ZX Windscreen

ZXdanslamaison · Post by **ZXdanslamaison** » 24 Apr 2004, 22:50

ZX 2 litre 8 valve four door k reg
There is a 2 foot crack across my windscreen[:(!]
I have a couple of questions relating to this problem wihc my haynes has neglected to answer since those pages appear to be missing..
1. Will the windscreen from a 3 door diesel aura fit my car (roughly same age , seen down the scrappies)
2. Is it a difficult job to do myself and roughly whats involved?
Cheers for any help (could have done without this on a sunny weekend , but c'est la vie!)
Al

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 24 Apr 2004, 23:16

Hi Al -
I don't think the ZX had a facelift to the front section including the windscreen and A-pillars the first couple of years, and it would be the same for a 3/5 door version.
First of all prepare for a fiddly job.
The windscreen is glued on, and this glue hardens to a rather sturdy susbstance, resembling something between hard rubber and chassis filler.
You need a special cutting wire, which will cut (or rather : file or hacksaw) thru the glue compound. I think this wire is available as a branded "Goldwire", because of it's brass mix.
This wire is the only approach I've seen which makes for an efficient work removing a glued carscreen.
You need to drill a hole in the mastic somewhere, to get a starting point. Also it's a 2 man job : one inside car, the other person outside car, and then applying the method of work using a good old 2-man lumberjack saw.
During work the wire must be controlled to avoid cutting into the bodywork/paintwork, or scratching the glass.
You'll need to do the job 2 times : freeing the spare, and removing your trashed windscreen [:(]
I'd say it's one of those jobs that's best left to a professional autoglass specialist, unless you're really hooked on the job yourself.
It's not exactly a laughing fun job trying to seat the new screen correctly on the fresh wet glue [xx(]

ZXdanslamaison · Post by **ZXdanslamaison** » 25 Apr 2004, 00:06

Thanks Anders,
Anyone know how much its going to cost me to get this done at an autoglass specialist?

Post by **philhoward** » 25 Apr 2004, 00:40

You should be able to get it done on your insurance for the excess (normally about £50); failing that, give them a call! Shop about; there are enough Windscreen people out there (the national ones plus local independants):

rabenson · Post by **rabenson** » 25 Apr 2004, 23:49

I'm with the others, this really is a job best left to the pros - Even if you manage to get the scrappy one off succesfully, you are going to have to really clean all the old glue off to make sure that it sits properly.
Ron

volcane305 · Post by **volcane305** » 28 Apr 2004, 02:41

No point in trying to do the screen ypurself. Got a quote yesterday from autoglass £95 fitted.

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 28 Apr 2004, 04:38

Not only that they'll probably do a top tint screenfor it...

ZXdanslamaison · Post by **ZXdanslamaison** » 29 Apr 2004, 14:16

I got quoted £300 from autoglass! Looks like I need to do some digging around

ZXdanslamaison · Post by **ZXdanslamaison** » 29 Apr 2004, 14:18

I got quoted £300 from autoglass! Looks like I need to do some digging around

Brian Oblivion · Post by **Brian Oblivion** » 29 Apr 2004, 15:58

Don't you have windscreen cover on your insurance? I've had two done on my old 306 (glued in and tinted model) and paid £50 excess each time.

ZXdanslamaison · Post by **ZXdanslamaison** » 29 Apr 2004, 16:29

Unfortunately not because I'm third party apparently