Just when I thought I was on top!

Today two tiny chips in the Felicia's windscreen conspired together by joining up to send a crack vertically upwards in the A zone. My fault for not sorting it out sooner. I wanted to see if fixing my leak + repairing the chips was economically viable as the car came at the "right" price.

I've been quoted £106 "all-in" for a professional replacement but I've been offered a "new" screen for £10 as long as I take it of another car my self.

I could do with some advice on weighing up my options.

What's involved if I attempt the replacement my self ie

How do I remove the "new" screen and refit it to my car.

What do I need, what do I do and what will it cost me?

Has anyone done this?

As always any help much appreciated.

It's a piece of cake.

If you can remove the one from the scrap car and not be worried about the seal, then it's simply a case of using a stanley knife round the screen from the outside to cut the part of the seal you can see off (imagine it's like an H shape with the glass between one pair of legs of the H and the body shell between the other, and you'd be cutting the middle part of the H), then pushing it out gently.

If you need to keep the seal intact, it's a bit more involved, but still doable - just use a screwdriver from the inside of the car to push the lip of the seal over the metal (and towards the outside of the car). You can do it about an inch at a time - start at the top centre of the screen and then work each way outwards until you get to the top corners, then you can push the screen out about 5-10mm (GENTLY!), and then start working down the sides, pushing the screen out a bit as you go. Do it carefully and you'll be fine, by the time you get to the bottom corners (when the seal disappears behind the dash) you should be able to grab the top of the screen (which will be a couple of inches "outside" the car now), and then wiggle it upwards and away from the car (you wiggle in the direction that the glass runs, side to side).

Getting it in is fairly easy too - first make sure the seal is clean, and that the bead on the car is also clean - you may need to sort some rust issues out in the bottom corners. You then need some thick cord (about 5-6mm diameter), long enough to go round the screen and with about half a metre each end spare. You should start at the top middle of the windscreen and run the cord round the outside of the seal (so it goes where the bodyshell will end up), and end up with the ends at the bottom of the screen. You can then place it in place, with the cord on the dash inside the car, and the bottom lip of the seal sat in the right place (the reverse of the removal!), and you'll need an assistant to help you lay it down into place - the whole screen will be in front of where it should be. You can now pull the ends of the cord out, and as it goes it will pull the lip of the seal over the bodyshell. Do it a few inches a time, on each side, and remember if the cord slips out without putting the seal over the lip of the body, then you have to start again. Once you've got to the bottom corners, you should be able to push the screen in a bit more, then work up the sides.

The top corners are the hardest bit to do; I usually end up having to push on the outside a bit and do a circular motion with the free end of the cord to get it to go over the body's lip (as there are 2-3 bits of body joining, sometimes the edge is a bit rough). Then as you head towards the middle top, you should be able to push the screen in a bit more, again remembering to be CAREFUL - it's surprising how much laminated screens can bend without breaking, but if you're sharp with it, then it will break.

I've only ever broken one screen, and that was removing it, and the screwdriver slipped. If you're careful, you can get one out in under 10 minutes, and in in about 5, if not quicker. Even if you take extreme caution you can do one in under an hour, and that's worth £100 in my book!

Wish I knew where to get Fel screens for £10 - I need ANOTHER one in the rally car, I've noticed today.

Thanks for your very lucid explanation. That's exactly what I was looking for.

I'd like to ask where on the seal you apply the screwdriver end i.e. do you apply it to the end of the H upright or down on the horizontal bit so that the screwdriver is in between the seal and the bodywork?

Also, do you push with the screwdriver end flat, in line with the seal, or at right angles to it to apply more pressure? I'm sure I'll find out what works but I dont want to break anything if I can help it.

Also would you use washing up liquid to help the rubber slide over the bodywork?

The screen's cheap cos I know the bloke. No promises but if I hear of another at a good price I'll let you know immediately. Is Birmingham close enough to you to make it viable if I find one?

Also would you use washing up liquid to help the rubber slide over the bodywork?

I wouldn't use washing up liquid as I've been told that washing up liquid has a high salt content and promotes rust. Swarfega is a safer substitute.

Silicone grease may also work and is rubber compatible.

Ok thx

I wouldn't use washing up liquid as I've been told that washing up liquid has a high salt content and promotes rust.

That's correct, which is also why you shouldn't wash your car with washing up liquid, or use it as a cheap screenwahs additive.

OK

First up, you apply the screwdriver to the bottom leg of the H, as it were. I'll take a pic and put one up, much easier than writing 10,000 words again.

Secondly, I'd not bother putting washing-up liquid on there, not for the salt content, just 'cos it makes a mess of the job and also means the cord cant' "grip" the seal to get it over the lip of the body shell.

Ok, here's a pic, just starting it off, you can see the body colour in between the headlining and the seal, and it shows how the screwdriver goes. Not going any further on it today as I don't want the screen out and it's raining (as you can see).

I was doing it wrong and tried to "uncurl" and push the rubber through. It didn't oblige so I applied just a touch more force and it cracked.

I didn't realise screens are so fragile in this way.

