Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Good evening Gents.

The windscreen is fitted with the black windscren silicon as mentioned in the rebait in the body, the rubber around it doesn't hold the windscreen in place at all its just a weather strip and to finish it of nicely.

The problem is that there is a piece of plastic moulding that is fitted in the rebait behind the rubber around the windscreen. It is held in place with propper double sided tape. The rubber trim then clips into that and it sits perfectly over the windscreen and the body. Almost the same idea as a piece of trunking comes together. No silicon or anything is needed to secure the rubber into that moulding.

Now that plastic moulding in the rebait around the windscreen and actually the rubber also, needs to be replaced every time the windscreen is replaced as it gets damaged with removal of the windscreen and then the rubber trim doesnt fit properly in the right place and is loose so they then try to glue the rubber in place with silicon also.

I am certain if you pull out the rubber you will find the moulding damaged or even completely gone.
If i remember correctly that plastic moulding alone is R1800.00 and thats why they take shortcut and dont replace it.

Dewald,

That black goo that they use is not silicone. It is a product called silastic sealer. It does not cure and set like silicone.

It stays pliable and remains gooey and has tar-like properties. When there is excess about after windscreen fitment, the excess has to be removed from the vehicle with paraffin.

It comes in a big tube like silicone and a chalking 'gun' is used, as with silicone, to apply the product when fitting the windscreen. These similarities is why some people think it is silicone.

When I was involved with a panelbeating business, they very seldom used silicone as even old invisible silicone will cause painting problems (paint does not adhere to silicone), even years after silicone contamination on bodywork.

Good day Malcolm

Yes thanks i know and you are correct, i used the term silicon loosly to try and describe it as i could not remember the proper name of the stuff. Thats why i said "Windscreen silicon".

yeah these are the 2 plastic (I think orange in colour) I was talking about. The somehow break easily
Good info there Dewald

Thanks all,
So, from a simple cracked windscreen to a R6k+ quote from the panel beaters to replace both the inner and outer beads (2nd new outer bead), cowl panel clips, grommets, refit the windscreen properly for the 3rd time etc...
Of course, Nissan don't have the parts in stock, so now the long wait and fight with the insurance about the excess starts...

Hi Bruce, hectic! Would insurance not cover it?

Been down this road before a few times and what i leant is:

- the little windscreen clips are not essential post fitment, they simply there to space the windscreen during fitment, so any good fitter just uses a spacer block or similar to do the job.

- the 2 nissan windscreen mouldings cost around R2400-R2700 for both. The inner moulding that seats against the bodywork is the most important one, as this stops water ingress etc, and has weep holes should anything pass, if this seal is Damaged or deformed, just get a new one. It's the more expensive of the 2 however. at this point, check for rust around window and repair if needed, prior to new fitment.

-The outer moulding is actually just a locking strip. This can often be reused if in decent condition. it's the cheaper of the two.

-Nissan cape town does not stock these, and must be ordered ex JHB stock. a few days.
If they no longer carry stock, it will be 6 weeks wait.