leak coming from top of windscreen

There's a lot to be fixed in a campervan eh!  Amongst other things to be repaired, my windscreen seal needs replacing, there is water coming in from the top corners.  An obvious repair has been made by a previous owner by using mastic and this now needs sorted properly.
  
I've made a few enquiries and the responses are about the same.  "We'll have to take the windscreen out and put in a new seal and plastic trim and it will be £140 plus VAT.  AND if we break the windscreen you'll have to pay £210 plus VAT.

Has anyone else had this problem and I suspect this is the only option - but does anyone know to the contrary?

Hi Alpall,

I have had problems with a leaking windscreen on my Duetto, there are some things you should be aware of, but regarding your comments on cost, I think it would be perhaps cheaper (if possible) to claim for a replacement windrescreen on your insurance.

Search this forum for Duetto windscreen replacement.

Firstly, the Duetto Windscreen (despite being a ford transit windscreen) has a rubber top seal (available from Autosleepers) which goes over the 'standard' windscreen surround seal at the top of the screen. It covers the small 1cm gap between the top of the windscreen & the fibreglass van top. 'Normal' transit LWB vans have a piece of plastic instead of this top seal which screws into place.

This duetto 'top seal' is riveted on each corner under the seal as well as being sealed with black mastic (or whatever it is that seals windscreens). The vast majority of windscreen replacement companies have never dealt with this unique to Duetto 'top seal', & so it foxes them completely when they see it & they can't understand how a transit lwb plastic strip won't fit. 'They've never seen anything like it before'.

Secondly, on 'any' windscreen (beit car, transit etc) there is that rubber strip that is around the edge of the screen (the trim seal as its called in the trade). If that is taken off a screen, its nigh on impossible to get it back on.

Hence, my advice would be (if its cost effective to do it), get your windscreen replaced under your insurance. Obtain a new top seal strip from Autosleepers. When you go to get your windscreen replaced, either ask the windscreen fitter if they can replace & re-rivet the top seal or (as in my case) leave you with a gap & no seal fitted & then pop along to your local motorhome service centre/mobile vehicle repair (or whoever actually understands what your going on about) & get them to fit the top seal, rivet it, & seal it.

Going down this route, I paid a windscreen excess & an additional £15 for the seal & £20 to have the seal fitted.

Hope this helps

So, are you advising Allpal to tell her insurance company that her windscreen is broken, even though it isn't?

Frank

alpall wrote:There's a lot to be fixed in a campervan eh!  Amongst other things to be repaired, my windscreen seal needs replacing, there is water coming in from the top corners.  An obvious repair has been made by a previous owner by using mastic and this now needs sorted properly.
  
I've made a few enquiries and the responses are about the same.  "We'll have to take the windscreen out and put in a new seal and plastic trim and it will be £140 plus VAT.  AND if we break the windscreen you'll have to pay £210 plus VAT.

Has anyone else had this problem and I suspect this is the only option - but does anyone know to the contrary?

Transits are notorious for rust.........and the windscreen flitch panel is just one of the 'favoured' spots!

Despite having a rubber seal the screens are bonded and the metal flitch panel is neatly hidden behind that daft plastic cover fitted by Ford which hides the rusting rotting metal that nobody sees or knows about.......until they need a windscreeen replacing! 

I discovered this by chance on a previous Transit when having a screen replaced and when removed, the rotted metal work also came away which involved a new section of metal being welded in before I could get the damn screen fitted!

In your case (assuming your screen is sound?) they should be able to remove it quite easily without damage, but you should then concern yourself about the condition of the screen surround, the metal. If good, before replacing the stupid plastic cover, get them to spray a liberal coating of waxoyl all over the metal. Once the plastic cover is back on you won't see it but more importantly, you won't ever have to worry about half your bodywork coming away when having a windscreen replaced! 

Bulletguy wrote:
Transits are notorious for rust.........and the windscreen flitch panel is just one of the 'favoured' spots!

Despite having a rubber seal the screens are bonded and the metal flitch panel is neatly hidden behind that daft plastic cover fitted by Ford which hides the rusting rotting metal that nobody sees or knows about.......until they need a windscreeen replacing! 

I discovered this by chance on a previous Transit when having a screen replaced and when removed, the rotted metal work also came away which involved a new section of metal being welded in before I could get the damn screen fitted!

In your case (assuming your screen is sound?) they should be able to remove it quite easily without damage, but you should then concern yourself about the condition of the screen surround, the metal. If good, before replacing the stupid plastic cover, get them to spray a liberal coating of waxoyl all over the metal. Once the plastic cover is back on you won't see it but more importantly, you won't ever have to worry about half your bodywork coming away when having a windscreen replaced! 

Sound advice. One further recommendation - if you have a Duetto or similar conversion on the Mk4/5 Transit, take that stupid plastic cover off every year and see what has accumulated in the channel at the bottom of the windscreen. IIRC it just involves 4 or six plastic screws and a nut on one of the wiper axles.

