PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: r4pinto on March 18, 2012, 06:56:09 PM
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I got a 1977 Pinto sedan that was developing a puddle on the floor so I thought it was the door seal. We just had a very big hail storm so I went outside to check the windshield for cracks & went ahead & looked in the car to check the leak. I saw it is leaking at the corner of the windshield. Aside from removing the windshield & replacing the 30 year old gasket is there a temporary fix that can be done? I would hate to get a new gasket & have the windshield removed only to find lots of rust.
Thanks for any information.
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Permatex silicone sealant, the kind good for glass metal and plastics. You can get it in black and clear at Walmart for about $5.00 a tube. Just have to pack it in around the windshield gasket and between the glass and gasket.
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I'll give that a try. Thanks Dave.
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the silicone will last a little while depending on have big of a hole and what your weather is like, did it to my 78 bobcat during rainy season in swfl and it lasted the season but washed the car a couple of days ago and it was leaking again!!
good luck
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well it was pouring very very hard & it was dribbling down the a pillar from the corner of the headliner. Couldn't hurt at this point. better than removing the windshield & finding lots of rust or breaking the windshield. That's what I'm afraid of lol
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The best thing to do would be to remove it and replace it. I'm sorry to say that, knowing it's difficult, but the short term solution won't last - especially because the old gasket has lost any elasticity and is no longer an effective barrier. I had bad leaking issues everytime it rained, pulled the windshield and gasket, and found some REALLY bad rust damage, especially on the drivers side, from years of pooled water.
Looking back I am glad I took the time, because the leakage was destroying the floor pans.
Good luck on what you decide. I hope you can find an effective short-term fix.
Chris
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Well, on the bright side I have no floors. They are very very very very very rusty. On the other hand if I were to pull the windshield & it need rust repair behind it I couldn't fix it, as I don't have a welder or a place to do it. Basically I am screwed when it comes to any type of severe work like rust repair, due to skills & lack of a place to do it. I dunno what to do to be honest.
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Well, I might be chastised by some who have capable tools and methods (i.e., I don't have the same welding tools/capability like you), but my rust was successfully and completely repaired using lots of wire wheeling/grinding and POR-15 products (etchant/screen/putty/paint). Just trying to encourage you, I understand your limitations - but there are a few ways to "skin the cat" in situations. My repairs may not be considered "professional", but you can't see where the damage ever was, and the result was adequate and less costly/complicated than it could have been.
Sorry man, yeah, some of these challeges are tough!!
Chris
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LOL I know exactly what you're saying. Gotta figure out what I'm gonna do, since the seal is badly cracked all around. I'd say this car really hates me. take 2 steps forward & 20 steps back. Wierd how the 34 year old door seal is still pliable & sealing but the 30 year old windshield seal does not. I guess that could be since the windshield seal is exposed to the elements.
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My windshield seal just about literally crumbled as I removed the trim around it. I was hard, brittle, cracked - just nasty - and was not all all difficult to remove. I believe your suggestion to be correct, it's due to the fact that the windshield is truly exposed more frequently than door seals. I'm just glad that seals are becoming more available - I wish they would remanufacture the wagon side window seals, that would be great......
Chris
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Piece of junk... I pulled the trim on the passenger side & the seal is in very very very bad shape. And to top it off it looks like rust underneath. I want to set this dam car on fire!!!
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i wouldnt do that yet, i feel your pain, dont fill it with silicone, it will retain water and rust it out faster, keep it parked under a car port or in a garage, if you just noticed the water, it mite not be too late, safe lite gan gen a new windshield if it breaks while removing it, i would look around and see if you can find a shop with a older guy working there, these windshields are very easy to replace, i got mine out in 20 minutes, cleaned the metal, welded and duraglassed it to make it smooth, put that 3m glazzing compound down, (2 tubes) , put the new gasket on the winshield , put a small rope in the groove of the rubber where it meets the body and sit the window and rubber on the frame and put the rope out, it will pull the rubber in the car and set the windshield, i did mine in an hour and a half with my friend, clean the glass with accitone too, its a pain i know, but its not the cars fault, be carefull with the beauty metal around the windshield, it will bend if you stare at it wrong
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I'm with 82expghost, patience until it is done right.
I know the frustration. I just finished rebuilding Brownie's motor (a month long project), and while it no longer smokes, and DOES run, it runs rough and sputters, doesn't like idling. I feel like all of my time and money was wasted, but I'll park her until I can check the timing and be sure nothing slipped.
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It may not be the windshield leaking. Maybe it is the cowl area. These cars are notorious for rusting in the cowl area.
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It's the windshield. Of all the areas to be rusty the cowl actually isn't. That and I was seeing the water go down the a pillar from the headliner area. No rust on the roof or anything like that