New front panel and windscreen seal leaking.

[jacko1967]

Morning all
Had a new front panel and quality windscreen seal fitted to my 1988 1.9aaz LHD camper a few months ago and rain water is still trickling into the foot wells in the corner,s I put some creeping crack seal in last week but to no avail still a bit of water in it this morning has anyone got any other ideas?????
its starting to bug me down .
also it's not from the Arial !!
Many thanks in advance Danny.

[maxstu]

From where did you buy the new windscreen seal? Is it properly seated in the frame?

[davidoft1]

is the glass definitely fully home? 

[shepster]

Same here, apparently water can get in between the seal and the body, along the top edge, and then find its way down the sides and into the footwells.

I'm looking at sealing between body and rubber with a non setting sealant to see if that does it.

[Robsey]

Hmm - how odd, normally the rubber seal would be tight enough to sit snug on both the glass and the bodywork. - assuming as you say, it is a decent make.

If you are 100 satisfied that the water isn't entering from a leaky sunroof, or rusty roof line....and you have verified not the aerial hole(s).

All grommets through the bulkhead are sound - speedo cable, brake / clutch hydraulic lines, heater hose rubber moulding thingy....and that blummin big hole at the base of the steering column.

The only solution would be a plumbers' silicon sealant.
Just a small bead all the way round, as close to the edge of the window frame as possible.
You only want enough to fill gaps, not get in the way.
The black high temperature stuff is much better than your typical generic bath seal stuff.

(I have used it to good effect on car exhaust tail pipes... but that is another story).

I could say Sikaflex, but once on, it is a bugger to remove. No fun if the screen ever needs replacing in the future.

[jacko1967]

Hi thanks for the fast reply,s glass seems fully home , been round with creep crack sealant and the seal was German quality from custom and commercial .
Was just wondering if I'd mist out !!
Will give it another once over with the creeping crack!!!!

[multisi]

Window rubbers need non setting sealant when fitting back in, i used 3M sealant about 30 years ago and never had a leak,going to buy some more, lets hope its still made the same. 

[SurfT25]

Just wondering
Is there a top and bottom for the seal ?
Could it be in wrong?
Did mine a couple of years ago ( new seal new window ,no problem-yet )but can't remember the instructions.

[multisi]

The join goes at the lower edge. 

[RogerT]

I think the general consensus in the past has been that Vewib seals from Volkswagen emporium are the best quality.

But just checked and they have no T25 stock!!!

[RogerT]

If you’re thinking about adding sealant, Arbomast Autograde is the one to go for, it’s non setting. Small nozzle poked under the edge of the seal.

[RogerT]

A quick search revealed Vewib seals in stock at Just Kampers…

[shepster]

If you’re thinking about adding sealant, Arbomast Autograde is the one to go for, it’s non setting. Small nozzle poked under the edge of the seal.

Just to confirm, we're talking between seal and bodywork here?

I can't see how water can leak into the van between the seal and glass as theres no way through is there?

[RogerT]

More chance of imperfections on the surface of the bodywork, so more chance of the leak being there, correct. Plus the glass is thicker, so easier to get a tight grip of the seal on the glass. Unless you’ve a dodgy seal…

[Robsey]

I can't see how water can leak into the van between the seal and glass as theres no way through is there?

I have seen water leak past the glass on an ill fitting seal.
So not impossible to get a leak past the glass.

As said - due to seams, metal thickness and other imperfections, it is a lot more likely for the leak to be between the seal and the bodywork.

So yes - your sealant of choice as far into the seal as you can get your nozzle to reach.