Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Rear Window: Removal
- C-Pillar Trim - Remove
1. Remove the C-pillar trim . - Rear Shelf - Remove
1. Remove the rear shelf . - High Mount Brake Light - Remove
1. Remove the high mount brake light . - Rear Window - Remove
1. Disconnect the rear window defogger terminals (A). 2. Pull down the rear area of the headliner (A). NOTE: Take care not to bend the headliner excessively, or you may crease or break it.
3. If the original rear window will be reinstalled, make alignment marks across the rear window and the body with a grease pencil. 4. Apply protective tape along the inside and outside edges of the body. Make a hole with an awl through the adhesive from inside the vehicle at a corner of the rear window. Push a piece of piano wire through the hole, and wrap each end around a piece of wood.
5. Open the trunk lid.
6. Remove the rubber dam (A) from the lower edge of the rear window (B). If necessary, cut the rubber dam with a utility knife.
Cutting positions7. 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 rear window (B) as possible to prevent damage to the body, and carefully cut through the adhesive (C) around the entire rear window. 8. Carefully remove the rear window.
9. Scrape smooth the original adhesive with a knife, until there is a thickness of about 2mm (0.08 in) on the bonding surface around the entire rear window opening flange
NOTE:
- Do not scrape down to the painted surface of the body; damaged paint will interfere with proper bonding.
- Remove the fasteners from the body.
10. Clean the body bonding surface with a shop towel dampened with isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning, keep oil, grease, and water from getting on the surface.
11. If you are reinstalling the original rear window, scrape off the original adhesive, the fasteners, and the rubber dams from the rear window with a putty knife. Clean the bonding surfaces on the inside face and the edge of the rear window with isopropyl alcohol. Make sure the bonding surface is kept free of water, oil, and grease.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.