Quarter Window Glass: Service and Repair

Quarter Glass Replacement

NOTE:
- Put on gloves to protect your hands.
- Wear eye protection while cutting the glass adhesive with piano wire.
- Use seat covers to avoid damaging any surfaces.
- Do not damage the glass antenna grid lines and terminals.

1. Remove these items:
- Rear side trim panel, upper portion as necessary.
- C-pillar trim
- D-pillar trim
- Roof side center trim
- Roof side rear trim
- C-pillar outer trim

2. If the old quarter glass is to be reinstalled, make alignment marks across the glass and body with a grease pencil.
3. Pull down the rear side portion of the headliner as necessary.
4. Apply protective tape along the inside and outside edges of the body. Using an awl, make a hole through the adhesive from inside the vehicle. Push a piece of piano wire through the hole, and wrap each end around a piece of wood.







5. 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 quarter glass (B) as possible to prevent damage to the body, and carefully cut through the adhesive (C) around the entire quarter glass.
6. Carefully remove the quarter glass.
7. With a putty knife, scrape the old adhesive smooth to a thickness of about 2 mm (0.08 in.) on the bonding surface around the entire quarter glass opening flange:
- Do not scrape down to the painted surface of the body; damaged paint will interfere with proper bonding.
- Remove the fasteners from the body.

8. Clean the body bonding surface with a sponge dampened in alcohol. After cleaning, keep oil, grease, and water from getting on the surface.
9. If the old quarter glass is to be reinstalled, use a putty knife to scrape off all of the old adhesive and the rubber dam from the glass. Clean the inside face and the edge of the glass with alcohol where new adhesive is to be applied. Make sure the bonding surface is kept free of water, oil, and grease.




10. Attach the rubber dam (A) with adhesive tape to the inside surface of the glass (B) as shown. Be careful not to touch the glass where adhesive will be applied.




11. Before installing the clips (A, B), apply primer to the inside face of the quarter glass (C) where clips will be installed, and apply the clips with adhesive tape. Be careful not to touch the quarter glass where adhesive will be applied.




12. With a sponge, apply a light coat of glass primer to the edge of the glass (A) and along the rubber dam (B) as shown, then lightly wipe it off with gauze or cheesecloth:
- Do not apply body primer to the quarter glass, 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 quarter glass properly, causing a leak after the quarter glass is installed.
- Keep water, dust, and abrasive materials away from the primed surface.




13. With a sponge, carefully apply a light coat of body primer to any exposed paint around the flange where new adhesive will be applied. Let the primer dry for at least 10 minutes:
- Do not apply body primer to any remaining original adhesive on the flange.
- Be careful not to mix up the body and glass primer sponges.
- Never touch the primed surfaces with your hands.




14. Cut a "V" in the end of the nozzle (A) on the adhesive cartridge as shown.




15. Put the cartridge in a caulking gun, and run a bead of adhesive (A) around the edge of the glass (B) as shown. Apply the adhesive within 30 minutes after applying the glass primer. Make a slightly thicker bead at each corner.




16. Use suction cups (A) to hold the quarter glass over the opening, align it and set it down on the adhesive. Lightly push on the quarter glass until its edges are fully seated on the adhesive all the way around.

NOTE: Do not open or close any of the doors for about an hour until the adhesive is dry.

17. Scrape or wipe the excess adhesive off with a putty knife or towel. To remove adhesive from a painted surface or the quarter glass, use a soft shop towel dampened with alcohol.
18. After the adhesive has dried, spray water over the quarter glass window and check for leaks. Mark the leaking area, let the quarter glass window dry, then seal with sealant. Let the vehicle stand for at least 4 hours after quarter glass window installation. If the vehicle has to be used within the first 4 hours, it must be driven slowly.
19. Reinstall all remaining removed parts.

NOTE: Advise the customer not to do the following things for 2 to 3 days:
- Slam the doors 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).