When my van was around 5 years old I had to investigate a leak at the bottom of the screen, and this was caused by leaves and other crud dropping down behind the panel and filling the channel at the bottom of the screen. This then caused water to pull up by capilliary action through a slight fault in the seal, and leak into the cab. This was fixed by clearing out the channel. I did not use Waxoyl because I was fortunate enough not to have developed any rust there, but I suspect that in most cases you should expect rust as well...

Well, its either claim for a replacement windscreen or fork out a load of money (& they might break the screen in the process). & have you ever tried fitting a windscreen 'straight' again when it has a 'load' of rubber sealant stuck around the edge?

I would get a new screen in there & start from scratch.

It will be easier, cheaper, better for all concerned.

My windscreen cover is only for breakages, not for leaks, I am under the impression that this is the norm. Apart form being dishonest and unethical, making a false claim is fraud, and should the insurance company find out they could take legal action.

Frank

I was sure I had posted a reply, it must be in the ether or somewhere..

Anyway, many thanks for all your responses, I've been considering all of them.

scovell001, what you say about the windscreen companies not knowing about the Duetto appears to be the case and this is why I'm finding it difficult finding someone who knows what they are doing to do the repair.  My options are limited finding someone locally.

I've just spoken on the phone to a windscreen specialist in Edinburgh and he thinks the water leak may not be coming from the obvious and suggests I take it into a local body shop for them to do a water test as the leak may be coming from the bit of rubber that goes along the top of the windscreen (the Duetto bit they don't understand) as this is actually underneath the plastic trim of the windscreen.  Under all of this apparently is the join of the roof top to the body of the van.

I've decided to take the van in to the local body shop for them to do a water test, order up the long rubber strip and replace that anyway afterwards, once the problem is solved.

I'll keep you posted with progress.

I appreciate all of your advices and find them extremely helpful. Many thanks xx

p.s. I'll also check out the stupid plastic bit under the windscreen wipers and the waxoyl suggestion.  Thanks.

Phoned Autosleeper to ask about ordering the black strip above windscreen and he suggested taking out the screw at the front of the gutter and putting in as much "no nails" as possible then replace the screw cap, and see if that stops the leak before going down the route of having the windscreen taken out. Process of elimination.

boxerman wrote:My windscreen cover is only for breakages, not for leaks, I am under the impression that this is the norm. Apart form being dishonest and unethical, making a false claim is fraud, and should the insurance company find out they could take legal action.

Frank

Frank

You worry and mither to much!!
Since when have any Insurance companies practiced "ethics"?!!  

Only thing they are interested in is collecting premiums and getting new customers. When it comes to paying out on a claim....they will look for every excuse imaginable!

Bulletguy wrote: When it comes to paying out on a claim....they will look for every excuse imaginable!

You said it  

Frank

OK here's the latest.  Went round to Autoglass with Duetto and they don't think leak is from windscreen, that's a relief.  Then went to local body shop/garage and advice there is to take the rubber strip off above the windscreen, clean it up and then use window frame stuff from B & Q (because its soft) and then replace the rubber strip.  I feel comfortable with this advice and feel its progress.  I'll go along this route and hopefully that will be an end to this saga.

1. Does anyone know how easy it is to take the rubber strip off
and
2. Can the same rubber strip be put back on.

I'm dying to meet up with someone else who has a well kept Duetto so I can see for myself how things should be.

alpall wrote:OK here's the latest.  Went round to Autoglass with Duetto and they don't think leak is from windscreen, that's a relief.  Then went to local body shop/garage and advice there is to take the rubber strip off above the windscreen, clean it up and then use window frame stuff from B & Q (because its soft) and then replace the rubber strip.  I feel comfortable with this advice and feel its progress.  I'll go along this route and hopefully that will be an end to this saga.

1. Does anyone know how easy it is to take the rubber strip off
and
2. Can the same rubber strip be put back on.

I'm dying to meet up with someone else who has a well kept Duetto so I can see for myself how things should be.

This is how the rubber strip should appear;

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These two photos are of the stupid plastic cover which hides a multitude of sins behind. To remove it you take both wiper arms off (one is secured by a nut), then flirt the small plastic caps off and underneath then are some plastic screws. If lucky you will get all out in one piece. If not, then you can easily find spare ones at any breakers yard.

Take it off and then clean all the rubbish out as this is where the rusting starts and every time it rains.....that's where the water settles. Spray a liberal coating of waxoyl or similar all over the metal. Thats it then. You won't ever need worry about this section rusting no matter how much stuff drops down there.

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As for screen and strip removal, Autoglass should be able to do the job as it was them who did the screen on my previous Transit. However the screen had cracked so was a total replacement job on the insurance. I wouldn't advise a "diy" job as specialist tools are needed.

Screens can and do crack......think about it.