Windscreen Woe
Discussion
So, I bought my Cerb a couple of months ago and pretty much everything is fantastic. Just got back from a 300 mile weekend (including one day of searing heat and slow traffic) and she didn't miss a beat, all of which gives me a sense of growing (albeit possibly naive) confidence. The car also looks great, having had a respray and retrim done two and a half years ago. HOWEVER, I have been tracking down water leaks into the footwell and it appears the major culprit is probably the bottom of the windscreen. The paint job is generally very high quality, but it appears they may have done a really half-arsed job with the bottom of the windscreen. There is a gap at the bottom of it underneath a really cr@ppy "seal". Now I'm starting to get to know the car, it looks like the paint should have gone closer to the windscreen and that it was sprayed with the old seal on, which was then removed (and the new cr@ppy seal used to conceal this). I could be wrong, and maybe they're meant to look like this, but I doubt it....
Could anyone send me pictures of what this area is meant to look like? Also, what sealant should I use to try and seal it? Alternatively, I'm happy to pay a professional to sort it out. I read there is a glass specialist on here who is meant to be good with TVRs. Anyone know his username?
Lastly, having taken the carbon panel off at the bottom of the windscreen, I can see that even if the windscreen was fully sealed, any rain would run down into the engine bay. All the usual suspects in the engine bay are properly sealed (e.g. clutch reservoir) and I can see that the water wouldn't be dripping onto any electricals EXCEPT the wiring for the windscreen wiper motor (see picture). Surely, this isn't what is meant to happen to this wiring!?
Could anyone send me pictures of what this area is meant to look like? Also, what sealant should I use to try and seal it? Alternatively, I'm happy to pay a professional to sort it out. I read there is a glass specialist on here who is meant to be good with TVRs. Anyone know his username?
Lastly, having taken the carbon panel off at the bottom of the windscreen, I can see that even if the windscreen was fully sealed, any rain would run down into the engine bay. All the usual suspects in the engine bay are properly sealed (e.g. clutch reservoir) and I can see that the water wouldn't be dripping onto any electricals EXCEPT the wiring for the windscreen wiper motor (see picture). Surely, this isn't what is meant to happen to this wiring!?
Hi Paul. Thanks for the reply. Someone on Facebook has just recommended you as one of the best on TVR windscreens!
The trim is loose at one end (the driver's side) which is where I pulled it up for the photo, but it's not loose at the other end. Having looked at the genuine seals on TVR parts, it doesn't look like one as it doesn't have the square profile to fit into the gap between windscreen and body.
The windscreen doesn't appear to have been taken out for the respray (which is why there is a black unsprayed line between the windscreen and the wing on the photo, where I have lifted the seal, BUT it was removed (along with the rear windscreen) during the subsequent retrim (photos attached). It looks new (no delamination), so maybe it was replaced at the same time.
http://thumbsnap.com/i/INdNiJxS.jpg
http://thumbsnap.com/i/O1qO3QoH.jpg
Any advice would be much appreciated, and if you could estimate (by PM) how much it would be likely to cost for you to investigate and resolve it, that would be great.
The trim is loose at one end (the driver's side) which is where I pulled it up for the photo, but it's not loose at the other end. Having looked at the genuine seals on TVR parts, it doesn't look like one as it doesn't have the square profile to fit into the gap between windscreen and body.
The windscreen doesn't appear to have been taken out for the respray (which is why there is a black unsprayed line between the windscreen and the wing on the photo, where I have lifted the seal, BUT it was removed (along with the rear windscreen) during the subsequent retrim (photos attached). It looks new (no delamination), so maybe it was replaced at the same time.
http://thumbsnap.com/i/INdNiJxS.jpg
http://thumbsnap.com/i/O1qO3QoH.jpg
Any advice would be much appreciated, and if you could estimate (by PM) how much it would be likely to cost for you to investigate and resolve it, that would be great.
It was the trimmer who took the windscreens out and it was done 2.5 years ago (by a trimmer in Blackpool, so nowhere near me). I've only owned the car 3 months. The previous owner didn't know of the issues with water ingress (the car was garaged at all times and lightly used). I'm keen to resolve it and, if it's necessary to remove and refit the windscreen to do that, then so be it.
Edited by tangerinedream on Saturday 4th June 13:31
100% accept that Kev. The car has carpets and two layers of mats (as you know), so unless you're looking for it (which I only did after reading about wet footwells and it being out in the rain), then it wouldn't be obvious. Just something I've got to get sorted. Other than that and the paint by the dodgy seal, the car has been golden.
Outl4w - beer and blast sounds great - I thought I was the only one - vast majority of Cerbs seem to be up north (and I envy them the roads).
Outl4w - beer and blast sounds great - I thought I was the only one - vast majority of Cerbs seem to be up north (and I envy them the roads).
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