Windsheild leak

BritishBaja · Post by **BritishBaja** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:58 am

Our Bug is leaking around the windscreen, drivers side at middle bottom appears where the water comes in, The previous owner had installed new window rubbers, Looking at it , it does not have the chrome strip most I have seen have got and looking at the Heritage VW website that tends to suggest it could be a 1200 screen rubber, he kept telling me it was a 1200 before the engine change but on the log book it says Model 1300 and as I can see the 1300 super-seeded the 1200 in 66 the year my car was registered, So really I'm asking do you think he has fitted the wrong window rubber, which isn't fitting properly. Pressing on the rubber there appears to be some movement in the bottom corners of the screen is this normal, or signs of bad fit ???? Any help appreciated.

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 9:37 am

It could just be cheap rubber, or there's rust under the seal. The only way to be sure is to remove the windshield and install new rubber. The type with the anodized metal garnish molding is available.

1200 or 1300 rubber doesn't matter as long as it's for the proper model year, and earlier pre-'65 rubber wouldn't fit at any rate because it's much too small.

crazydaze · Post by **crazydaze** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:48 am

Blue Baron wrote:It could just be cheap rubber, or there's rust under the seal. The only way to be sure is to remove the windshield and install new rubber. The type with the anodized metal garnish molding is available.

1200 or 1300 rubber doesn't matter as long as it's for the proper model year, and earlier pre-'65 rubber wouldn't fit at any rate because it's much too small.

Can't argue with Blue Baron there, almost certainly a poor quality seal, replace it with a good quality original seal or OEM/German wether it's made for the chrome trim or not, it's the quality of rubber and shape/fitting that makes the difference.

Unfortunately it sounds like the previous owner was confused, did'nt have the knowledge or tried to big up some descriptions of the parts, that's the great thing about this place - straight forward honest advice and answers

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:49 am

... Or it simply just leaks. Sometimes even the good stuff leaks due to improper installation, or for reasons that are inexplicable.

I have experienced an unexplicable leak on a windshield that had new quality rubber, properly installed. One fix is to buy a tube of clear silicone, the type with the long, pointed cap, lift the edge of the rubber and silicone along underneath it. It stopped the leak for me, and the silicone is invisible under the rubber.

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:50 am

redundant post -- please remove.

BritishBaja · Post by **BritishBaja** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:14 am

It was sealed using silicon squeezed into thee rubber seal

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:56 am

I'll go pat myself on the back now.

In actuality, the factory manuals advise using a sealant when replacing the windows.