Windscreens

Should you decide to get help, you don't want a 4x4 specialist: you want one of the windscreen replacement firms. They'll do it quicker, more cheaply and you're more likely to get a satisfactory result.

Good point. Do you know if they'll strip all the old seal out? Last time I had one done by a 'windscreen specialist' all they did was use a penknife to cut the screen out, bead of sealer and windscreen back in .. though it _was_ a Renault ... ;)

From your description this is not a 'glued-in' screen. It also sounds as though the old seal is past its best - or is it just the locking strip that came out?

It's unlikely that anyone (dealer or windscreen specialist) will carry the full seal in stock so whether you provide the new seal or get them to do so is up to you. If you just need locking strip the windscreen chaps are likely to have some.

Why not go to speak to them and get them to tell you what it needs?

You should be aware of the possibility that the screen aperture has corroded and that's the root cause of your problems - then no-one will want to know you!

Heheheh, yeah, that'd be my luck again.

Cheers.

I think it is glued in, onto a large, what looks like a 1/2" diameter maybe larger, bead, but also with a rubber/plastic seal that goes onto the edge of the screen and pushes onto the steel window opening of the body. It's this seal which feels brittle and has opened up Been looking in the dakr with a torch so might be a bit wrong .. ;)

Cant you claim on your insurance??

I got a new one in my 90 - only £60.

Man turns up, 20 mins its done.

Plus you get some comeback if it leaks :)

In that case it's merely cosmetic and a less than urgent job to get it sorted.

It's a defender...born to leak :-)

Lee D

Check insurance policy and if covered stick a brick through it and phone nice windscreen repair man. He turns up and does all the work for you.

Last time we had that done they didn't replace the outer seals ... they just stick a new windscreen in, and it's the outer seals that's gone.

That helps a bit, I don't have access to my manual at the moment so can't see how it should all go ... so it probably looks worse to me than it actually is.

Any halfway decent windscreen place should have various 'universal' trim mouldings in stock. With a bit of careful surgery they should be able to remove the old one and fit a new one without disturbing the screen (or for that matter you could probably do it).

On or around Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:12:27 +0000, Mark Solesbury enlightened us thusly:

a quick point to note here: If you;re claiming on the insurance for a windscreen and the rubber seal stuff is in bad condition, tell them before they come that the seal is manky and they may need to replace that as well.

I had one done on the insurance, and the Autoglass boys said "pity we didn't know the rubber bit was iffy, we could've brought a new one" OWTTE.

On or around 3 Feb 2008 00:38:40 GMT, "Paul - xxx" enlightened us thusly:

see other post - tell them that the screen's broke, and oh, BTW, the rubber's split so you might need to replace it.

That's the problem, It's not an insurance claim and the windscreen's fine ... it really is just the seal that's gone.

Having had a look at it in daylight it seems repairable by me ... I think I'll use a heat gun to make it a bit more flexible and maybe a hot glue gun to stick it down, short section at a time.

My first glances and looking in the dark with a torch made it look like the windscreen had popped out, but it looks sound enough now.

Glue it in with the proper urethane sealant - it should hold in ok with gaffer tape whilst the urethane sets.

On or around 4 Feb 2008 10:42:41 GMT, "Paul - xxx" enlightened us thusly:

yebbut, it could be ;-) The way the bloody council round here surface roads, I'm amazed that mine only has 2 chips/cracks.

Heheheh I know. Doesn't seem right though ...