Windshield: Service and Repair
Windshield
Removing
• The windshield is attached to the window frame (fence) with urethane adhesive. The urethane adhesive is applied cold and seals the surface area between the window opening and the glass. The primer adheres the urethane adhesive to the windshield.
Do not operate the vehicle within 24 hours of windshield installation. It takes at least 24 hours for urethane adhesive to cure. If it is not cured, the windshield may not perform properly in an accident.
Open the left front door glass before installing the rear window to avoid pressurizing the passenger compartment if a door is slammed before the urethane bonding is fully cured. Water leaks can result.
- Remove the rear view mirror..
- Remove the cowl panel. Refer to => [ Cowl Panel ] Service and Repair.
- Remove the molding from the top of the windshield.
- Using an assistant and a wire type windshield cutting tool (1, 3 and 4), cut and separate the urethane adhesive (2) securing the windshield to the windshield fence.
- Carefully remove the windshield from the vehicle.
Installing
Do not operate the vehicle within 24 hours of windshield installation. It takes at least 24 hours for urethane adhesive to cure. If it is not cured, the windshield may not perform properly if the vehicle is in an accident.
To help prevent water leaks, partially roll down the left and right door glass before installing the windshield. This avoids pressurizing the passenger compartment if a door is slammed before the urethane is cured.
- If the windshield (1) is being reused, remove as much of the original urethane (3) as possible from the glass surface using a razor knife (2).
To prevent corrosion, do not damage paint on windshield fence when removing original urethane.
The windshield fence should be cleaned of most of its old urethane adhesive. A small amount of old urethane, approximately 1 mm (.039 in.) in height should remain on the fence. Do not completely remove all old urethane from the fence, the paint finish and bonding strength will be adversely affected.
Support spacers located near the cowl at the bottom of the windshield fence should be replaced with new spacers. Replace any missing or damaged spacers around the perimeter of the windshield fence.
- Using a razor knife (2), level the original bead of urethane (1) on the windshield fence (3) to a thickness of approximately 1 mm (0.04 in.) and remove any damaged adhesive backed spacers.
- Install new adhesive backed spacers (4) along the windshield fence as required.
- Install a new rubber seal (2) along the top of the windshield (1).
- Using an assistant, position the windshield into the windshield opening and against the windshield fence (3) and spacers.
- Verify the windshield lays evenly against the fence at the top, bottom and sides of the opening. If not, the fence must be formed to the shape of the windshield.
- Mark the windshield and the windshield fence with a grease pencil or pieces of masking tape to use as a reference for installation.
- Using an assistant, remove the windshield from the windshield opening and place it on a suitable padded work surface.
Do not use solvent based glass cleaners to clean the windshield before applying glass prep and primer or poor glass adhesion may result.
- Clean the inside of the windshield with an ammonia based glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth.
- Apply the glass prep adhesion promoter 25 mm (1 in.) wide (1) around the perimeter of the windshield (2) and 5 mm (0.2 in.) from the edge of the glass and wipe dry with a clean lint-free cloth until no streaks are visible.
- Apply the glass primer 25 mm (1 in.) wide (1) around the perimeter of the windshield (2) and 5 mm (0.2 in.) from the edge of the glass. Allow at least three minutes drying time.
- Using a flashlight, verify that the primer is completely and evenly installed along the perimeter of the windshield.
- Re-prime any area that is not fully and evenly primed.
- Clean the windshield fence with an ammonia based glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth.
- Apply pinch weld primer 15 mm (0.75 in.) wide (1) around the windshield fence (2). Allow at least three minutes drying time.
- Using a flashlight, verify that the primer is completely and evenly installed along the windshield fence.
- Re-prime any area that is not fully and evenly primed.
Always apply the bead of adhesive to the windshield. Always install the windshield within 5 minutes after applying the adhesive.
• If the original urethane adhesive has been exposed for more than 12 hours, the entire adhesive area will need to be re-primed prior to installing new adhesive.
- Apply approximately a 10 mm (0.4 in.) wide bead of adhesive (1) with a triangular nozzle approximately 6 mm (0.230 in.) from the edge of the glass (2) starting at the bottom center of the windshield.
- Run the end of the adhesive bead (1) on the windshield (2) parallel to the start of the bead and smooth the ends flush.
- Using an assistant, position the windshield (1) over the windshield opening.
- Using the grease pencil marks or tape as reference points, align the windshield to the windshield opening.
- Carefully lower the windshield into the windshield opening. Guide the windshield and the rubber seal (2) at the top the windshield into its proper location.
It is not possible to move the windshield after installation. The windshield should never be pressed into place by more than one person, because the windshield can break if pressed simultaneously on both sides.
- Push the windshield inward until the windshield comes into contact with the spacers (4) located on each side and the bottom of the windshield fence (3).
- Install the cowl panel. Refer to => [ Cowl Panel ] Service and Repair.
- Install the rear view mirror onto the windshield.