New Windscreen required - Skuttle panel removal?

[Pabs]

Hey all,

Damn weather is ruining my car - already lost 1 fog light to a large stone, so thats a nice large bill (unless i'm lucky on ebay) but tonight in the bad rain another stone - this time a lot higher, in fact, right at my head height, so gave me a bit of a shock, but the stone hit the windscreen right on the edge, and i now have a nice chip, + crack thats just getting longer and longer (prob about 7 inches long now)

Anyway, I need a new windscreen, and pronto.
My insurance is £60 excess, and £150 max claim unless I go through "Glassline" whoever they may be??? Any ideas?
Does anyone know how much a Leon windscreen retails at? Cos if its under £150, i might go through autoglass, just cos they are usually quite good.

My skuttle panel is really hard to remove (so i've been told) - in fact the garage couldnt get it off the car last time they needed to.
So - where do i stand with autoglass/whoever changing my screen? If they break my skuttle panel, do they need to replace it with a new one? Or is it "at my own risk"?

Any help would be great folks.
TIA.

 

[m0rk]

I think Glassline will front end for RAC or somewhere (also good service had from them)

Not sure how much a screen will be, but normally a private buyer will pay a lot....

Scuttle panel can never be that hard to remove.... its kinda clipped in place, but that's it - but yes - it must come off

edit - intensive googling says it's RAC
http://the-corrado.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3016

 

[Pabs]

fantastic - thanks m0rk..

I feel a little bit better that Glassline isn't just some 1 man band now. I'm still going to sit and watch him/them do it though, make sure my pride-n-joy doesnt get damaged in the process.

Every time i googled it i got lots of different hits, and nothing seemed to point to one company.

Anyway, a phone call to Glassline it'll be first thing in the morning then. I hope they can come out same day.. don't want the crack all the way across my screen - heaven forbid i have an accident and end up with airbag troubles.


Another quick q - if i have £60 excess, is that PER screen? By this i mean my rear windscreen is also damaged (heating elements) - so if i did both at the same time would i only need to pay £60? or £120?

 

[D3DNA]

Most comprehensive cover is just for the windscreen only but having a chat with your insurance company may yield some results. Alternately you can ask the company who is or will be supplying the windscreen to do a deal with a rear screen as well.

 

[honeyman]

Scuttle panel comes off quite easily not long had my windscreen replaced watched the guy fit it, I'd be very suprised if they broke it as it's very flexible.

 

[cordobabrendy]

pabs ive had my screen replaced and its well over 100 quid (190 iirc), apparently one of the more expensive vag screens. I paid the 60 quid excess.

 

[Scotty_b]

Do the euro spec leons have heated windscreens? as that maybe worth doing if you can.

Had one stone hit my bonnet and one hit my window the other day. I now have a small chip in the glass and a big chip on the bonnet (not sure if im glad it was that way around or not)

If you do watch him, any cahnce you can take some pics/ notes on how to get the sodding thing out as it would be handy to know as i thought they were sealed in (the skuttle panel this is)

 

[Ol' Timer]

When they replace the screen make sure they refit the pollen filter cover correctly or it will leak.

When Autoglass replaced my windscreen the fitter said it was the first Leon he had done so I watched him like a hawk. A few days later I noticed the front passenger mat was wet so I immediately knew where to look and, sure enough, the corner of the pollen filter cover was folded over and was channelling water into the filter. It's worth being a bit anal about this.

 

[Pabs]

well i've booked an appt. with glassline for thursday morning now. (weather permitting)

Earliest they could do. Lets just hope it doesnt get much worse.

Didnt bother asking about the rear windscreen - seems to much hassle for a few heating elements broken.

Did also think about getting a heated windscreen, but again, didnt see the point - my A/C clears the screen well, and a heated one would stop my GPS from working without extra antenna's etc, so it just all gets expensive and at this time of year i can't afford it.

 

[Pabs]

When they replace the screen make sure they refit the pollen filter cover correctly or it will leak.

When Autoglass replaced my windscreen the fitter said it was the first Leon he had done so I watched him like a hawk. A few days later I noticed the front passenger mat was wet so I immediately knew where to look and, sure enough, the corner of the pollen filter cover was folded over and was channelling water into the filter. It's worth being a bit anal about this.

don't you worry - this is one of my main concerns, hence why i will be watching the guy do it.

