Rear window shattered

[Dean68]

Has anyone had a rear window shatter while driving? Most importantly, does anyone have an extra rear window for sale? Or hints for making one from plexiglass?

At first I thought I got shot at because I wasn't in a good part of town. However, nothing but glass was found in the car.

[Lizardmen3477]

At first I thought I got shot at because I wasn't in a good part of town. However, nothing but glass was found in the car.

Note to self dont drive by that town. Sorry to hear.

[SilverBullet75]

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/2749481577.html

I've seen this every time I search for Vehicross in Los Angeles.

Good luck!!

[circmand]

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/2749481577.html

I've seen this every time I search for Vehicross in Los Angeles.

Good luck!!

a sweet deal. Nick or not better than plexiglass or hundreds for a new one. Check with your insurance company and see if you are covered

[vt_maverick]

Has anyone had a rear window shatter while driving? Most importantly, does anyone have an extra rear window for sale? Or hints for making one from plexiglass?

At first I thought I got shot at because I wasn't in a good part of town. However, nothing but glass was found in the car.

Funny (coincidence funny) that you posted this, when I was installing my rear door cargo box last week I found glass in the bottom of the door from where my window must have shattered at some point. The previous owner didn't mention it and there are no accidents on the AutoCheck (besides mine) so who knows what happened.

Make sure you open the spare tire cover and vacuum out the bottom of the door or glass will work its way under the tire support and be practically impossible to remove (not to mention rattle).

[Riff Raff]

Note to self dont drive by that town. Sorry to hear.

x2. Hmmm; St. Louis, MO. So noted and forever black-balled from my GPS.

Things that come to mind as a possible cause (besides beng shot at) is perhaps the rear defroster was turned on in frigid cold weather and caused it to shatter. Another possible idea may be that the rear door hinges are loose and when traveling over a hefty bump caused the window frame to be tweaked and caused the breakage. If not, then it must be Gremlins.

:bgwb:

[Dean68]

SilverBullet75, thanks so much for that Craigslist ad. I called the guy and he is going to see about shipping it via Greyhound. Or possibly Fedex or UPS.

Does anyone know the proper method for shipping a window? The guy selling said that it is oversized and he wasn't sure about what would happen because of that. He sells lots of things on Ebay and is familiar with shipping. He mentioned using lots of bubble wrap, packing peanuts... However, I want to be sure that the window gets here in one piece. It has a small chip in it on the edge and I wonder if it could be a weak point that could cause it to break more during shipping.

Any suggestions?

I didn't find any bullet and didn't have the rear defroster on. I will have to check the hinges later. I had heard some clunking recently from the back but wasn't sure what it was.

[Riff Raff]

Glad to hear SilverBullet75 was able to help with his Craigslist link. As far as shipping; perhaps consider the local "UPS Store" to pack-n-ship it. If actual UPS personnel pack-it at the local "UPS Store", then they warrant it from damage during shipment.

:bgwb:

[RickOKC]

I think this happened (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DiEr2xYfDk). (It's even the same city if I remember where the family was at the time. :biggringr)

[Dean68]

That was East St. Louis which is across the river and is like a 3rd world country. It is an area bad enough that if you see bullet holes on the side of a car, they are not those cute stickers that make it look like a bullet hole but the real deal.

[JoFotoz]

X2 with Riff Raff here.....


As far as shipping; perhaps consider the local "UPS Store" to pack-n-ship it. If actual UPS personnel pack-it at the local "UPS Store", then they warrant it from damage during shipment.

:bgwb:

Given the super cheap price ( even with the ding).....
...its a good way to go.

Alternative is a wooden exo-skeleton 'crate'....and thats a hassle.

jo

[blacksambo]

That's a great deal. I would have bought it and stock piled it , easy.

[JoFotoz]

YUP..X2


That's a great deal. I would have bought it and stock piled it , easy.

Jo

[BlackVXer99]

:wave: fellow STL'r , hope everything works out

[Hiredgoon]

I've had good luck with having a local (to the seller) glass dealer ship it to a local (to me) glass dealer for a small fee. They installed it for me, so it wasn't a big deal--he took it to his Speedy Auto Glass, and shipped it to mine. Easy peasy. Worth trying, anyways, and if anyone knows how to ship glass...

[tom4bren]

It has a small chip in it on the edge and I wonder if it could be a weak point that could cause it to break more during shipping.

