Any suggestions for windscreen trouble? (1 Viewer)

[staging lady]

We are having windscreen fitting problems on our 1990 Frankia A class (on a Fiat Ducato base).
We had a chip and had a nationwide, well known firm of windscreen fitters to put in a new windscreen.
The first time two fitters came from Lincoln and Doncaster and just as they finished the job, the screen split from top to bottom.

We had to wait again for a new one, but the firm then sent the specialist fitter with his brother and fitted a new one.
We were very unimpressed with the seal fitting, and the fitter said he would return in a week to tidy the job up.

So we didn't move the Frankia to let it set. The fitter came back and tidied it up. Again we let it set for several days before we moved the Frankia.
Guess what? As Dave reversed 2 metres ,the glass cracked again!

Dave was always unhappy with the curvature of the screen, as an engineer he felt there was too much curvature which placed undue stress on the glass screen.

Where do we go from here? If we cannot get a windscreen to fit, is that the end of Frankie? ( we have fixed her bed problems)
We are having motor homing withdrawal systems as the one we want to buy is not ready yet.
Lucille
Sorry this post is so long

 

[pappajohn]

hi Lucille,
i dont think it will be the curvature of the glass as its designed like that anyway and there shouldnt be that much stress in it.

was the glass from frankia or some other glass manufacturer to pattern?

if the later then that could be the problem....pattern stuff never fits right, ask any motor body repairer, or it could be a 'twist' in the van body.

if from frankia then i would suspect a 'twist'

 

[vwalan]

sorry to hear of your troubles .i thought it was only vw that made splitwindow campers. sorry .

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[staging lady]

Hi, Pappajohn and VWAlan.
Thanks for the replies. I think the glass came from Italy so Fiat Ducato vehicule glass, maybe.
They said the glass had to come from Italy ,so it must be Fiat, do you think?
Lucille

 

[pappajohn]

could well be if frankia have shaped their windscreen opening to accept the ducato standard glass instead of designing their own.

maybe need to take some measurements of the opening to see if its 'square'

at least the fitters are responsible for replacing it but for how many timesoh:

 

[Frankia]

Don't know about the 1990 model as I have only had one replaced on a 1999 model. On that one the glass was made for Frankia and Pilot (Sister companies using the same "A" class front).

The front cowl is Glass fibre with a steel support running up each side. In the past other companies (Big H) have had a problem with the weight of the drop down bed putting tension on similar supports which have then led to glass breaks. It is I suppose possible that you may have week supports which are flexing and causing the breakage but if that were the case I would have expected the original glass to have suffered the same fate rather than needing to be replaced for a stone chip.

Have you tried contacting Frankia direct or either of the importers - Spinney or Cranham.

Frankia: Frankia Gmbh, Bernecker Strasse, Marktschorgast. Germany 95509. phone No: 092 27 7380. Spinney phone No: 01477 535808. Cranham Phone No: 01277 222555.

Hope you are back on the road soon.

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[staging lady]

Thanks, Bernie. I got in touch with Frankia when we got the van but despite two emails, they didn't bother to reply.
Thanks for those numbers I think I'll need them!
Lucille

 

[Frankia]

Both I and from what I hear the importers have had similar problems with e.mails to Frankia going un answered. I usually find it best to ring - that way they can't ignore you.

 

[DESCO]

Both I and from what I hear the importers have had similar problems with e.mails to Frankia going un answered. I usually find it best to ring - that way they can't ignore you.

Wanna Bet!!!! oh:oh:

Dave

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