Windscreen Leak

[Steve P]

Guess it had to happen with all this wet stuff about. Our galaxy is has started leaking from somewhere round the top of the windscreen. We know that cos water is dripping from the clock. Has anybody ever fixed this themselves or is it a case of taking it to the windscreen place to have it done? Anybody know what sort of money for a refit? Can screens be refitted or do they get broken when being taken out - leaving me with a huge bill (in which case a stray stone might just leap out in front of the car tomorrow :16:

 

Why has it started leaking now? Screen has been replaced a few years ago but never had any problems (yes - it was RAC who I see people do not regard highly!!). Does the surround ever rust round the screen - but out sight behind the seals? There is one tiny bleb of rust just showing in the middle of the screen area - just wondering if this is a sign of something else?

 

Cheers

Steve

[Guest wolfie]

you have a sun roof?

[Steve P]

No Such luck - definitely the screen - car doesn't have a sunroof!

[teresa]

a windowscreen place will do a check to see if it is your screen as i thought my screen was leaking and it ended up being the holes under the window surround at the bottom of the screen

[Steve P]

It can't be anything other than the screen because the water is dripping from the clock - located at the top centre of the screen.

 

I know in the past we have had leaks which have been absolute sw*nes to find - yes we had the holes under the surrounds at the bottom of the screen leak (after yours truly had them off to mend the wipers !) - but there really can't be anything else.

 

How did they check the windscreen for leaks - was it just a running hose pipe?

 

Anyway I'm keen to know if anybody has ever fixed this themselves - I was thinking of prising the interior lining back a bit to see if I can work EXACTLy where the leak is. It doesn't look if there is much I can do from the outside.

[gregers]

I was thinking of prising the interior lining back a bit to see if I can work EXACTLy where the leak is.

 

if you do go easy its stuck with a mastic type adhesive and you might crease the lining.

[marinabrid]

i always get the drip from the clock after really heavy rain had it resealed and it started again now i pull out the clock pack the hole with some absorbant material like a microfibre cloth or an old chammy and it soaks it up. bit ancient but it works.

[Steve S.]

Hi Steve,

Coincidentally I've had this trouble for some weeks and it was only last week end I decided to investigate further. I have a sunroof so I eliminated that by masking it up and applying the pressure washer. Lo and behold the leak was there. It always seemed to leek in the middle of the screen .yes just behind the clock (which doesn't seem to be the lowest part of the screen) Anyway on closer investigation I found two possibilities.

The top rubber channel had contracted leaving an inch gap at the pass. side.

I thought the whole rubber channel didn't seem to "grip" the glass like new rubber should.

Basically I just cleaned the rubber /glass with thinners, let it dry then ran a thin seam of silicone (clear) in both the glass channel and the metal frame channel.I also siliconed the end gap. So far so good , no leaks to report.

Steve S.

[teresa]

they check with a dye that they use round the screenif it leaks in with the dye they know its from screen if no dye gets in its something else

[Steve P]

Thanks Steve,

I'm hoping to be able to do something like that.

 

Had a good look round earlier with a torch. I notice that the big wide earth strap from the windscreen comes through in the middle - wouldn't mind betting that the water is coming through there. Prised the rubber trim back along the top of the screen (to look inside the metal frame channel) - couldn't see much - will have to another look in the daytime. I think that this trim just fills the gap between the screen and the bodywork - not sure that it actually seals anything. However behind that trim there will be a line of bonding all the way round the window - this is what must be leaking. I think what I will try is filling the whole gap under the trim with silicon but only along the top of the screen. Water running off the roof is supposed to pass down the side of the screen under the rubber trim and away. I'll check the ends - didn't notice anything short - I think that the screen was fitted about 4 years ago so perhaps they fitted a new seal?

 

Will let you know what I find out.

 

Cheers

Steve

 

PS thanks for the reply Teresa - convinced that it is the screen at this time (unless there is hole in the roof I haven't spotted yet!)

[chicosi]

Had the same problem with mine. I removed all the trim from around the windscreen and the bond had gone between the adhesive and the metal at the top corner. Cleaned everything up and put some sealer all around the edge where the windsreen adhesive meets the metal. Fingers crossed it's been ok since. Finding it almost drove me mad - I was looking for the more common problems of the pollen filter and/or scuttle trim clips

 

I've just re-read Steve.S's post and it sounds like he didn't remove the rubber trim along the top of the screen. It just pulls out exposing the the edge of the windscreen (well it does on my mk1) The rubber doesn't do any sealing, the glass is bonded straight to the metal.

Edited June 26, 2007 by chicosi

[matt1003]

hi i work for a windscreen company ( not rac ) the windscreens are bonded and the rubber trims on the

outside of the screen are just for show they dont seal the screen at all , i wouldn't advise removing the

toptrim to seal it as it doesnt like going back in correctly as the are put on the screen before they are fitted

into the car . the earth strap at the top is the earth point for your heated front screen and is proberly your

problem as we have to bond the strap and not the glass at that location( another stupid idea from ford )

best bet is to drop into a windscreen company to get it checked most of them won't charge to have a look

check with rac to see if its still covered under warenty most large windscreen companys offer a lifetime

garentee as long as you still own the car ( worth a try )

 

matt

[Steve P]

Thanks for all the replies so far - very useful. Especially yours matt as I was going to go out and prise the top seal out :rolleyes: Do you reckon there will be any bond contacting the top seal or is the edge of the glass far enough away from the bond line that the seal is just held in place by it's grip on the edge of the screen?

 

I'll see if we have any record from when the screen was last fitted - I'll bet it's one of those receipts that you think "I won't be needing that" and throw away.

 

Thanks again everyone

[matt1003]

chances are if your having problems with it leaking the trim will have sat

in the bond on the way in which i why it doesnt leave you enough room to

push it back in and i wouldn't advise trying to force it in with anything as they do break very

easiley on the edges of the glass .

if you want to check it yourself first just drop the sunvisor brackets down , the two front

grab handles and the side trims on the a post , this is what we need to drop to connect

the earth strap up when replacing . you should then have enough room to see the line

of glue and then just get someone to put water on screen till you can see it coming

threw ( try not to use silicon on the outside or back of the trim as with time it does perris

the rubber .

matt

[Steve P]

Nice one chaps (and chapesses!).

 

Haven't fixed the problem yet - but because of the info on this board I had a look in the "Ford Galaxy" folder in our home filing system. And guess what .........................there was a receipt in there from four years ago for the windscreen replacement from National Autoglass (or whatever they call themselves). And it states there is a lifetime guarantee on the work whilst ever we own the vehicle. So somebody else can fix it. RESULT :blush: . Now we will just have to see if there is any exclusions that they come up with.

 

Thanks again folks

Edited June 27, 2007 by Steve P