1995 Celebration: onset of rust between roof and chrome window surrounds?

[davidmprobert332]

Hi folks,

Having just purchased a '95 Celebration coupe, I've noticed (what I think are) the very beginnings of some rust in the narrow channels between the roof and the chrome window surrounds on both sides of the car. At first glance it looks like a fine line of dust in each channel, but on closer inspection there's a definite rusty colour to it. I emphasise there's no bubbling or really obvious signs and the car is otherwise immaculate - 59k miles and a super history - and visually there are no other indications of rust on the bodywork or underside. I am not remotely mechanically inclined, but had considered if a bit of waxoyl cautiously applied inside these roof channels would address the problem. I assume this is a fairly common issue but haven't found a thread on the topic...can anyone pass on a tip, please?

Many thanks, everyone!

[ptjs1]

davidmprobert332,

If you mean the channel that runs from the front corners of the windscreen to the top corners of the rear screen, that's not really a known rust spot. Having said that, the potential for water to sit in the channel (particularly if the drain channels at the front corners are blocked?) could exacerbate the potential for the paint surface to deteriorate.

Could you post a few pics of the problem, to help explain the problem?

Cheers

Paul

[davidmprobert332]

Hi Paul,

Thanks so much for the speedy reply. I've attached two photos that hopefully demonstrate the issue. I should have said the car had a full respray approx. three years ago, so if this is rust, it hasn't had a decade to develop. I've checked the drain channels too (thank you) and they look really clear, I can see all the way down them.

I'm hoping this is just a little surface rust from water sitting in the channels. Do you think some clear waxoyl would help (or should I take more serious action)? Any and all advice appreciated!

David

[SimonR]

Hi David,

It does look a lot like dust to me. Have you tried to remove it to see if there's any paint underneath it? I'd just get a damp cotton bud and see what comes off when you scrape at it gently.

If it is indeed rust then it's only going to get worse so I'd be looking at removing the brightwork and getting to the root of the problem.

Cheers,

Simon

[ptjs1]

David,

I tend to agree with Simon. You need to really determine if it is rust or not. Clean it thoroughly, then maybe use a mild cutting compound on a cloth to clean the surface, as it is quite likely that it's surface contamination.

If it really is rust, then I would politely suggest that is the fault of whoever did the respray as it would mean that they haven't painted that area properly. There is no way that the channel should rust through in less than 20 years!

Good luck

Paul

[davidmprobert332]

Many thanks Simon and Paul,

Really appreciate your comments on this - I've cleaned the area as suggested and it's much improved, but I'm going to take the car to be inspected properly just to make sure... I suspect it may not be rust after all, but better safe than sorry...!

Cheers,

David

[ng4xjs]

On a slightly different tack. I've noticed recently a very small blister on the scuttle just under the windscreen surround. I guess at some point it's the dreaded windscreen out and repair. But in the meantime. Is there a consensus around squirting in some waxoil to help slow things down? I'm toying with having it seen too professionally at some point, but for now?

Any suggestions greatly received.
Nick

[ptjs1]

Nick,

I'm afraid that you really need to address that bubble now. You've probably seem my photos and articles on windscreen flange corrosion. Basically, if you can see a bubble, you have a problem. If you can't see a problem, you still might have a problem!

You need to VERY carefully remove the chromes. It is SO easy to damage them. And then assess the damage. IF you are lucky, it might only be in the lower windscreen flange and the scuttle. Hopefully, it won't have gone into the bulkhead, A-post or sill.

Have you checked the roof drains to ensure they definitely not blocked? That's usually why the problem starts on Coupes.

I don't want to worry you any further but here's pics of a similar small bubble on my Convertible and what I ended up needing to have done.

Don't wait any longer!

