Back Window Glass: Service and Repair

REAR WINDOW GLASS

Rear Window Glass:

REMOVAL

NOTE:
- Put on gloves to protect your hands.
- Use seat covers to a void damaging any surfaces.
- Do not damage the rear window defogger grid lines, window antenna grid lines, and terminals.

1. Remove the trunk lid.
2. Remove the following items:
- Rear seat assembly.
- Rear pillar trim both side.
- Center anchor bolt of the center belt.
- Rear package tray trim.
- Rear seat belt lower anchor bolt.

3. Disconnect the rear window defogger connectors (A).






4. Remove the molding (A) from the edge of the rear window (B). If necessary, cut the molding with a utility knife.






5. Pull down the rear portion of the headliner. Take care not to bend the headliner excessively, or you may crease or break it.
6. Apply protective tape (A) along the inside and outside edges of the body as shown. Using an awl, make a hole through the adhesive (B) from inside the vehicle. Push a piece of piano wire (C) through the hole, and wrap each end around a piece of wood.






7. With a helper on the outside, pull the piano wire (A) back and forth in a sawing motion. Hold the piano wire as close to the rear window as possible to prevent damage to the body, and carefully cut through the adhesive around the entire rear window.






8. Carefully remove the rear window.

INSTALLATION

1. With a putt knife, scrape the old adhesive smooth to a thickness of about 2 mm (0.08 in.) on the bonding surface around the entire rear window opening flange.
- Do not scrape down to the painted surface of the body; damaged paint will interfere with proper bonding.
- Mask off surrounding surfaces before painting.
- Remove the fasteners from the body.

2. Clean the body bonding surface with a sponge dampened in alcohol. After cleaning, keep oil, grease and water from getting on the surface.
3. If the old rear window is to be reinstalled, use a putty knife to scrape off all of the old adhesive, then clean the shaded portion of the rear window with alcohol where new adhesive is to be applied. Make sure the bonding surface is kept free of water, oil and grease.






4. Glue the fasteners (A) to the inside face of the rear window as shown.






5. Install the rear window glass molding (A). Do not allow any gaps.






6. Set the rear window in the opening, and center it. Make alignment marks (A) cross the rear window and body with a grease pencil at the four points shown. Be careful not to touch the rear window where adhesive will be applied.






7. Remove the rear window.
8. With a sponge, apply a light coat of glass primer along the edge of the rear window (A) and molding (B) as shown, then lightly wipe it off with gauze or cheesecloth:
- Do not apply body primer to the rear window, and do not get body and glass primer sponges mixed up.
- Never touch the primed surfaces with your hands. If you do, the adhesive may not bond to the rear window properly, causing a leak after the rear window in installed.
- Keep water, dust, and abrasive materials away from the primed surface.






9. With a sponge, apply a light coat of body primer to the original adhesive remaining around the rear window opening flange. Let the body primer dry for at least 10 minutes.
- Do not apply glass primer to the body, and be careful not to mix up glass and body primer sponges.
- Never touch the primed surfaces with your hands.






10. Pack adhesive into the cartridge without air pockets to ensure continuous delivery. Put the cartridge in a caulking gun, and run a bead of adhesive (A) around the edge of the rear window (B) as shown. Apply the adhesive within 30 minutes after applying the glass primer. Make a slightly thicker bead at each corner.






11. Use suction cups (A) to hold the rear window over the opening, align it with the alignment marks (B) you made in step 19, and set it down on the adhesive. Lightly push on the rear window until its edges are fully seated on the adhesive all the way around. Do not open or close the doors until the adhesive is dry.






12. Scrape or wipe the excess adhesive off with a putty knife or towel. To remove adhesive from a painted surface or the rear window, use a soft shop towel dampened with alcohol.
13. Let the adhesive dry for at least one hours, then spray water over the rear window and check for leaks. Mark the leaking areas, let the rear window dry, then seal with sealant. Let the vehicle stand for at least four hours after rear window installation. If the vehicle has to be used within the first four hours, it must be driven slowly.
14. Reinstall all remaining removed parts. Advise the customer not to do the following things for two to three days:
- Slam the door with all the windows rolled up.
- Twist the body excessively (such as when going in and out of driveways at an angle or driving over rough, uneven roads.).