Xantia screen sctuttle trim

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:26

Hi ALL

Ive a Xantia Heater matrix to replace for a customer...

Its a T plate, 1998 HDi, and still has its original screen... I CANNOT for the life of me get the scuttle off to get at the 3/4 dash screws....

Its got the original heavy duty mastic on it.. any tips for removal.. I thought about applying heat with a heat gun or hair dryer..

Tips/Advice??

Thanks
Paul

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:28

usualy just a scraper run along under it is enogh to seperate it
regards malcolm

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:30

So if you masked heavily on the visible side, then used a thin (sharpened) putty knife of the type with one raked edge and one convex edge, it should slice through after several passes?

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:30

Malc

NO chance!! EVEN a knife with an ultra sharpe edge wont do it!!!!

Thanks
P

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:31

Hot knife? Heat it with the heat gun and a concentrator nozzle.

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:35

Heat the knife OR the scuttle so it warms the "gooo"?

P

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:39

i would not put a hot air gun near the screan
regards malcolm

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:42

yea, my worries confirmed, but need to do something, short of breaking the screen..

Paul

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 22 Nov 2008, 11:04

I don't think that there is any magical solution for this one other than to use a very thin sharp knife and keep slicing at the mastic. I still managed to break the screen on my Activa despite being very gentle. On an Activa I was breaking for spares the only way I could get the trim off was by attacking it with a bolster chisel and even then the mastic pulled large sections of glass off of the screen. Good luck!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 22 Nov 2008, 13:05

What about a chemical approach - something like turps or maybe methylated spirits* may soften it enough to allow you to cut through it with a sharp, thin bladed knife - have you tried a heavy duty snap-off blade knife?

*I'd be a bit hesitant about chucking petrol on it

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 22 Nov 2008, 13:24

A thin sharp pallet knife, keep heating the blade with a heat gun & just keep slicing at it, once you can use some plastic wedges to carefully prise the scuttle & keep some outward tension on it, it can take a while but it's the bes way i've found to do it.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 22 Nov 2008, 13:58

myglaren wrote:What about a chemical approach - something like turps or maybe methylated spirits* may soften it enough to allow you to cut through it with a sharp, thin bladed knife - have you tried a heavy duty snap-off blade knife?

*I'd be a bit hesitant about chucking petrol on it

especialy if your useing a hot air blow tourch TEA HE

regards malcolm

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 22 Nov 2008, 14:12

Ok guys ! Thanks magic done....

managed to get it off in one piece... I used a hair dryer! Yes really! and heated the trim slowly as its not as violent as a heat gun, and as the plastic scuttle warmed, it sofened the goooo enough for my thin knife to cut it....

The screen can take SLOW warming, but not RAPID heat change like a heat gun would apply..

Anyway, matrix in, dash in place, and screwed in place just need to put all the bits and bobs back in place in the dash..

THANKYOU for all your sugestions....

Rgds
PAul

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 23 Nov 2008, 15:22

Hey Paul. let us know how many parts you have left over!

Handyman

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 23 Nov 2008, 17:12

Well funny you should ask!

I have about 4 bolts left!

These are from the centre of the dash, were the steel bars bolt together... I put all the centre dash back in before realising I had not put them back..

After bolting the two above the colum, and the two side ones, and the two above the drivers legs area, it was sound enough ....

So all went back fine, with nothing else forgotton.... (My 4th one Ive done now, 2x S2, 2x S1's)

Rgds
Paul