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Replacing Window Door Glass

How to painlessly repair your vehicle's broken pane

Life is full of ups and downs, but—when it comes to your vehicle's windows—that's a very good thing. Unless the glass is altogether gone ...

Enlightenment

So, you've noticed your window isn't there anymore, and Mother Nature is being more intimate with you. Maybe your stereo is missing, or pieces of trash are floating in during your commute. You probably need to check out the cost of window glass replacement. I called one auto glass repair business, but didn't like the amount they would charge to fix the problem. A bit more research via the net and I not only got a market price for a replacement window (one-third what the "professional" wanted), but also found a nearby auto-recycling center with one in stock.

Preparation

Make sure you have a good selection of hand tools, a tarp, a repair manual, and a vacuum. Follow the instructions in your specific repair manual to remove the door panel. You should find a plastic sheet/weather barrier under the panel. Carefully peel this sheet back while avoiding the sticky stuff. Use gloves to remove any hunks of glass that might still be together—window tinting will cause that. Use a shop vacuum to get the rest of the cubits out and carefully dispose in the trash.

Zen

Now, relax with a cup of Wild Sweet Orange Herbal tea. After you're done with that, wash the replacement glass. Marvel at how glass is just sand, only different. Do some finger stretches. Next, take a 2-foot square piece of glass (with a slight bend in it) and fit it into the door through the 2-inch wide slot at the top. Notice how a third or fourth extra hand might be useful. I was stumped at first, but when I stepped back and looked at things, I noticed a couple bolt heads in my door panel. They held a support post for my vent window in place. Once I unbolted them and pushed the post forward, I had enough room to maneuver the glass down into the channel. Success! Follow your manual and you shouldn't have many problems. Remember that glass doesn't like to bend. Find comfort in the fact that the factory got the original piece of glass in there, so you should be able to do it too.

Battening Down

The repair manual shows you the placement of the bracket and clips that were bonded to the glass. With the top piece of weatherstripping back in place, make sure the glass is aligned. Does it raise and lower without binding? Great. Snug down the bracket bolts; replace the weatherstripping and barrier sheet. Get the door panel back on and align the window crank lever, if you have one. Mine no longer brushes against my knee when the window's all the way down.

Finally, you can enjoy not having things so easily stolen from your truck. Go to the car wash again. Celebrate the power of sand—without all the dirt and debris.