I don't know if this has been rasied before but I just had the original factory fitted Windscreen replaced on my 2002 Ralliart and it hadn't been bonded in properly since new..the only thing holding it in was the moldings that go around it. We didn't have to cut rthe seal to remove it...it just lifted straight out :-(

As the windcsreen forms part of the structual strength of the car I'm glad I didn't have to find out the hard way about this... I wonder how many more like this there are out there?

Stuart Glass
Ralliart Magna (Diamante in NZ) #0077

Hey Stuart. It isn't just a structural problem that you will be dealing with, it is a serious safety one. If you were in a crash, there could be very serious consequences. Get the windscreen removed and replaced by a professional, or if you are competent, do it yourself properly. It is never a good idea to be stingy with your own safety.

Holy sheet. Doesnt sound good. Did it leak at all..???

Windscreen has been replaced by specialist he's the one that pointed it out to me...I was blown away because I know the the screen is part of the structual strength of the car...It does concern me as to wether this is a one off of more of a wide spread issue. It you remove the windscreen trim and push on the screen and it moves that is very very bad.

Not sure about leaks as I just brought the car but it did smell a little musty inside so I guess there was some water coming in. There was a seal between screen and car but not a proper bond. You would normally have to cut through the seal with a wire to remove the screen... but not this one a gentle push as all it took.

First one I've heard of. Did the rubber come off still stuck to the glass or the body work? Could be the glass wasn't prepared correctly, or the sealant was of poor quality.
Also, bodywork that flexes can break the seal, but this is uncommon in Magnas. I had a HX Holden that would flex on a dirt road, and break the seal, but that car had been in several accidents.

i dunno if it counts for strength as fair as i knew windows are just designed to break during a accident not give support

The seal was bonded to the body not the glass so could be a sealant or preparation problem. The Windscreen does form part of the strength of the car it cnr be up to 30% because it is bonded to the bodyshell

The whole bodywork/screen combination is much stronger when bonded together properly, that's for sure!

New glass is prepared as a triple layer glass-plastic-glass, then while still hot and floppy, is put on formwork to give it its final shape. The formwork is lubricated with a lubricant to allow easy separation when set, but if the oil isn't cleaned off correctly it will not adhere to the sealant. That screen may have missed this step in the factory. When a new screen is put in the installer always cleans the inside edge carefully.


Worth a read:
http://www.enotes.com/automobile-windshield-reference/automobile-windshield

Yup, windscreens are highly important to the structural integrity of a modern car.

I cannot believe this! A windscreen only held in place by a bit of rubber and gravity? That's amazing and downright scary. Does make you wonder how long has the car been like this for!

Anyway - the windscreen does need to be properly fitted with a polyurthance glue the pro's use. You can do it yourself but it costs about $50 a tube so for a little bit extra you might as well get a proper job done. Avoid the big glass repairers/installers like O'Brien because they charge heaps and if you don't buy their screens they do not guarantee to replace it if they break. No, I'm not joking. I called around 4 of the major installers when I needed to replace some windscreens and they all said that they would not be responsible if they broke my $300 screens because I didn't buy from them! In the end, I called around, spoke to a few panel beaters and got two screens fitted for $100 cash ;)

AS for the importance of the windscreen - I've been told by a few glass installers that, apparently, in an accident, they can be account for up to 30% of the car's structural integrity.

I cannot believe this! A windscreen only held in place by a bit of rubber and gravity? That's amazing and downright scary. Does make you wonder how long has the car been like this for!

Anyway - the windscreen does need to be properly fitted with a polyurthance glue the pro's use. You can do it yourself but it costs about $50 a tube so for a little bit extra you might as well get a proper job done. Avoid the big glass repairers/installers like O'Brien because they charge heaps and if you don't buy their screens they do not guarantee to replace it if they break. No, I'm not joking. I called around 4 of the major installers when I needed to replace some windscreens and they all said that they would not be responsible if they broke my $300 screens because I didn't buy from them! In the end, I called around, spoke to a few panel beaters and got two screens fitted for $100 cash ;)

AS for the importance of the windscreen - I've been told by a few glass installers that, apparently, in an accident, they can be account for up to 30% of the car's structural integrity.


