Audi Coupe windscreen

**andy757** · 13-12-2012,07:53 AM

Mid November, I had the original windscreen replaced on my 1994 Coupe because of a rather large stone chip. National Windscreens came to do the job and after 30 minutes decided it couldn't be replaced because they didn't have the right tools. So, they turned up again 10 days later. This time, they managed (after 2 hours) to install the new screen. Two weeks agao, I called them back because the inside of the screen is as wet with condensation as it is on the outside. The guy blamed the fact I have a small leak in the boot and moisture is building up from that, to the front screen. Strange how the side windows are dry though.

Yesterday, I woke up with not only frost on the outside, but on the inside of the windscreen too so have called them again to fix this problem once and for all.

Apart from maybe not being fitted correctly, do you guys have any suggestions/ideas of why this screen is wet on the inside because before they took out the original one, I never had this problem.

**zollaf** · 13-12-2012,09:35 AM

with the screen dry, try putting a hose on the outside and see if there are any leaks to be found.
other than that, my screens do get very wet on both my audi and discovery, i think its down to how wet it has been.
you should also lift your boot carpet to see if there is any water in there. if so, the rear lights are leaking and need sealing. no where else they leak really, other than the sunroof drains but you would know if they were blocked.

**NickPicks** · 13-12-2012,09:41 AM

My coupe used to leak through the rear lights. It used to fill up the cubby box in the right hand side of the boot. It's an easy repair and you can get the sealing material quite cheaply from Audi or Skoda dealers.

Cars often form condensation on the windscreen first - I think it might be because the glass is sloped, it gets frost on the outside before the vertical windows, which makes it colder so condensation forms first.

**andy757** · 13-12-2012,09:50 AM

There is no water in the cubby box in the boot, just a bit of damp around the rubber seals probably through age.

With the windscreen, I never had this condensation problem before they replaced the screen and now it is literally soaking every morning (or frozen). It doesn't leak when raining - it's just condensation build up on the windscreen only, no other glass.

**andy757** · 13-12-2012,04:47 PM

Call today from National Windscreens and they asked me to take it to the depot on Monday and leave the car with them whilst they investigate. This really is turning into a complete nonsense. I wish now I had never asked them to change the screen in the first place.

This afternoon I checked the state of the screen and low and behold, the inside screen is soaking and yet it hasn't been raining and the other windows are dry !

**fourringsrus** · 13-12-2012,08:45 PM

Apart from the obvious fact that you mention, ie, it was fine before they touched it, another cause for excessive damp building up other than the usual suspects,boot seal, door seals, roof , and rear lights........ would be leaking heater matrix, just run the back of your hand over the transmission tunnel area above and to the side of your feet to check this.

But I would agree that the screen was dry and now is not, therefore NOT sealed correctly.

Stuart

**andy757** · 14-12-2012,06:49 AM

Stuart - forgive my ignorance, but why run my hand over the transmission tunnel and how is that linked to the heater matrix ?

**fourringsrus** · 14-12-2012,07:08 PM

Evening pal, the heater matrix and box/vent unit/assembly etc is situated pretty much in the centre of the car behind the depths of the dashboard, so if the matrix is leaking coolant into the passenger area of the car it will show itself on the carpet where it goes over the transmission tunnel between the drivers footwell and the passengers footwell. The matrix failing is very common on these models at this stage of their life, I have just recently changed one on my sons' 1990 coupe.
You might not see any visual evidence of wet but will feel it on the back of your hand ( or any part of your hand for that matter )
But as I said above this may be another route to investigate as opposed to being a definite cause for your wet/leak situation/issue.

As you point out above it seems likely that a good seal was not made when the windscreen was worked on, good luck

Stuart

**andy757** · 15-12-2012,09:46 AM

Transmission tunnel is bone dry. This problem must be caused by the fact the windscreen has not been fitted correctly and now after 3 attempts by National Windscreens, I get asked to take it to the depot which is 27 miles away. Worse, I have to leave the car there !!