 

[Steve_B]

Didnt bother asking about the rear windscreen - seems to much hassle for a few heating elements broken.

I'm not sure if it's still the case but you used to be able to get a heating element repair kit that contained a pen that had conductive ink / gel that you could repair the heating elements with, or you could try something like this conductive pen and remake the broken part in the heating element.

 

[Steve_B]

If you do watch him, any cahnce you can take some pics/ notes on how to get the sodding thing out as it would be handy to know as i thought they were sealed in (the skuttle panel this is)

The skuttle panel just pops out. You need to take the rubber seal off the top of the bulkhead. Gently lift the side nearest the engine up so that you can disconnect the washer jet pipes. Next you need to remove the wipers, which can be a and then gently pull the skuttle panel off the windscreen. It's sort of clipped onto to the bottom of the windscreen and just pops out of there.

Refit is the reverse of removal, the windscreen edge does can need a bit of effort to push it home but hand pressure is enough, also remember to put the washer pipes back on, they're a PITA to get to unless you've got small hands, if you forget and have put everything back on the car.

 

[Pabs]

I'm not sure if it's still the case but you used to be able to get a heating element repair kit that contained a pen that had conductive ink / gel that you could repair the heating elements with, or you could try something like this conductive pen and remake the broken part in the heating element.

been there, done that, got the t-shirt but didnt get the results. They are shite, and leave a mess on the screen, unless you're really good at doing it.

 

[gtd86]

I got my windscreen replaced about a month ago at RAC and i asked the guy how much it would be if not through the insurance, and the receipt he had for the windscreen was £620, so the £60 excess is well worth it!!!!

 

[m0rk]

their favourite trick is taking all the bits off & sticking them on the roof of the car.

 

[PABLO ESCABAR]

straight forward job from start to finnish dont worry and get RAC Autowindscreens to do it,not autogash as round our way it takes days to get anythin sorted and i should know im Supervisor of Rac Autowindscreens at stafford, trust me they will look after your car not like other companies,,,,plus if you say you know the supervisor of stafford depot they will treet your car with kid gloves mate ,,,,,just make sure they sheet up your car and your sorted mate,even if anythin did happen the rac will sort it out for you anyway its all in the guarrenty. if they break any parts they will replace for new
plus if you tell them at the time you make the call you can claim for the rear window aswell aslong as you tell them at the same time there will be only one excess to be payed
hope this helps you

 

[Pabs]

i know the £60 is well worth it, i just didnt know if i HAD to go with the company they suggested.
I might give them a ring about the rear windscreen tomorrow as well. Cos it annoys me.

I'll be watching them, but currently i'm praying for dry weather on thursday so they can actually carry out the work.

I'm expecting a call from them to get my insurance details etc any time now. Might call them anyway.

I'm getting it done in Reading, where i work, so it'll be the Reading branch doing the job no doubt.

 

[PABLO ESCABAR]

i know the £60 is well worth it, i just didnt know if i HAD to go with the company they suggested.
I might give them a ring about the rear windscreen tomorrow as well. Cos it annoys me.

I'll be watching them, but currently i'm praying for dry weather on thursday so they can actually carry out the work.

I'm expecting a call from them to get my insurance details etc any time now. Might call them anyway.

I'm getting it done in Reading, where i work, so it'll be the Reading branch doing the job no doubt.

no worries mate just let them know you know me mark smith depot suppervisor at stafford before they start work no only kiddin mate but drop it in thtat you know me on the phone and when the fitter gets to you and i promise you will get the best job,,,,, if you dont let me know and i can come down on them like a ton of bricks if you know what i mean

PM me your details and ill drop them a line tomorrow and have a word if thats ok with you oh and dont forget to tell them you want a GENUINE seat one it may take an extra couple of days to get the glass but worth it in the end

 

[PABLO ESCABAR]

their favourite trick is taking all the bits off & sticking them on the roof of the car.

id never do that only with the correct sheeting on the car maybe

 

[Pabs]

I'll mention your name to the fitter on thursday then....

My insurance company won't cover the rear window unless its broken - just rear elements aren't going to be covered so i can't really be bothered anyway.