water ingress.

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joderest

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Hi All
I know you are all waiting for the next thrilling update, but the weather has defeated me !
At the moment i do not know if the leak is sorted, or the water in the car is frozen !!!, it did stay dry just as snow started.
Have patience i will update when i know.
 
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joderest

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Not a final update.
When the ice and snow melted, it would seem there was water trapped in the screen seal, which expanded and broke the sealant, hence , ice melt water got in the car !!!!! (****** weather).
Anyway, sealed it all up again. Dried car out again. But no rain since so do not know if solved or not.
I have also now replaced the door seal, which was another leak.
I promise, that when i know, i will update with a final result.
 
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joderest

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Well.
The magic is that it has not rained since i last did the sealing, so still do not know.
I suspect i still have a leak as that seems to be the way this problem is going.
If no rain by Friday i am going to wash the car, as i have not washed it for over three months, and it does show !!!!! (worried just introducing more water)

Update at some point.
 

mattkh

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Let the rain take the strain of testing it.
Which sealant did you use for the screen seal.?
 
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Erm, something that was recommended on here, CT1 black, and i tried Captain trollys, but it did not set as weather too cold.
 

mattkh

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I am sorry to see that CT1 failed.
 
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That's the point, i do not know if it has yet, as has not rained since sealing it again.
 
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Oh sod.
Well, it rained a couple of days, and no water got in, so bit the bullet and washed it, still no water, UNTIL i drove it, then it appeared in same places. Water must collect somewhere, and when you drive forward, it runs out.
I have inspected all the screen i can see and i do not think water is getting in via that, so must be something else.
As all my efforts have been on drivers side, as that is where water arrives, i think i will spend some time on passenger side.
So Tuesday its out with the tools and jacks and start again. ( i must have missed something somewhere)
Nearly ready to give up !!!!!
 

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Does it have roof rails?

inspect and see if any rusty bubbles on roof? (Where it bolts through roof)

has the front screen ever been replaced? - maybe there is a seating /sealing issue - wonder if it’s worth getting a fitter to remove it /check & clean up seal / replace if it’s damaged?
 
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joderest

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I have inspected all those points, i even run sealant round the front roof rail points, no rust there as they bolt through a plastic strip, I am going to try sealing them again, but i have no sign of water on the roof lining or inside on the A pillers.
Regarding the screen, it could be a replacement, its one of the last things i will do as been quoted in excess of £300 pounds to remove and refit, and another £300 if screen breaks (ouch).
Its very hard to pin point this down, as the only part of the screen i have not sealed is the bottom , surely water cannot go uphill !! can it ??
 
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So, nice sunny day today, which made a nice change.
Jacked up and took wheel off, arch liner out on passenger side, all checked and all appears good. Put it all back again.
Inspected the top screen seal again and thought I could see some suspect bits, so masked it off and sealed again to be on safe side. I then checked and resealed all down both sides again just to be sure.
Off inside, removed both A pillar covers, I could see what well may be some water marks right at the bottom near dash, so, used a lot of sealant and sealed glass on the inside right up to both top corners. The trim covers this gap so will not show, pushed the sealant in quite hard. I have left the trim covers off just to see if any water shows.
I can confirm now that the screen is a replacement, but not in my ownership, so over four years ago.
It's supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow so will soon know.
Fingers crossed got it this time.
 

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So, nice sunny day today, which made a nice change.
Jacked up and took wheel off, arch liner out on passenger side, all checked and all appears good. Put it all back again.
Inspected the top screen seal again and thought I could see some suspect bits, so masked it off and sealed again to be on safe side. I then checked and resealed all down both sides again just to be sure.
Off inside, removed both A pillar covers, I could see what well may be some water marks right at the bottom near dash, so, used a lot of sealant and sealed glass on the inside right up to both top corners. The trim covers this gap so will not show, pushed the sealant in quite hard. I have left the trim covers off just to see if any water shows.
I can confirm now that the screen is a replacement, but not in my ownership, so over four years ago.
It's supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow so will soon know.
Fingers crossed got it this time.
I‘d be careful, lots of loose chippings around at the moment, your screen could easily get broken...
I suppose you could then check that there wasn‘t any gaps in the windscreen sealant...;)
 