Mine has a small edge chip. I have no idea how it happened but it hasn't spread (even with my jacked up hinge). I think you'll be OK.

As far as packaging for shipment ... you can use "foam in place". They use an expanding foam (like 'great stuff') in the bottom of the box, then a sheet of plastic, then the item, then another sheet of plastic, then another layer of expanding foam. It's messy to do but the item is uber-protected & perfectly clean when removed (because of the sheets of plastic).

[Dean68]

The seller put 4 corners into dense foam and at the bottom of the box put foam like from a couch cushion and also packing peanuts all around. I told him I would gladly pay him for time and materials if he would crate it. So he is doing that around the box. It is getting shipped Greyhound. Safelite said they will install it for $75. I have installed glass in the past but would prefer someone that had more experience since windows now appear to be made from unobtainium and I don't want to mess up.

One of the local glass shops also checked availability on the front windshield (because I have a crack across all of it) and he said the front window was not available from anyone either. I hope I can get a replacement front windshield. I had not checked an Isuzu dealer for the front.

[tom4bren]

There are several old threads on windshield availability. The search function on the home page is your friend.:)

[Dean68]

tom4bren, thanks. I had not started looking for one yet. I just know I will need one eventually.

[tom4bren]

It appears that Safelite is the best place to go for a windshield.

[VXorado]

So he is doing that around the box. It is getting shipped Greyhound. Safelite said they will install it for $75. I have installed glass in the past but would prefer someone that had more experience since windows now appear to be made from unobtainium and I don't want to mess up.


I removed & installed my rear window for my spare tire project. It was easier than I thought but for $75 I would let someone else do it. Just the 3M window sealant was $30 & extremely messy.

The reason why I did the glass work...The Safelite installer told me there was a 25% chance he would break my old window pulling it & I would be liable. Thanks but no thanks Safelite :thumbdn:

[Dean68]

See the following pics of the packing before it was shipped. I should have it on Friday if all goes well.

Window 30
Wood 45
Packing Fee 20
Shipping via Greyhound 85
Paypal charge 10
Total 190

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8220/dsc06300v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/dsc06300v.jpg/)

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/334/dsc06301cc.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/813/dsc06301cc.jpg/)

[JoFotoz]

Thats still a pretty good price :thumbup:

As a comparison...
....a new drivers window shipped from Merlin was about $220.


I hate to think what a new back glass would be from him...if he could get it.

IMO ya did good.

jo

[Dean68]

Even though I am going to have Safelite do the installation of the window, I decided to remove the broken glass and urethane?? foam/adhesive myself to be sure it is done right. I tried to use a heat gun to heat it up so I could use a plastic putty knife to remove the mess of adhesive and broken glass. However, the plastic putty knife bends with the heat and is not very useful. I am considering using a utility knife blade and cut halfway through whatever it is that holds the mess in place.

I wondered if there is some better way. Maybe some solvent that won't hurt the paint or something else? Even if I slice the top half of the adhesive/foam away, I still have to get the rest of the adhesive off.

You can see how scratched up things are getting and I have hardly made any progress.

Thanks

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/3999/img1410crop.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/img1410crop.jpg/)

[VX crazy]

I had to have all the side windows removed on original vx to get painted and they used something like dental floss to get up under there.....the window

[Ldub]

I wondered if there is some better way. Maybe some solvent that won't hurt the paint or something else? Even if I slice the top half of the adhesive/foam away, I still have to get the rest of the adhesive off.

You can see how scratched up things are getting and I have hardly made any progress.

Thanks

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/3999/img1410crop.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/img1410crop.jpg/)

Goog is yer friend bro...:smilewink

This may help...http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CFgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmultimedia.3m.com%2Fmws%2Fmediawe bserver%3F66666UuZjcFSLXTtNxf2LXfEEVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6 E666666--&ei=X0UrT4mZF_KssAKYpfSZDg&usg=AFQjCNFPL8SewY-3UTuM21MV063ncY5Keg&sig2=FlJt9Qqz58zF5erYM1P41w

Page 4 here (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CGAQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmultimedia.3m.com%2Fmws%2Fmediawe bserver%3F66666UuZjcFSLXTtmxf6nxMEEVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6 E666666--&ei=X0UrT4mZF_KssAKYpfSZDg&usg=AFQjCNF8FVlu3AeCALMIADSiYe5IKZmdhQ&sig2=7PW6PWkWhAFWBY9JrQ3h0w), might also prove valuable.

