Windscreen fails the see through test

[austingipsy]

Well the swede just failed her MOT today, two things a crack in the windscreen which i thought i'd get away with since it's not normally in the sweep of the wipers and brake lights.
Unfortunately for me the wipers decided that today of all days they would go the extra distance and really sweep the windscreen . Right into the crack zone oops.
The brake lights didn't come on, bulbs are fine so I guess it's the hydraulic brake sensor. Does anyone happen to know the thread size i was going to get one from holden .
The windscreen change I am dreading, although a 40 odd year old windscreen was a bit of a nightmare at night, every headlight looks like a firework display with all those years of stone chips. Has anyone had any experience of changing one or getting screen fitters to do it? (would be my preferred option ,I'm just worried they might mangle the chrome trim)

Still two things isn't a disaster for a 44 year old car I guess

[agent_strangelove]

I think I have an NOS brake light switch at home... Drop me a note off list if interested. But I think they are 1/16-NPT.

I have changed windshields but never had luck with the chrome strip. I have had old Volvo mechanics do it for me after I have got the glass in the car. But at this point in my life I leave the whole deal to the professionals as they do less damage to the chrome than I do and most will guarantee a seal.


Chris
Agent_strangelove@hotmail.com

[Gordon Hunter]

Originally Posted by austingipsy

The windscreen change I am dreading, although a 40 odd year old windscreen was a bit of a nightmare at night, every headlight looks like a firework display with all those years of stone chips. Has anyone had any experience of changing one or getting screen fitters to do it? (would be my preferred option ,I'm just worried they might mangle the chrome trim)

Still two things isn't a disaster for a 44 year old car I guess

Hi,

Have a look at my article on changing windscreens and trim on the older volvo's in the latest issue of Volvo Driver magazine. Though the car in the illustrations is a P1800, the techniques are exactly the same as for the Amazon. The article covers how to fit the screen trims too.
Most modern car screen fitters I have encountered seem scared of any car older than 10 years old. I have yet to hear a sucess story about them fitting trims to an Amazon / 1800, though you may be fortunate.

Let us know how you get on.

Gordon

[austingipsy]

Cheers Chris, after reading Ron's bit about brake light failure on his swedish embassy site i think I'm going to use an old triumph herald pull switch. At least then it will come on straight away . It's a hook and spring that attached to the brake pedal arm and a little switch you bolt/screw to the bulkhead. As soon as you apply the brake it pulls on the switch.
Gordon I will let you know how things go with the screen, I really am worried now, spoke to Rob and Emma at amazon cars and there is around a 60 % change of the screen getting north of the border in one piece , no matter which courier service. So the odds are against a trouble free install and that's before even thinking about the chrome trim.
Oh well I'll know on Tuesday how many pieces it's been delivered in !

[Derek UK]

Might be a bit late now but did you, has anyone recently, got a quote for a screen from their local Volvo main dealer? It used to be that they were surprisingly competitive. More so with the 10% VOC member discount.
Part #673140 if anyone wants to give them a call.

[222s]

Never tried it from a main stealer - useful tip though! The last new screen I had was about £80
(brand new) from Tony Barrett. That was about 5 1/2 years ago & within a fortnight it was chipped....

[grantbennett2]

I have in the past changed all the glass in a morris minor with water tight success. For some reason shyed away from the task with my amazon.

The company my sprayer used replaced all the trims well with no damage but front and rear screens leaked badly.

With the Morris I used a bitumen based screen sealant, the name of which I have lost. It came in black or white in red tubes (a large version of the old type toothpaste tubes). I used it between screen and rubber and rubber and screen surround.

The closest product I could find recently was a bitumen based gutter sealant which fitted into a mastic gun. It seems to be the same thing.

If I were you I would fit the screens yourself with loads of sealant and then have the trims fitted by a fitter.

best of luck.