Sealant.

[Ninian]

Hi, Regarding the water entering the engine bay from the windscreen has anyone solved this problem by removing the plastic covers and using a sealant. What was it and was it a non-setting type. I have temporally solved the problem by jamming the plastic against the windscreen but would like to do a permanent job. As I can't go anywhere now's the time to do it.

 

Thanks.

[Gman]

I used a black windscreen sealant on mine, putting masking tape on the screen first, using

the covers as a guide before removing them, (you will break the clips behind them) that way

keeps the mess to a minimum.There is still a very small leak at the centre joint, but nowhere

as bad as before.

Hope this helps.

 

stay safe and well.

 

Steve.

[John52]

Ninian - 2020-04-04 6:32 PM

 

has anyone solved this problem by removing the plastic covers and using a sealant. What was it and was it a non-setting type.

 

Thanks.

 

Yes - I used Plumbers Mait - non-setting sealant, which has also sealed my roof vents and antennae for over 10 years, People will tell you it's no good because isn't the stuff recommended by the vehicle manufacturers. Even when the stuff recommended by the vehicle manufacturers hasn't worked, and Plumber's Mait has (lol)

[witzend]

Ninian - 2020-04-04 6:32 PM

Hi, Regarding the water entering the engine bay from the windscreen has anyone solved this problem

Thanks.

Well my first attempt was successful using black 25mm wide insulating tape but it didn't stick up to the heat to well and needed replacing within 12 mths. I then used black Vinyl tape and its been OK for 3 yrs now not noticeable at a glance

Similar to this https://tinyurl.com/tn9s2hz

 

Can't see any closer than China

[globebuster]

If you can't find any Plumbers Mait, why not try Play-Doh?

 

It comes in lots of nice colours, and of course you can mix your own shades too!

 

But seriously - Any decent PU [sika/Purflex] will do.

 

Improving the drainage is more important - I'd be inclined to add a couple of extra drains along the scuttle, where in fact a standard sealant nozzle makes the ideal flanged spigot to push a couple of 12mm hoses on to.Easy enough to route the hoses away from the engine bay components.

 

Leave a long, thick cable tie with a loop in to use as a clearing rod, in the original and additional drains fitted.

The worse culprit can be the tiny drain under the R/H wiper spindle - not unusual to see that fully submerged!

[John52]

globebuster - 2020-04-05 12:37 PM

 

But seriously - Any decent PU [sika/Purflex] will do.

!

 

and when you need to dismantle them to access the wiper motor and linkage etc .... *-)

[Keithl]

John52 - 2020-04-06 9:27 AM

 

globebuster - 2020-04-05 12:37 PM

 

But seriously - Any decent PU [sika/Purflex] will do.

!

 

and when you need to dismantle them to access the wiper motor and linkage etc .... *-)

 

The question was for a suitable SEALANT, not for an adhesive.

 

Keith.

[John52]

I've been glad things were only sealed with Plumbers Mate sealant when I had to take them apart :-D

[Derek Uzzell]

There are several earlier forum discussions about the water ingress issue relating to Ducato X250 models - this is a 2015 thread

 

https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Fiat-Ducato-scuttle-issue/38410/

 

There was an official Fiat ‘fix’ for the problem, but it did not always seem to be 100% effective and owners were known to use a DIY approach (eg. adding extra drainage) with better success. (example below)

 

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/x250-scuttle-drain-improvisation.101566/

 

Products are available specifically intended for windscreen sealing. Unlike sanitary putty (“Plumber's Mait", etc.) these are coloured black and applied via a sealant gun. These links are to adverts for two examples

 

https://www.jawel.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2118

 

https://www.sealantsonline.co.uk/Products/Adhesive_sealants/SIK3295

 

If the ‘plastic covers’ mentioned in the first two postings above are removed to address the leakage, it may be better (or necessary) to use a strong adhesive/sealant afterwards to hold the covers firmly in place, but doing this will complicate subsequent disassembly. If the ‘fix’ just involves filling a gap beween the covers and the windscreen a black butyl rubber sealant should be OK. (example here)

 

http://www.crlaurence.co.uk/crlapps/showline/offerpage.aspx?Productid=2112&GroupID=985&History=39324:330:515:544&ModelID=985

[John52]

Derek Uzzell - 2020-04-07 8:20 AM

 

it may be better (or necessary) to use a strong adhesive/sealant afterwards to hold the covers firmly in place,

 

The covers are held by plastic clips that usually break when you prise the covers off (no other way to remove them to gain access to the wiper mechanism). These clips can be bought from accessory shops (take one in with you to match it), main dealers (at £2 each 8-) ) or ebay.

But even without the clips they won't blow off because one has a wiper spindle through it and the other a bolt. And even Plumbers Mait has some adhesion, just not enough to prevent disassembly. Works for me anyway B-)

[Derek Uzzell]

Blu-Tack has some adhesion, but I wouldn’t use it for sealing the windcreen-to-cover joint any more than I’d use Plumber’s Mait. However, to each their own...

 

As regards the official ‘fix’, this was mentioned here

 

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fiat-ducato-x250-windscreen-scuttle-leak-to-engine-problem-resolved.101807/

 

and that thread contained a link to a French website that carries two downloadable .pdf files describing modifications to the seals and fitting a water ‘collector’. (The text of the .pdf files is in French, but there are photos.)

 

Use of a cartridge of black butyl-rubber sealant is advised, with the following comment:

 

"Butyl is a sealant that does not harden, in case of a change of windshield it is enough to take off the covers without destroying anything.”