Windscreen advice required

[robemcdonald]

I have a 2007 Boxster.

Recently I started to get some creaking from the top of the passenger side of the windscreen.

It looks as though the seal / gasket is popping out too.



I assume the bond between the windscreen and frame is failing and that I’m a pothole away from a big crack.

What can I do?

Is it a new screen or can the existing (undamaged) screen be removed and reinstalled?

What sort of cost am I looking at?

TIA

[Robertb]

The seals do come away, might just need bonding back in.

Are you getting any water ingress? In my own experience, the first sign of the bonding failing (in a Mercedes) was a leak.

Might the creak be a top mount or coffin arm ball joint?

Hopefully Glassman will be along to advise. If you're in his catchment, I'd highly recommend Paul's services.

[ashenfie]

Maybe I am view it wrong, but it looks like a gasket the hides the glued edges of the wind screen. The bonding is under the glass. I would replace the gasket as it looks distorted.

[robemcdonald]

Robertb said:

The seals do come away, might just need bonding back in.

Are you getting any water ingress? In my own experience, the first sign of the bonding failing (in a Mercedes) was a leak.

Might the creak be a top mount or coffin arm ball joint?

Hopefully Glassman will be along to advise. If you're in his catchment, I'd highly recommend Paul's services.

Fingers crossed

[Glassman]

It's difficult to say without looking up close, but that looks a bit botched to me.

The trim around the windscreen looks like it has glue under it (it shouldn't) which suggests the windscreen may not be at the correct setting (if it's too high it might explain the creaking).

What's the history? Have you had the windscreen replaced? Is an original, OEM part?

[robemcdonald]

Glassman said:

It's difficult to say without looking up close, but that looks a bit botched to me.

The trim around the windscreen looks like it has glue under it (it shouldn't) which suggests the windscreen may not be at the correct setting (if it's too high it might explain the creaking).

What's the history? Have you had the windscreen replaced? Is an original, OEM part?

The glue bodge is my poor attempt at trying to secure the gasket. I applied a small amount and then taped the seal down whilst it went off.

As you can see the result was suboptimal.

As far as I know it’s the original screen though.

[Glassman]

In short, the windscreen can be removed and refitted. There'll be a bit of cleaning up to, and possibly even a new trim but yes: doable.

[Pincher]

Sounds like you two might be meeting up in the near future

[davek_964]

Glassman said:

In short, the windscreen can be removed and refitted. There'll be a bit of cleaning up to, and possibly even a new trim but yes: doable.

How easy/ expensive is this?

My Alfa gets quite a bit of condensation on the windscreen in winter and I suspect that resealing the windscreen would make a difference. But places like Auto glass don't seem to offer that as a service

[robemcdonald]

Glassman said:

In short, the windscreen can be removed and refitted. There'll be a bit of cleaning up to, and possibly even a new trim but yes: doable.

That’s encouraging. How much am I looking at? I need to consult the financial director.

[Glassman]

davek_964 said:

Glassman said:

In short, the windscreen can be removed and refitted. There'll be a bit of cleaning up to, and possibly even a new trim but yes: doable.

How easy/ expensive is this?

My Alfa gets quite a bit of condensation on the windscreen in winter and I suspect that resealing the windscreen would make a difference. But places like Auto glass don't seem to offer that as a service

Most firms will not offer remove and refit as a service because for them it is risky in terms of breakage and if the glass does break they will want to walk away. For most it's easier to rip it out and replace with new. Quicker, easier and no complications. The grey area in this is that windscreens (unless the car is an old classic that has had the same windscreen in it for decades) generally do not need resealing. A correctly bonded (or even sealed it's an older car) should not be leaking.

When rubber-fit 'screens leak it;s because the sealant has aged and dried out, or that the installer didn't use a product to seal the rubber to the body/glass. In bonded applications, most original equipment units are 'washed' meaning they do not (usually) have any contaminants present which could affect adhesion. Aftermarket glass usually is riddled with contaminants and unless steps are taken to neutralise the substrate it's onlty a matter of time before the bond breaks down. The stock answer when this happens: primer failure.

The reality is, with rare exception, it's human error.

[Blib]

IP.

If you're anywhere near Glassman (north London) then getting him to sort it is a no-brainer.

He may be a goddamn Gooner, but when it comes to windscreens and autoglass in general there simply is no one better, in my experience.

[robemcdonald]

Glassman said:

davek_964 said:

Glassman said:

In short, the windscreen can be removed and refitted. There'll be a bit of cleaning up to, and possibly even a new trim but yes: doable.

How easy/ expensive is this?

My Alfa gets quite a bit of condensation on the windscreen in winter and I suspect that resealing the windscreen would make a difference. But places like Auto glass don't seem to offer that as a service

Most firms will not offer remove and refit as a service because for them it is risky in terms of breakage and if the glass does break they will want to walk away. For most it's easier to rip it out and replace with new. Quicker, easier and no complications. The grey area in this is that windscreens (unless the car is an old classic that has had the same windscreen in it for decades) generally do not need resealing. A correctly bonded (or even sealed it's an older car) should not be leaking.

When rubber-fit 'screens leak it;s because the sealant has aged and dried out, or that the installer didn't use a product to seal the rubber to the body/glass. In bonded applications, most original equipment units are 'washed' meaning they do not (usually) have any contaminants present which could affect adhesion. Aftermarket glass usually is riddled with contaminants and unless steps are taken to neutralise the substrate it's onlty a matter of time before the bond breaks down. The stock answer when this happens: primer failure.

The reality is, with rare exception, it's human error.

I live in Hertfordshire and I am also an Arsenal supporter so….

Can I bring it to you to take a look and get your recommendation.

[davek_964]

Well, for mine it turns out I will be able to see whether re-sealing the windscreen makes any difference..... because I need a new windscreen.

Just moved the car and noticed a fairly large crack near the bottom. I think I noticed it a few weeks ago but it was a very faint / thin vertical line from the bottom of the windscreen and looked more like the kind of thing you notice occasionally when antenna etc. are buried in there.
Turns out it wasn't that, and the colder weather seems to have made it expand quickly - I now have a rotated L shape crack that's about 6-8 inches long and spreading across the visible part of the windscreen at the bottom.

Whether it will make any difference to the condensation issues I had last year we'll see - but it needs doing either way!