Windshield: Service and Repair
Windshield Replacement
NOTE:
- Put on gloves to protect your hands.
- Wear eye protection while cutting glass adhesive with a piano wire.
- Use seat covers to avoid damaging the seat.
- When replacing a broken windshield, a commercially available windshield cutter can be efficiently used for cutting adhesive. For details, follow the instructions of the tool manufacturer.
1. Remove these items:
- Cowl covers Service and Repair
- Rearview mirror
- Without automatic dimming mirror Rearview Mirror Replacement
- With automatic dimming mirror Rearview Mirror Replacement
- A-pillar trim, both sides A-Pillar
- Roof moldings, both sides
2. Remove the molding (A) from the upper edge of the windshield (B). If necessary, cut the molding with a utility knife.
3. If the old windshield will be reinstalled, make alignment marks across the glass and the body with a grease pencil.
4. Pull down the front portion of the headliner. Service and Repair Take care not to bend the headliner excessively, or you may crease or break it.
5. Apply protective tape along the edge of the dashboard and body. Using an awl, make a hole through the rubber dam and adhesive from inside the vehicle at a corner of the windshield. Push a piece of piano wire through the hole, and wrap each end around a piece of wood.
6. 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 windshield (B) as possible to prevent damage to the body and dashboard. Carefully cut through the rubber dam and adhesive (C) around the entire windshield.
7. Carefully remove the windshield.
8. Use a putty knife to scrape old adhesive smooth to a thickness of about 2 mm (0.08 in.) on the bonding surface around the entire windshield opening flange:
- Do not scrape down to the painted surface of the body; damaged paint will interfere with proper bonding.
- Remove the rubber dams from the body.
9. Clean the body bonding surface with a shop towel dampened in isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning, keep oil, grease, and water from getting on the clean surface.
10. If the old windshield will be reinstalled, use a putty knife to scrape off old adhesive, upper clips, and rubber dams from the windshield. Clean the inside face and the edge of the windshield with isopropyl alcohol where new adhesive will be applied. Make sure the bonding surface is kept free of water, oil, and grease.
11. With automatic dimming rearview mirror: If the windshield will be replaced with a new one, attach the new rearview mirror harness cover base to the inside face of the windshield. Rearview Mirror Harness Cover Base Replacement (4-Door)
Cutting positions
12. Attach the rubber dam A, and the upper clips (B) with adhesive tape to the inside face of the windshield (C) as shown. Before installing the upper clips, apply primer to the area where the adhesive tape will be applied to the inside face of the windshield:
- Be sure the rubber dam and the upper clips line up with the alignment marks (D).
- With the printed dots (E) on the windshield as a guide, attach the rubber dam A to both bottom corners of the windshield.
- Be sure the convex portion (F) of the left and right clips faces the right side.
- Be careful not to touch the windshield where adhesive will be applied.
13. Attach the rubber dam B with adhesive tape to the inside surface of the windshield (A) as shown.
- Be sure the rubber dam lines up with the alignment marks (C).
- With the edge (D) of the black ceramic on the windshield as a guide, attach the rubber dam B to the windshield.
- Be careful not to touch the windshield where adhesive will be applied.
14. Attach the molding (A) with adhesive tape (B) to the upper edge of the windshield (C). Be careful not to touch the windshield where adhesive will be applied.
2-door
4-door
15. Attach the molding upper seal (A) with adhesive tape to the inside surface of the molding (B) as shown.
16. Set the windshield in the opening, and center it. Make alignment marks (A) across the windshield and the body with a grease pencil at the four points shown. Make sure the pins (B) of both upper clips (C) contact with the edge of the body holes. Be careful not to touch the windshield where adhesive will be applied.
17. Remove the windshield.
18. With a sponge applicator, apply a light coat of glass primer to the windshield (A) along the edge of the molding (B) and rubber dams (C) as shown, then lightly wipe it off with gauze or cheesecloth:
- Apply glass primer to the molding.
- Do not apply body primer to the windshield, and do not get body and glass primer sponge applicators mixed up.
- Never touch the primed surfaces with your hands. If you do, adhesive may not bond to the windshield properly, causing a leak after the windshield is installed.
- Keep water, dust, and abrasive materials away from the primed surfaces.
19. With a sponge applicator, carefully apply a light coat of body primer to any exposed paint or metal 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 sponge applicators.
- Never touch the primed surfaces with your hands.
20. Cut a "V" in the end of the nozzle (A) on the adhesive cartridge as shown.
21. Put the cartridge in a caulking gun, and run a continuous bead of adhesive (A) around the windshield (B) along the edge of the molding (C) and the rubber dams (D) as shown. Apply adhesive within 30 minutes after applying the glass primer. Make a slightly thicker bead at each corner.
22. Use suction cups to hold the windshield over the opening, align it with the alignment marks made in step 16, and set it down on adhesive. Lightly push on the windshield until its edges are fully seated on adhesive all the way around.
NOTE: Do not open or close any of the doors for about an hour until adhesive is dry.
23. Scrape or wipe the excess adhesive off with a putty knife or towel. To remove adhesive from a painted surface or the windshield, wipe with a soft shop towel dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
24. After adhesive has dried, spray water over the windshield and check for leaks. Mark leaking areas, and let the windshield dry, then seal with sealant. Let the vehicle stand for at least 4 hours after windshield installation. If the vehicle has to be used within the first 4 hours, it must be driven slowly.
25. 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).
