Date:         Mon, 7 Nov 2011 18:05:03 -0800
Reply-To:     Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: How does it leak in?
In-Reply-To:  <1335FCB7-D0E2-4F63-A23D-BC3DF25EC693@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

As alistair said.  My van has only two places where rust is an issue - under each corner of the front windshield.  Both sides have a small hole rusted through under the seal rubber - you can lift the rubber and see them.  The paint had some small blisters when I got it, when I cleaned those off I saw the metal was rusted through; holes about 1/8" big.  I treated it with one of those phosphoric acid rust converters, and I'm going to do a temporary patch with some fiberglass.  It should work for a few years.

Lift up the rubber seal in the bottom corners of the windshield and see if it's that.  Hopefully it's not.

Dan
Los Angeles, CA
"Winky" the '85 Westy Weekender

On Nov 7, 2011, at 7:13 AM, Alistair Bell wrote:

> bad seal, water can get under the seal and that can happen at the top of the window, then water seeps down to those corners and over the years rusts a hole in the sill under the seal and the water gets inside.
> 
> yes, rust hole in the window sill. I hope someone will tell me otherwise.
> 
> I have some success with a temp fix using the thinned clear silicone sold as windscreen leak fixer.
> 
> alistair
> 
> 
> On 2011-11-06, at 9:58 PM, HotelWestfalia wrote:
> 
>> There are two puddles in the front.  One on each side in the front, near to the side wall.  
>> I guess, there is something wrong with the windshield seal.  But I'm not sure.
>> And it's not the antenna hole, it's sealed already.  
>> 
>> I think, it must be something commonly known to some Vanagon guru, except me.  
>> Who would know this?
>> 
>> Thank you all,
>> Zoltan