[Vwdiesel] MK1 Windshield leaks?

[mark shepherd]

At the beginning when seal is supple, the fancy strip definitely tensions 
the lip against the window.
Sources of leak are often the drying out of the rubber; and then a region of 
bubbled, then rusted metal, that eventually breaks off under the rubber.

Why could the German's not use the rubber technology of the French?
The rubber on my dad's Citroen from the 80's is like new.

I wonder if soaking the seals in diesel, or parafin, or ATF would regain 
those lost inches? Perhaps varnishing to prevent evaporation...

Mark


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sandy Cameron" <scameron at storm.ca>
To: "Just Joe" <stuff at wormshit.com>; <vwdiesel at audifans.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 1:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] MK1 Windshield leaks?


>
> At 09:40 AM 4/15/2011 -0400, you wrote:
>>What about a MK1 Rabbit?  I've got a leak I can't find.  Is the groove in
>>the windshield seal the source?  The "chrome" strip of plastic on mine has
>>long since turned yellow and is cracked, has a few sections missing. 
>>Would
>>completely removing the remainder of this strip and then sealing the 
>>groove
>>with silicon solve my leak?  That's what I have done on 2 mk2's, rake the
> cavity out clean all the way around (make special tools if you have to) 
> be
> careful not to scratch or nick the edge of the glass, then seal with
> silicone (I used GE, black, in the large caulking gun tube. Absolutely,
> positively, no leaks any more.
>
> It's true, a professional installer will give you a leakproof seal, but
> various evil fates conspire to screw it up, voids happen, pinhole
> rust-through at the bottom of the groove, etc.
>
> That plastic "dress strip" contributes nothing to the seal, and just lets
> water in, and holds it there, rusting the ledge out from under the seal 
> bead.
>
> Scrape it all out and seal it forever with silicone rubber..
>
> Sandy
> VE3AAC
>
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