Xantia Tailgate Window Seal

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 24 Dec 2010, 20:08

With the recent cold weather, I have seen a friends Xantia hatchback have a problem with the tailgate window seal at the bottom, where it appears the seal has a up, and down appearance to the bottom edge apparently it has done this previously.

So is this a common problem with the seal?

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 25 Dec 2010, 08:55

the rear screen is bonded so i would think any rubber is just a fillit,

i cant picture a hatch rear screen set up,

regards malcolm

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Dec 2010, 14:16

It's quite normal it seems for the rubber to ruck up a bit in the cold. My Old V6 and Rattiva suffered from this last winter but touch-wood, Old V6 has not suffered this year... Maybe because the rubber has received lots of polish and other moisturising products this past year...

Sadly, the seal is not replaceable except if you are replacing the glass itself. I've tried to extract one and it just can't be done

Xantidote · Post by **Xantidote** » 25 Dec 2010, 14:38

Last winter, the bottom part of the tailgate's window seal lifted on my Xantia, but only at the off-side corner (the nearside may get some protection from the house, as I park the car as close to building as possible). This lifting may have rectified itself over the summer months, or maybe I've just not noticed it. Too much snow to have seen what the seal's doing recently!

The seal does seem to be quite a hard material - was this always the case, or is it hardening with age?

Post by **CitroJim** » 25 Dec 2010, 15:22

Hardens with age I reckon. I've just checked old V6 and on there it is soft so whatever I've applied to it over the summer has helped. Can't check the other two as they're both covered in show still...

VertVega · Post by **VertVega** » 25 Dec 2010, 16:52

Just been out and checked mine before writing this. The seals are in good
condition (touch wood

) even though the car is exposed to very high and low
temperatures so far (during my ownership +39 ºC and -34 ºC

).
I have heard about it before but may be it's a batch or prod year bad luck

vince · Post by **vince** » 26 Dec 2010, 00:19

This is common yes but nothing to worry about....because....

Mine did this last winter and actually split on the inside lip where it hugs the tailgate panel. I warmed it up and dried it thoroughly then applied black boat sealant i bought from a DIY shop for about £5. This was used to re stick the seal to the tailgate where it had split and after letting it dry and re-applying it because it hadnt taken on thre first attempt it was fixed

Its been frozen so many times this year and hasnt budged a bit or rippled either...the other side has shown the odd ripple though but as stated, it returns to normal once it heats back up

If that ones gets worse then ill do the same to that

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 26 Dec 2010, 09:56

This edge of the seal that ripples is an additional part, that sits above the part of the seal that actually seals the tailgate.

The odd thing is this rippling you would have thought, would be an issue when it gets very hot in the middle of summer, therefore it's counter-intuitive.

In the winter it appears to be susceptible to the snow, or even water getting under it then turning to ice, and lifting it, along with the cold temperature making it ripple anyway.

It's like a design fault, that I suppose was not a problem when the vehicles were younger, but might be an age related fault, or did some become a problem for the original purchasers of our cars, and did they get replaced under warranty?

colski · Post by **colski** » 26 Dec 2010, 10:15

Mine is having the exact same problem!

MTND · Post by **MTND** » 26 Dec 2010, 14:59

colski wrote:Mine is having the exact same problem!

Mines doing the same as well! Did it last winter and was ok during the summer. A friendly windscreen man is going have a go with superglue and then sealant when the weather get better to see if he can carefully stick it back on as Vince said in his post

I'll let you know how he gets on.

Mark

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 27 Dec 2010, 23:01

Also having had this friend have this problem made me look at mine, and yes it's another one to add to the list of ripplers.

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 27 Dec 2010, 23:16

Mine has rippled up a bit, it has only done it now the weather has warmed up a bit though and only on a patch about 6" long. Mind you my seal is in a bad way, the surface has gone all rough where its starting to degrade and break down, rubber conditioner has improved the apearance but i will have to keep on top of it over the summer months i think.

D

pridz · Post by **pridz** » 28 Dec 2010, 13:15

Mine also is having the same problem,when adventually I opened the tailgate the cord that lifts the rear parcel shelf was covered in ice.Lucky really as I wasnt aware of any leaking.

Post by **CitroJim** » 28 Dec 2010, 20:43

Pridz, check the plastic gland nut on the rear wiper spindle is tight. If it's loose, water will run in and accumulate in the drainage channel at the bottom of the window and this drains out and may run down the cords when the tailgate is opened.