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So, nice sunny day today, which made a nice change.
Jacked up and took wheel off, arch liner out on passenger side, all checked and all appears good. Put it all back again.
Inspected the top screen seal again and thought I could see some suspect bits, so masked it off and sealed again to be on safe side. I then checked and resealed all down both sides again just to be sure.
Off inside, removed both A pillar covers, I could see what well may be some water marks right at the bottom near dash, so, used a lot of sealant and sealed glass on the inside right up to both top corners. The trim covers this gap so will not show, pushed the sealant in quite hard. I have left the trim covers off just to see if any water shows.
I can confirm now that the screen is a replacement, but not in my ownership, so over four years ago.
It's supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow so will soon know.
Fingers crossed got it this time.
A long shot, but since you've tried virtually everything, what about putting a drop or two of water based dye one area at a time on the inside of where you are sealing to see if it appears on the floorpan. Have you tried a smoke test when the suspect areas have been stripped of trim? Clutching at straws here obviously;)
 
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joderest

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Thanks for all the useful replies.
After yesterday's downpour, the car appeared dry inside today, no dampness anywhere, until I drove it, then water appeared on top of dash ( I left A Piller trims off) and dripped out on to floor. This confirms it is the screen. I think water collects at the bottom of the screen, and when you drive causing it to move backwards, up onto the corners of the dash, then runs on to floor. This is the last of the four leaks I have found, and I cannot fix it myself.
I contacted my insurance company, and explained that although the screen is not broken, it is badly scratched, so they have agreed to replace it. As causing vision issues ( that was their words).
Down side is it cannot be done on the drive, something to do with the dismantling process and sensors, so have to take it to one of their centers in Eastbourne, about an hour's drive.
It's booked in on Tuesday next week.
I wish I had given the scratches a thought before, I travel to work via Camber and always get covered in sand, it is also used by gravel lorries which deposits bits all over your car, I have to replace wiper blades every 3 months. The screen does have thousands of tiny scratches which are not an issue until the sun is low. Being an honest type, it would go against the grain to damage it myself, but at least now the claim is correct, and fair play to the insurance company, they could have said no. They also stated they will order a new rubber surround.
Oh well, hate being defeated.
I will update once work done.
 
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there is one thing that concerns me. its the roof rails. I have been trying to find out if they are bolted into a box section or not. If they are, its a possibility that a leak there could run down the box section and appear at the bottom of the screen. Where ever they are bolted to, its not under the head lining, as if they leaked the headlining would get wet. I have tried searching on line, lots of threads on how to get them off (appears bolts always break) but nothing to indicate where they bolt to.
I may, just for piece of mind, try and run some sealant down the bolt's, as it could only be the thread that would leak, if they even are !!!!
These leaks on the car have made me a bit paranoid about water ingress now, be glad when they are all sorted and i can finally close this thread.
 
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hi all.
For those avid followers, an update.
Tuesday, had new screen fitted at Eastbourne by AUTOGLASS, the fitters were very good, clean and very quick (however i did remove all the scuttle trims and pillar trims for them)
The screen screeched like mad when i drove it, and i returned, the fitter said that large heavy screens tended to do this until the glue was fully set, as it would move a tiny bit on the glue not set in the middle of the bond, took his word for it and drove home.
Drove it briefly next day, and it has stopped making the noise, hope it stays that way. It has already rained but not a lot, but i could detect no water, so put it all back together.
I will give it a wash tomorrow which will be a good test.
I hope then i can give a final update to close this thread once and for all.
 

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Very happy for you.
2 Qs
Does the rubber surround have a groove into which the windscreen sits..?
What brand of sealant did Autoglass use..?
 
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joderest

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erm…...
1) the screen comes already fitted with the rubber surround, i do not think it sits in any recess, just onto the surrounding body work, the "glue" is onto the body work and the screen sits on top. I suppose until it sets inside, its does have a bit of movement.
2) I do not know as you cannot watch the work being done.
 

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I've been following this thread for ages. I have a thing about leaky cars, having had a few leakers in the past. I think I'd have given up long ago, so well done op and l really do hope the problem is now fixed. It's also good to hear positive reports of screen replacement, as it's something l live in absolute fear of.
 
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