damage), causing it to react differently?
 
Hmmm...well, let's get the obvious out of the way. Are you sure it's not on the interior glass? That would be the first thing to check out. Beyond that, I'm not sure. Perhaps an old RainX application?



Trying stripping it down with a decontamination wash...the strongest you have.
 
Holden_C04 said:
Hmmm...well, let's get the obvious out of the way. Are you sure it's not on the interior glass?
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Positive. 100000000000000000000000000%



The owner is a doctor so he pays me in advance for 10 trips out to clean it since he is usually with patients the whole time I am there. Haven't had a chance to talk to him about it.



When I wash the car with ONR, the glass looks fine. It is when I spray either Quikshine or glass cleaner on it.
 
Scottwax said:
When I wash the car with ONR, the glass looks fine. It is when I spray either Quikshine or glass cleaner on it.
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That's strange. Here are my thoughts...



ONR is a product with synthetic polymers which leave behind protection...you and I both agree upon that (read a post of yours to that effect a while back). A glass cleaner (not sure about Quikshine) is often used as a replacement for an IPA wipedown and is unlikely to leave anything behind, therefore something in ONR must be generating this film. Or am I thinking too hard? :nixweiss
 
Holden_C04 said:
That's strange. Here are my thoughts...



ONR is a product with synthetic polymers which leave behind protection...you and I both agree upon that (read a post of yours to that effect a while back). A glass cleaner (not sure about Quikshine) is often used as a replacement for an IPA wipedown and is unlikely to leave anything behind, therefore something in ONR must be generating this film. Or am I thinking too hard? :nixweiss
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No way. No problem with the rest of the glass on this car or any other car I clean/detail. This is a specific issue with the driver's side window ONLY. 800 cars last year and this is the only one with the problem and it is only 1 window. :nixweiss
 
Scottwax said:
On just one window?



I don't use RainX at all. Quikshine cleans the glass and gives the same effect.
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It's possible to apply it to the whole car, but only leave a noticeable film on one window. In any case, since that's out, I'm not sure. Do you still have an issue with film after polishing the glass?
 
The polishing doesn't always take off all the haze and film. Should have taken pictures when I was out there yesterday. I clean it every two weeks, I'll try to remember to take pictures then. The only thing that seems to clear the haze up completely is an ONR dampened MF followed by a dry one.
 
It might be in your best interest to get the window replaced with a new one. It looks like you've done all you can, yet the problem keeps coming back and likely always will. The window may be defective, it's possible there was an error in the laminating process. You said you did 800 cars last year, that's 4800 windows (assuming the cars were all 4 doors). For this to be the only one problem window, I'd say factory defect.
 
I believe Lexus applies a permanent coating to the drivers side glass that works to shed water. It could be an issue with the coating. Maybe check with the dealership. It may be that the coating reacts with the cleaner being used. It also might be the effect of using an aggressive polish has damaged this coating.
 
jfelbab said:
I believe Lexus applies a permanent coating to the drivers side glass that works to shed water. It could be an issue with the coating.
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Hmm, you learn something new everyday, that's pretty interesting. I misread Scott's original post and thought he meant it was the driver's side of the windshield.
 
2 things I can think of:



I had a drove a Dodge (Used) Charger yeas ago that had a problem with the drivers window making a grinding noise. I had the dealer fix it where I worked. The "lube" they applied make my life hell until I parted ways with the car. The problem I had was caused by lowering the window and raising it back up. This "re-caoted the window with a film that collected dust and distorted vision. This was before MF and everything else. I found that a product called AFTA cleared the window and I stopped lowering the window unless necessary. And if I did I left it down!



Bet he had the window serviced!



Jeff
 
tibbsonaphone said:
It might be in your best interest to get the window replaced with a new one..
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Until I read jfelbab's post (I know zero about Lexuses), I woulda suspected that the window in question had already been replaced and the issue was related to the replacement window.



After my S8's driver's door glass got replaced (the deer incident) I was unable to get a replacement window from Audi that didn't have *some* kind of issue..went through a few replacements before my dealer and I agreed to say "[screw] it" and I resigned myself to living with it.
 
jfelbab said:
I believe Lexus applies a permanent coating to the drivers side glass that works to shed water. It could be an issue with the coating. Maybe check with the dealership. It may be that the coating reacts with the cleaner being used. It also might be the effect of using an aggressive polish has damaged this coating.
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Hey Jim,



I thought the Lexus has the water repellency coating on both the driver's and passenger side windows?



Scott,



I am sure you have done hundreds of Lexus' over the years, and this is the only one to have given you a problem? It sounds like something has compromised the coating on the one window causing a reaction to the various detailing chemicals. I too would give Lexus a call and see what they have to say about it....



Tim
 
Interesting. I did not know about the coating. Odd that I only have trouble with this particular car and only the driver's side window. I'll mention it to my customer and have him check with the dealer. In the meantime, I'll just use ONR and MFs on that window.
 
Just slightly off topic. The doctor smokes?? I thought that was a thing of the past.



Could be at some time, someone applied something to that window - tried to apply a tint that did not work, etc. You should definitely ask the doctor, next time you see him.
 
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