V70: Body leak at top of windscreen

[Semnoz]

Originally Posted by bobsy852

I've literally just had my windscreen replaced now partly because of this.

A few months ago I noticed the odd spot of water would drop onto the passenger side when driving around corners. Then as the car was stood for a day or two over Christmas I got back in the car to find a puddle on the passenger side footwell.

£420 to change the screen at Autoglass without insuance (I wasn't bothering with trying to put it on Volvo as I just assumed for a car from 2008 they wouldn't give me the time of day...).
Anyway, the glass had a number of stone chips in it, but had recently gained another which was borderline on the requirements for a screen replacement. I called the insurance company though and when the Autoglass guy arrived he measured it and confirmed it was enough to have it replaced. £75 instead!!

I've read elsewhere on the forum some speculation about the quality of work from such aftermarket windscreen fitters but apparently the new screen & bond is guaranteed for the life of the car so we'll see how we get on.

Hopefully no more raining in though!! I can take the towel down from across the top of the screen now! haha

Exact same story/experience for me. The Autoglass engineer was really good. The only negative part for me was that they fitted a Fuyao (Chinese) glass. The finish at the top isn't neat, the VIN number window isn't aligned and the 2 airbag symbols are a bit crap looking. I didn't think to ask before he arrived as I've had my Focus screen replaced a couple of years back by Autoglass and they fitted a Pilkington without me needing to say anything (could be because they're the only company who make heated windscreens though).

What make of glass did you end up with ?

[Scooser]

Originally Posted by Semnoz

The Autoglass engineer was really good.

Sorry, a bit of a pet peeve, but the guy (or girl) who fits your windscreen is not an engineer.

Having spent 3 years at university and another 8 years experience to become a Chartered Engineer and be able to adopt the title CEng, it devalues the engineering profession to have a semi-skilled tradesman replacing windscreens given the same terminology.

[GrantA]

Originally Posted by Scooser

Sorry, a bit of a pet peeve, but the guy (or girl) who fits your windscreen is not an engineer.

Having spent 3 years at university and another 8 years experience to become a Chartered Engineer and be able to adopt the title CEng, it devalues the engineering profession to have a semi-skilled tradesman replacing windscreens given the same terminology.

I totally agree Scooser, far too often the term "engineer" is used to describe anyone who knows the difference between a spanner and a screwdriver. There are those who have good skill at hand and used to be called "mechanics" but now we seem to have lost that description and everyone in the motor trade or in the military who lifts a spanner is called either an "engineer" or a "technician" and we don't seem to have any "mechanics" any more.

IMO these are the true definitions of "Engineer", "Technician" and "Mechanic": (It is rather like that old sketch "I know my place" with John Cleese and the two Ronnies.)

An Engineer is a person who has a degree in his/her specialisation, has studied for years to get Chartered status and who applies the principles of engineering, physics, and material science for the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical, electrical and electronic systems.

Technicians are workers that are highly trained to perform specific tasks. They generally follow procedures developed by engineers or doctors. Engineering technicians use sophisticated equipment to diagnose and identify faults and defects on engineering systems. Similarly in the medical industry technicians use sophisticated equipment and techniques to analyze body fluids and tissue at the request of the doctor.

A Mechanic is a tradesman, craftsman, or a person with good skill at hand who has been trained to use tools to build or repair machinery.

No doubt this will start a lively discussion but, as I said, it is "in my opinion" and everyone is entitled to an opinion.

[Tatsfield]

Those are the descriptions that I have always assumed. I accept that certain operatives in dealerships who have attended specialist courses on specific equipment and procedures may justify the title of technician but as far as I'm concerned all the grease monkeys who work on my car are mechanics and there's nothing to be ashamed of in that title. I doubt if any dealership actually employs qualified engineers and I'm confident that Autoglass don't. To give them the benefit of the doubt, as they undergo specialist training to fit windscreens, they might just qualify as technicians!

[warninglight]

Does this windscreen issue tend to only affect the early cars, do we know?

I'm going to see an 11 plater this weekend, will see if the screen moves, but would be good to know!

Oh and on the engineer front, I am one, working on my MSc and CEng through IMechE. My girlfriend is a doctor and occasionally misuses the term engineer (such as the plumber I booked last night) so I take delight in calling anyone who fixes things a doctor. Fair's fair!

[Timbotambo]

Had the same problem, only came to light when going through the IMO car wash. Had a voucher for a half price wash so plumped for the top wash with the mixed coloured foam jobbo.

The wife got pi$$ wet through and entire lap looked like a dead unicorn.

I thought it was hilarious, her less so.

Anyway, screen had a crack in it conveniently enough so got it replaced under insurance.

[Backpedal]

I just posted this in the leaky windscreen sticky thread, but for those of you that don't know it's there or haven't looked:

"Hello everyone,

Thought I'd tell you all about my experiences today with getting my Windscreen rebonded on a 2008 (58 plate) V70 T6.

I phoned Volvo head office a week ago to speak to them about the leaking front screen, armed with the knowledge that they *should* be fixing the faulty sealing under warranty/good will.

The person I spoke to at Volvo was very helpful and I didn't need to do any arm twisting to get them to suggest that the work should be carried out under warranty.

They got my local dealer (Bristol City Motors) to call me back and book me in.

There were two caveats. The windscreen needed to be an original with Volvo stamps on it and they made me very aware that it could crack when they remove it. I knew it was an original screen and accepted the risk.

Luckily I'd already spoke to my insurance company (Tesco) about this procedure and they were happy to replace the screen with my small windscreen excess should it break on removal.

Took the car in and by 10am they'd removed and unfortunately cracked the screen. I phoned my insurance company and they had a guy come out by 12 to fit a new one.

The screen was in by 1 and I was ready to drive home at 2 after the bonding agent had gone off.

Happy with the outcome but a few points I've learnt:

1 Check with insurance company first that they'll replace the screen if it cracks. Get it in writing.

2 If it does crack, the windscreen fitter person may not be super happy finishing a job someone else has started.

3 The rain sensor for the wipers is fragile and can break. Fortunately mine didn't. Factor this into the cost.

4 Volvo will and should do this job FOC so don't pay to have it done yourself if you have an original screen. I was getting quotes from £200 - £300 to remove, rebond and refit my screen with the risk of it cracking creating an additional cost.

Good luck!"

[apersson850]

When I got min replaced, at Volvo's expense, it was with a new screen.
Twice, actually, since the replacement had an issue so it was replaced with yet another new screen.

[Tatsfield]

Since the introduction of bonded screens, car bodies have not been designed with reinforced rigid screen aperture frames as were fitted when screens were fitted with rubber grommet fixings. Even then, the aperture distorted as the body flexed and the rubber insulated the glass from the twisting movement. Now the screens are bonded rigidly into the aperture and form their own reinforcement which is so strong that it actrually stops the upper body from distorting around the aperture which is a huge hole at either end of the body. However, the entire concept rerquires a 100% bond of the glass to the flange. An improperly bonded scdreen represents a failure on the body's rigidity and in theory the resultant movement can break the bond further until the screen becomes loose and detaches. So the poorly bonded screen on Volvos is not just a source of water ingress but represent a deterioration of the safety frame surrounding the passengers and as such is always going to be an occurance that Volvo would need to address or face severe public condemnation.

[apersson850]

Just imagine an abrupt stop, the windscreen flies away and decapitates somebody...