1996 Xantia windscreen scuttle

vince · Post by **vince** » 03 May 2009, 21:41

Guys, It is clear for me to see that my windscreen scuttle seal is goosed.

After reading Richards article in the Citroenian this month i guess id better get on with fixing it as it is letting water into the passenger footwell where apparently there lives a loom....which dont like water.

So....question time.

1, Where is said seal and how do you replace it?
2, Is it necessary to remove the plastic scuttle? or can you seal the gap between it and the windscreen? or bond the plastic scuttle back into place?...and if bonded, will that cure the leak?

Ideally i would like to remove the plastic and fix whats underneath, but i can see a little rust beneath the windscreen and am also dreading what i will find once removed

Im not bad at bodywork stuff though so am willing to give it a go

Any tips on what products you have used to cure this problem?

Thanks
Vince

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 03 May 2009, 22:18

The seal is the bonding agent which attaches the plastic scuttle to the base of the windscreen, to avoid leaks the plastic trim needs to be firmly glued to the screen on the N/S right across to the N/S wiper arm pivot point. If the seal has broken down you should be able to lift the plastic trim away from the screen after having removed a couple of plastic securing pins and the wiper arms.

To re-bond the trim you can use a variety of window sealing products, but make sure you remove any debris of the previous bonding agent as well as taking time to get both surfaces free from grease etc.

Where exactly are you talking of there being rust below the screen as that would be an unusual area to find it on a Xantia, you're not by chance seeing brown dust deposits in the scuttle area are you, as that is quite common and can easily be confused with rust from a distance. In addition most of the scuttle area below the plastic trim is covered by plastic/sound deadening material.

Post by **admiral51** » 03 May 2009, 22:25

Cant remember who it was but someone on here had to take the scuttle off and used a hair dryer to heat the scuttle and bonding agent.Using a knife they managed to cut the scuttle away from the screen without breaking either

Any good window sealant will work as DickieG says

Colin

vince · Post by **vince** » 03 May 2009, 23:20

This is what im seeing Richard, the trim is only lifted by a small amount. From what has been said, i think heating it up to make it maliable and a bit of good sealent will do the trick?...I hope

Post by **xantia_v6** » 04 May 2009, 07:26

With the corner of the scuttle looking like that on one of my Xantias, I just waited for a warm day, applied some windscreen sealant, and put a wedge between the scuttle and bonnet edge and let it set overnight.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 04 May 2009, 08:05

AS Xantia V6 says above if that's all that is lifting I'd just reseal the corner as mentioned. I wouldn't have thought that such a small amount of lifting in the corner was enough to let in water though, so I'd take a very close look at the rest of the seal checking for any gaps and possibly add a further bead of sealant over the top just to make sure.

firstrebel · Post by **firstrebel** » 04 May 2009, 08:30

I have the same at each end of the scuttle on my '97 Xantia. I used Dum Dum, something I have used many times over many years on many cars. I assume it is still available.

It is a non setting black mastic, bit like putty. I made a 'sausage' and firmly pressed it into the gap, then cleaned up with a putty knife (screw driver blade works OK as well).

Bob

vince · Post by **vince** » 04 May 2009, 08:52

Thanks guys 8)

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 04 May 2009, 15:19

admiral51 wrote:Cant remember who it was but someone on here had to take the scuttle off and used a hair dryer to heat the scuttle and bonding agent.Using a knife they managed to cut the scuttle away from the screen without breaking either
Any good window sealant will work as DickieG says

Colin

THAT Was me!!

Ive successfully done it twice now, BUT beeing to heisty with the knife I still cracked the screen.. But the hair dryer heats the trim SLOWLY enough to not cause cracking of the screen... go slowly with a sharp knife and it will cut away nicely with the hair dryer...

Rgds
Paul

Post by **admiral51** » 04 May 2009, 21:42

citroenxm wrote:
THAT Was me!!

Sorry for not remembering it was you Paul

But at least i got the general gist of what you did right

Colin

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 05 May 2009, 10:11

No worries!!

P