I wasn't too sad cos the screen had a deep foot long scratch down the passenger side which wasn't good and explained it's low price.

After a day's looking I got a mint screen for £20 in Dudley and its on now.

It's worth the extra tenner.

Thanks for the photo which shows exactly what I should've done.

I could easily get another chip with the state of the roads around here so your information is certainly of value.

Thanks very much.

Does anyone know whether a Favorit windscreen is the same as a Felicia windscreen? I parked my Felicia next to a Favorit the other day and they looked very similar, but I didn't have a tape measure with me. My Felicia windscreen is cracked, and it's a few months till MOT time again, but I'd like to get it sorted, and Favorit windscreens seem easier to find.

I am pretty certain the windscreens are the same dimensions and shape. Only difference is felicia ones have a black bit at the bottom of the screen, to I believe cover up part of the dash, and some have a slight green tint to the glass.

Edited 28 November, 201015 yr by anewman

One further bit of advice- hold the cord onto the seal with masking tape looped over the screen and seal: the cord will cut the tape as you pull it, and it stops the cord dropping out. I've done a couple like this.

Edited 28 November, 201015 yr by cjb

I am pretty certain the windscreens are the same dimensions and shape. Only difference is felicia ones have a black bit at the bottom of the screen, to I believe cover up part of the dash, and some have a slight green tint to the glass.

Ta, grand. Looks like I'll be driving over to Doncaster on Friday: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310164264920

Ta, grand. Looks like I'll be driving over to Doncaster on Friday: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310164264920

Is your screen not covered by your insurance?

Usually no loss of no claim and £50 excess.

Not really worth the bother of fitting yourself if you have to drive to pick up a second hand one ( £30, plus fuel, plus time etc) ?

Is your screen not covered by your insurance?

Usually no loss of no claim and £50 excess.

Not really worth the bother of fitting yourself if you have to drive to pick up a second hand one ( £30, plus fuel, plus time etc) ?

On my policy it's a £70 excess, but I take your point. Time can of course be balanced against smugness at having sorted it out myself, but smugness is negated by financial cost, and with that in mind, you may well be right. I'll have to do some sums...

I have a few chips in my screen, passed the MOT ok with them. I rang up the co which advertises on the telly re getting the chips fixed. £180!!!!!!!!!!! for a repair!!!! rite ho. Tried to get these on insurance, but only on 3rd pty f & t. Gonna up grade to fully comp. Ive never tried to fit a windscreen, must have a go one day.

I thought I should mention - I found out that a Favorit windscreen is not the same shape as a Felicia windscreen.

I cannot see any mention of windscreen sealant in the above. Is this not necessary ?

I've discovered water in the drivers footwell of my Favorit, and presumably it is coming in around the windscreen. I've been wondering if some sealant with the screen in situ might solve the problem, or should I remove the screen and replace with a new seal. (If I can get one) Any thoughts please ?

I believe that a hole drilled in the correct place in the windscreen surround (to let water out) is the way to stop the leaks - Felicia16v is the expert on this, and I'm sure he's posted how to do it somewhere. Sealer never seems to work.

Ah-ha!

Thanks to people that contributed to this thread.

Changed my windscreen today, it is doable by yourself, but I wasn't able to get the old one out without cracking it. That was whilst keeping the old seal intact. I do think some sort of lubricant would of been helpful. 

Meanwhile I was quite surprised to find that there was only one tiny bit of rust under there.

I've also used some sealant round the new screen after fitment just to make sure on the leakage front.

 

@djaychela I don't suppose you've got that pic of how to start off the windscreen/seal removal.

14 minutes ago, R_U_AFA said:

Changed my windscreen today,

I've also used some sealant round the new screen

 

Original, Used or after market?

 

Sealant like this

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71pgUvxRs6S._AC_SL1001_.jpg

or this?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/814hEbHhVTL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

 

Something like the 2nd one.

I used Black bathroom silicone sealant from wickes(wickes is a UK builders / DIY chain store) It's what I used as a quick fix 8 years ago when the old windscreen seal started letting water in, and it worked, so I just went for it again. I also only had 20mins before it got dark so had to be quick.

The key word is SILICONE, because there are plenty of sealants out there that just melt when they get wet.

18 minutes ago, D.FYLAKTOS said:

Original,

Didn't think that there was any sealant used from the factory, probably why so many Felicia's ended up with wet carpets. That combined with the 2 little holes under the windscreen seal.

Edited 25 November, 20232 yr by R_U_AFA

19 minutes ago, R_U_AFA said:

The key word is SILICONE

 

A 1 euro silicone won't do the job as one with 15 euro, there are silicones that can be used in aquarium for example which means can stand to 100% water contact for about 15 years.

In the 1st sealant  (they call it "Macaroni" or "Cord" here) there are levels of quality too, learn it by bad experience.

 

Here in Greece some companies offer after market windscreens but some of them are from China and there are some kind of ''waves'' in the direct sun while driving.

In case of a crash or vandalism if you have insurance the replace is Free but the quality is an issue, some drivers made complains after installation, some don't.