Removing old-skool mobile phone aerial on windscreen

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:36 pm

Maybe a stupid question but its one for the oldies here I reckon, given that these aren't used much anymore.

Just picked up an NA with one of these babies on the windscreen...

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1373866461.317609.jpg

I can just lever this off with a flat blade or screwdriver right? I'm not gonna get any nasty surprises? (Like a random hole in the glass lol)

Cheers

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:41 pm

Get a sharp blade and cut underneath it all the way around and it should come off easily, it is held on with silicone in most cases, so once you cut around the silicone and remove the aerial base you can just scrape off whatever silicone is left on the screen.

Cheers
Dale

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:46 pm

Thank Dale. I probably should have googled it first. I thought I remembered them conducting through the glass or something. I was just suspicious because the previous owner hadn't removed it.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:26 am

Before going to the trouble of getting rid of the aerial mount, will a screen as old as that pass a roadworthy?

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:59 am

Huh? It just got a pink slip a couple months ago (including inspection). I don't know anything about windscreens or even how u pick the age of it. It's a 1992 car but I guess you're saying its not the original windscreen.

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:22 am

From RTA Vehicle Standards Information:

What types of replacement windscreens can be fitted?

All of the glass used in the passenger compartment of a vehicle must be an approved type of safety glass. Such glass always bears an identification mark indicating the standard to which the glass has been manufactured, for example AS2080, BS AU 178, JISR 3211 etc. One such mark is the approval symbol of the Standards Association of Australia.

Original glass (or genuine replacement glass) will always have a mark etched or indelibly printed on the glass. There are two types of glass that are available for motor vehicles. These are classified as tempered or laminated:

- Tempered glass is specially treated so that, when it is broken, instead of forming dangerous jagged splinters, it breaks up into tiny square fragments. When a tempered windscreen is broken, it crazes and is sometimes difficult to see through. Modern vehicles with tempered windscreens have a toughened safety zone in front of the driver. The tempered zone stays relatively clear in the event of a breakage so that you can see sufficiently well to maintain control of the vehicle.

- Laminated glass is a 'sandwich' of glass on the outside surfaces and a clear plastic film in the middle; it is more resistant to breakage than tempered glass and, even when penetrated by an object, such as a stone, it will remain substantially clear.

Windscreens fitted to vehicles manufactured from 1 January 1994 are required by law to be made from laminated glass. Vehicles built prior to this date do not have to meet this requirement but it is strongly recommended that when a replacement windscreen is required, laminated glass is used.

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:31 am

The key piece of info there is that vehicles manufactured prior to 1994 don't need laminated glass windscreens by law.

So you've sowed the seed of doubt in my mind now, dammit man! Lol. Should I be worried about the safety of my windscreen or something?

Man, ignorance really is bliss sometimes.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:52 pm

Safety is a moving target. Are you worried that your car does not have a airbag , or traction control etc- plenty of people would not drive an NA simply because its not as safe as later models. If the windscreen is scratched pitted etc then maybe it should be replaced.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:07 pm

davekmoore wrote:Before going to the trouble of getting rid of the aerial mount, will a screen as old as that pass a roadworthy?

Marty, I think Dave is referring to the probability that if it's original windscreen, or even if its newer but the car's done plenty of kms during that time, then the windscreen will be pitted (a sandblasting effect), & in Vic at least, these are routinely failed at RWC inspection.

shuey · Postby **shuey** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:25 pm

93_Clubman wrote:Marty, I think Dave is referring to the probability that if it's original windscreen, or even if its newer but the car's done plenty of kms during that time, then the windscreen will be pitted (a sandblasting effect), & in Vic at least, these are routinely failed at RWC inspection.

Yup, when mine went in for a RW.. they replaced the windscreen for the exact reason although it looked alright. From the receipt, was about $200ish

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:49 pm

Okay thanks for the feedback.

Mr Morlock.. every now and then the safety of NAs does cross my mind, but not often enough to not drive one! An NB would be nice sometime but can't afford one at the moment.

Clubman & shuey, the windscreen seems really damn clear actually.. i was thinking about that yesterday morning.. but shuey you're saying that pitting etc. is hard to spot? because you said that yours was replaced "though it looked alright".

I guess I just keep driving it as is until it gets noticeably bad esp. with direct sunlight on it, or if it gets failed for pink slip.. but seriously I've never seen a mechanic check the windscreen for pink slip .. maybe VIC in general is more strict about roadworthiness of their cars.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 2:19 pm

My '93 NA8 has only 80 odd k kms on original windscreen & is fine to drive, but IMO wouldn't pass RWC if it underwent an RWC inspection by an licensed RWC tester.

My '89 NA6 on its original windscreen was worst when I sold it in '04 with about 175k kms. I got it replaced for about $200 just prior to advertising it for sale.

If you look at the outside surface in good light with a magnifying glass you should see the sandblasting effect. Yes, suspect this might be more of an issue in Vic. Just see how you go.

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 2:57 pm

Thanks mate

Are windscreens really only $200 odd? ('04 prices). I would have thought around $400 or so. I've never had to replace one, just get chips filled.

shuey · Postby **shuey** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:07 pm

I'll go back and have a look at the receipt that the seller gave me together with the service manual etc (hopefully i didn't throw them out). I believe it was $200+ (not more than $300).

Mine was probably a little murky, but still pretty clear. But when it was changed, it did look much better. But as 93_ mentioned, maybe it's a Vic thing.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 6:16 pm

93_Clubman wrote:
davekmoore wrote:Before going to the trouble of getting rid of the aerial mount, will a screen as old as that pass a roadworthy?

Marty, I think Dave is referring to the probability that if it's original windscreen, or even if its newer but the car's done plenty of kms during that time, then the windscreen will be pitted (a sandblasting effect), & in Vic at least, these are routinely failed at RWC inspection.

Yup, that's what I meant. If not in Vic, then I may be wrong.