Xantia-Wipers & Scuttle

[NewcastleFalcon]

Hello



....oooooh...........this sounds like question which I should know the answer to already. After all-I took them off in the first place... but here goes

Anyone know which way round the wiper arms go?

and a supplementary if I can

The plastic scuttle (I think this is the right term for it) mine is in 2-bits is this normal?

I had a windscreen replaced and the scuttle was not resealed and just butting up against the screen. It appears there was a originally a rubber sealing strip. Its US now and I am in the process of scraping the remains off.

On reinstalling the scuttle is a bit of bathroom silicone the type of thing required to seal the scuttle/screen?

Kind regards

Neil

[robert_e_smart]

Hi Neil,

The scuttle should be one piece. Don't use bathroom, sealant, its crap. Use proper windscreen sealant or instant gasket to reseal the scuttle trim. If you want a good replacement one, I have one here spare.

The wipers as positioned in your second picture are correct for re-assembly, the longer arm before pivot goes to the drivers side.

Robert

[NewcastleFalcon]

Robert

I had it just 100% wrong. Thanks for letting me know you have a good complete one available but for now I think I will just use the old one and seal it up with some decent sealant. Is a duff windscreen scuttle seal one of the reasons for a soggy footwell?

Thanks
Neil

[CitroJim]

Absolutely Neil, if the scuttle is cracked and not properly bonded to the base of the windscreen then rainwater will simply pour in through the air intake and straight under the passenger footwell carpet.

Only one way to dry it out and that's to have the carpets and underlay foam out. That means having the seats and centre console out

Robert's right. Only use quality automotive grade silicone RTV sealant on the scuttle panel.

[addo]

You could also use a glazing polyurethane such as sold by Sika. The biggest gain here, is no acid release upon curing.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Thanks everyone

Looked up RTV sealant (Room Temperature Vulcanising apparently)

Is this the type of stuff that will do.......Granville Silicone Sealant Clear from Halfords

Neil

[CitroJim]

Yep, that'll do Neil. Just be sure to really thoroughly clean the windscreen edge and the scuttle edge to ensure a good bond.

Also, be very careful not to get any silicone on the area of the screen where the wipers sweep. It'll cause the most terrible smearing next time it rains and it's a devil to remove.

[addo]

The sealant tricks there, are to set a pair of tape strips - one either side of the joint and immediately upon tooling off the silicone to remove the tape. it is important to tool the silicon hard enough (tight fillet radius) such that there is bugger-all left on the tape. If the sealant skins or cures while the tape is in place, you've lost the contest.

By comparison, tape finishes for polyurethane are removed once it's decisively skinned.

[robert_e_smart]

I use a knife blade to scrap back any excess sealant from the glass. Works fine if you can be bothered and have the patience.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Here is the missing scuttle, and the air intake



add a soggy Northumberland Sunday

Here is the puddle in the footwell



Neil

[VertVega]

It seems that it has been raining cats & dogs
Heater blower must also be soaked totally. It's worth checking if there are other
places from where rain water got in. Start with lifting rear seats. Are they wet?
If it's an Estate then check under the trunk carpet also.

About the wipers, driver's side has shorter arm & longer blade

[introfusion123]

Haw you take down plastic trim ?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Haw you take down plastic trim ?

The car, the scuttle, the wipers, and the puddle in the footwell have long gone now, nearly 8 years ago now,
but nice to know the old threads still get read

Regards Neil

[xantia_v6]

The scuttle trim is stuck to the windscreen by a rubber strip or silicone sealant. You must cut this away carefully with a sharp knife. If you pull too hard, you will break the scuttle trim, or even the windscreen.

[introfusion123]

The scuttle trim is stuck to the windscreen by a rubber strip or silicone sealant. You must cut this away carefully with a sharp knife. If you pull too hard, you will break the scuttle trim, or even the windscreen.

Thx Man ,, it's silicon seal