Especially this part...

" NOTE: On urethane
installations, it is recommended that a thin film (1-2 mm) of the old urethane be left on the pinchweld
and fresh urethane is bonded to remaining film"


Try a small area with MEK if all else fails...:smilewink

[Riff Raff]

I tried to use a heat gun to heat it up so I could use a plastic putty knife to remove the mess of adhesive and broken glass. However, the plastic putty knife bends with the heat and is not very useful. I wondered if there is some better way.


Instead of a plastic putty knife (that melts) or a metal putty knife (that scratches), use a "small wooden spatula" or "flat wooden salad spoon" designed for cooking. A "small wooden spatula/flat wooden salad spoon" won't melt under the heat gun, and it won't scratch the paint. Visit your local cookware section at a prominent retail store. You'll know immediately when you see the perfect utensil for the task.

:bgwb:

[tom4bren]

I don't think that the edge of a wooden spatula would hold up very long.

How about a windshield ice-scraper?

[Riff Raff]

I don't think that the edge of a wooden spatula would hold up very long.

How about a windshield ice-scraper?

LMFAO, a plastic ice-scraper??? :noo: Seriously, that would end-up melted just like the plastic putty knife or would simply break in half once elbow-grease leverage is applied and the ice-scraper is not narrow enough to dig into the narrow crevace of the window trough. So Tom, you are a no-go at this station. :laughing:

A "narrow wooden spatula/salad spoon" won't melt, is narrow enough to dig into the narrow window frame trough to remove the old sealant, is strong and durable enough to take abuse without breaking, and won't scratch any paint. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!

:yes:

[tom4bren]

LMFAO, a plastic ice-scraper??? :noo: Seriously, that would end-up melted just like the plastic putty knife or would simply break in half once elbow-grease leverage is applied and the ice-scraper is not narrow enough to dig into the narrow crevace of the window trough. So Tom, you are a no-go at this station. :laughing:

A "narrow wooden spatula/salad spoon" won't melt, is narrow enough to dig into the narrow window frame trough to remove the old sealant, is strong and durable enough to take abuse without breaking, and won't scratch any paint. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!

:yes:

Agree to disagree:whiteflag:

[Dean68]

I think I may just let Safelite do the removal as long as they don't use anything metal in the process. They will have to earn their $75.

I thought the new window would be here but according to Greyhound, it could be as long as next Wednesday. It sounds like the time can vary depending upon how much room they have on the bus and that it changes buses a couple of times. I would have paid more for Fedex or UPS if I knew it would drag on.

I really do appreciate all of the advice from everyone. Even the bad advice :yesy:

[Dean68]

The window arrived intact today. I also had Safelite do the install. They charged $60, not the $75 I was quoted on the phone. I think the installer did a pretty good job of cleaning everything up. I told him I wanted to see it after they got it cleaned up so I am not sure if it looked as good as it did only because I was going to see it ahead of the install. The dark band around the perimeter of the opening is a primer that they used for bonding as well as to protect any paint that was damaged in the process.

I also got a quote of $221 plus tax to get a front windshield replacement. Safelite makes their own glass as well as sometimes carries other brands. I always heard Safelite glass was not as durable as compared to others and have requested other brands when having them replace windows on other vehicles. However, only the Safelite brand it available for the VX.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/241/imag0985.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/imag0985.jpg/)

[Ldub]

The window arrived intact today. I also had Safelite do the install. They charged $60, not the $75 I was quoted on the phone. I think the installer did a pretty good job of cleaning everything up. I told him I wanted to see it after they got it cleaned up so I am not sure if it looked as good as it did only because I was going to see it ahead of the install. The dark band around the perimeter of the opening is a primer that they used for bonding as well as to protect any paint that was damaged in the process.

I also got a quote of $221 plus tax to get a front windshield replacement. Safelite makes their own glass as well as sometimes carries other brands. I always heard Safelite glass was not as durable as compared to others and have requested other brands when having them replace windows on other vehicles. However, only the Safelite brand it available for the VX.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/241/imag0985.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/imag0985.jpg/)

Glad they were le$$ than expected...:thumbup:

Too bad they didn't have the inclination to paint out the window frame in black...:(