Firstly, never try to fit or fix a windscreen yourself, you will never be able to fix it, just get a professional who has been trained to do it.

Secondly, i wouldn't be dissing on O'Brien, they are the best at what they do and yes, they are a bit more expensive but the knowledge and training is second to none and the warranty is nationwide.

Try calling one of your cheap dodgy backyward guys after they have done a job to say you have wind noise or leaking and see what happens ? If they still have the same number, chances are they will tell you to where to go.

Do you really want to play games and try to cut corners to save money when it comes to a major structural part of your car ?

I know i wouldn't.

I've had the Windscreen professionally replaced as the reason we discovered this issue was the orginal factory screen and some bad wiper scratches in it so I wanted a new screen... I'm now glad I did!!

Used Smith and Smith in NZ and I'm happy with the service and their workmanship and they came to my house to do it. Work is also Guranteed so if I leaks I'll have no problems with them fronting up to rectify.

Question. How sure are you that the loose windscreen was the original one from the factory?

I'd be surprised if it was, as the factory ones would have been put on in a systematic fashion. Whereas a bodgey replacement installer might be more likely to put in a badly fitted one (sometime between 2002 and when the OP purchased it). But interested to know either way.

Firstly, never try to fit or fix a windscreen yourself, you will never be able to fix it, just get a professional who has been trained to do it.

Secondly, i wouldn't be dissing on O'Brien, they are the best at what they do and yes, they are a bit more expensive but the knowledge and training is second to none and the warranty is nationwide.

Try calling one of your cheap dodgy backyward guys after they have done a job to say you have wind noise or leaking and see what happens ? If they still have the same number, chances are they will tell you to where to go.

Do you really want to play games and try to cut corners to save money when it comes to a major structural part of your car ?

I know i wouldn't.

If you know what you're doing its not that hard to fit a windscreen. Its just a matter of having the right tools (i.e. glue & suction cups) and lining it up in the right spot. I know a few people who installed windscreens themselves in their track/project cars and they are fine.

Those guys you think are "dodgy backyard guys" are usually pro's who run their own business. They are usually much cheaper because they don't have massive overheads. Panel beaters tend to have contacts because they regularly have car's rolling through their workshop that need windscreens so they do a large amount for cheap.

And as for warranty from O'Brien - as I said above - if you do not buy windscreens from them, they are not responsible if they break it. I was told quite clearly by a few of the large windscreen fitters (one of which was O'Brien) that despite the fact that I provided a genuine brand new windscreen, those installers could not be held responsible if they broke it. I'm sorry - but which kind of pro's cannot ensure they will not break a windscreen?! Not only that, they were asking $220 + callout fee to do so. I told where they can go and paid significantly less to have it done by a self-employed installer who saved me heaps. Years on, and the windscreen is fine. No cracks, no leaks, no problems.

And even if they did do a poor job. I could buy a $40 windscreen removal tool, take the windscreen out and call another guy to install and it'd still be cheaper than O'Brien. Just sayin'

Anyway - OP glad to hear you got it professionally fitted and its all sorted now. What a nasty surprise to find a windscreen only held in by the rubber surround. Jaw-dropping! Enjoy your ralliart now :)

It's the old "it's expensive so they must be good" argument for O'Brien. Replacing a windscreen is no rocket science, done a few myself without problems. Don't bother now as I found a local company who come out with a new screen, remove and dispose of the old one and instal the new one, all for $250.

Yep I'm sure screen was original still had the stickers on it about the Datadots. Also according to the screen guy it hadn't been replaced he mentioned something about that fact you can tell when the screen moldings had been removed previously by looking at the clips..