Good luck

Paul

[davidr]

Nick - as I'm sure you are aware, what you can see is the tip of the iceberg. That rust is coming outwards from beneath the chrome.
I would carefully remove the chrome surround, take a deep breath and see how bad it is beneath. That will help you make a more informed choice about what you do next and when

[ng4xjs]

Paul - I guess, hand on heart I know what to expect. I've had a pole behind and seemingly not spread further but of course won't really know without going in there. I've had a couple of quotes for the job on the basis that it is going to be bigger and they come back circa £1,500.00. This is not work I can easily do so as you rightly make the point, better to get dealt with sooner.

My car is actually I Japanese import which arrived here 2008 and I've had since 2009. So it's spent more time here in the UK.


Many thanks.
Nick

[ng4xjs]

Thanks David - I'm gearing myself up for removing the chrome finishers

Nick

[Mercury RV]

If this helps anyone, I have found that we have a small diameter 10mm air conditioning pipe bending mandrel, this fits down the small gap from the lower corner of the windscreen where the water is supposed to drain through to the gap at the edge shut line of the bonnet where the water is supposed to drain out. As the bending mandrel is a wound section of steel (much like a speedo flexible drive) it bends round everywhere you need it, and it can also be inserted the other way round (from the bonnet end) and comes out at the lower edge of the A post, it was quite surprising what muck it pushed out each time, just vacuumed away. It also works on the drain tubes in the front edge of the boot drains. I purchased mine via Amazon, but others are available I am sure, I think the cost was circa £8.00, so cheap to have clear drains and really easy and quick to do. Kindest regards, Simon (Kent)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1

[Mercury RV]

UPDATE 24/02/23
I was about to start the process of removing my front wings to see how far any corrosion had or has spread, then I had an idea.....what about an Endoscope? So my helpful friend Amazon was there again, I went on and purchased one last night and it arrived today. I have placed the end of it into the drain at the base of the A post and inserted it all the way along the channel both ways, it revealed that I DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THE WINGS OFF!!! brilliant, and to think I would have spent many hours getting them off only to find nothing worth worrying about.

As we are a Dinitrol agent anyway, all I now need to do is to give the area a good atomised coating of Dinitrol ML wax (not too much as I do not want to clog them up) just enough ML to mist it all in there. So for the investment of just £40.79 it has saved many hours. The picture is very clear and the lead is exceptionally long, so you can pretty much get everywhere, without question one end of a sill to the other. The unit I purchased if you wanted to know is https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B ... UTF8&psc=1

I hope this information is of use to you all out there?

Kindest regards, Simon (Kent)

[ptjs1]

Hi Simon,

I'm a bit confused. Are you saying that you can not see any corrosion in the windscreen flange with that endoscope?

If you have any form of bubble on the front edge of the chrome on the scuttle, then I believe you will unfortunately have corrosion in the flange and in the edge of the scuttle at the screen base, as a minimum. You really need to take the chromes off and find out how far back that rust goes.

Good luck

Paul

[Mercury RV]

Hi Paul, OH if only that were true. No the edge of the screen scuttle is corroded much worse on the drivers side than the passenger side. The lower windscreen edge has rusted in many sections, however, I think I am very fortunate that it does not seem to have extended down to the inner edge on top of the inner wing, with the aid of the endoscope I can see nice clean paint. It is not perfect and I can see very minor rust bubbles, but with my 30 years experience of Dinitrol products commercially, I am confident that I can treat these and hold it back for a good few years. I was also pleasantly surprised when I went into the sills as to just how much Dinitrol cavity wax was in there (I know Jaguar do use Dinitrol as I asked if they would accept us treating an XF I purchased a few years ago and my new XJL) so pleased with what I found, also in the inner wing area behind the speakers next to the rear seats.

Of course it could be that as my XJS was one of the last ones in 1996, the man with the gun got carried away, perhaps I was just lucky? Sorry should have said, I have the stainless steel trims off around the windscreen. I assume the same thing happened there as occured with my XF, where they attached the plastic chrome boot lid trim, it cracked the paint, as Jaguar replaced that a few years ago and the boot lid where it had signs of rust bubbles, thank you Jaguar!

Kindest regards, Simon (Kent)