Bad streak

I wonder if you’ve seen this problem and know of a way to fix it. When I got my car detailed at the dealership, they wiped the windshield with something strange. When I drove out I noticed a glare streak when the sun hit the windshield. I’ve tried cleaning it with Windex, dish soap, windshield washer solution, alcohol and glass cleaner. Nothing has removed the streak. I took it back to the dealership and they weren’t able to help either. It’s like something actually penetrated the glass. Hope you can help with this one.

Hmmm. First, I’ll ask the basic question: are you absolutely sure it’s on the outside of the window? Have you cleaned the inside as well with all of the usual-suspect cleaners? The matter could be as simple as a cleaning person whose hair, adorned with some kind of gel or other product, came in contact with the window while he or she was doing the cleaning. Or maybe an inappropriate product was used while cleaning the inside of the window and that’s what caused it.

If it is on the outside, I’m at a little bit of a loss because you’ve used everything I would have used (except for vinegar) to remove the normal things you’d sometimes find causing streaks on windows (including those make-water-sluice-downthe-window products). And did you try using a microfiber cloth? Some swear by them to get rid of pesky streaks.

I tapped into a couple of my favorite body shop people and they acknowledge smears are sometimes stubborn, and can be caused by any number of causes. But you’ve tried everything that would ordinarily get the smears off. They both wonder if maybe someone rubbed the window cloth along the rubber window stripping and then transferred that to the glass. There’s also the possibility that someone wiped a rag for waxing across it.

There are windshield polishing kits that promise to remove stubborn streaks but I receive very mixed reviews on them.

Readers: Any other thoughts?

We need an SUV that will seat nine for the next two years. Can be up to four years old. Any ideas?

Check out the Chevrolet Suburban or Tahoe, GMC Yukon or Ford Expedition.

What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ ctwfeatures.com.