Date:         Mon, 18 Jan 1999 23:43:39 -0500
Reply-To:     John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Window molding
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> severe at the clip.  My guess is that origionally the metal and platic
were
> somehow bonded together and have now seperated allowing the water in.
What
> are these trim strips made of in your experience and why remove them if
> they are not rusting?
>  >>

>you can remove these trim strips from the window rubber, and wont
experience
>any leakage.
>
>chris

A pretty bold and incorrect statement in my experience.  True in the
absolute sense that the strip does not cover a leak path through the rubber
seal, BUT that plastic strip is more than decorative, it wedges the rubber
apart, removing it relaxes the tight fit in the frame, considerably (try
some day the difference between pulling a piece of glass with the strip in
vs with it out.)  Now on late vans the rubber is glued circumferentially
anyhow, so removing the strip wouldn't be so bad as on a Bus or an early
van, but this is a critical mistake on a bay in the corners of the
windshield and on the van.  One should never reinstall an old seal in
general but if you do, it SHOULD be reinstalled with the relatively cheap
strip replaced (as getting the origional out alive is less than a 50/50 bet
with any age to it, and as I mentioned it is removed if you want to attempt
to salvage the rubber on removal.)  I would never tempt fate and pull the
strip cause it looked bad no matter how cracked, oxidized, shrunk, whatever,
you are tempting fate.  Also note I don't imagine it is replaceable without
pulling the glass and inserting in the rubber then reinstalling, not in my
experience anyway, maybe someone with the proverbial patience of Job.  The
molding is there, there for a reason, don't F#$@ with it.  Most bay and
vanagon leaks occur on the outide lower edges of the seals, particularly in
the corners as they age.  I've mentioned before Permatex has a flowable
silicone sealant about the consistency of glycerin good for an attempt at
resealing, you run the tip of the tube under the flap of the rubber.  But if
your windshield is seeping badly, chances are a new seal, frame repair, etc
are going to be in order.

John
janderson@iolinc.net