Tailgate Glass
 

Hi Everyone, could anyone tell me how the tailgate glass is attached to the metal frame on a Tourer please, the top part of the glass is loose on the frame and leaks.

Thanks
Andrew

The glass will be bonded to the frame, a very specialised job, best get a s/h window.

Hmmm, I don't think THAT is going to happen anytime soon.

So it was originally bonded to the frame, methinks to remove the frame and glass unit and to strip the rubberwork, metalwork and glass, give them a good clean with a solvent to chemically clean them and use a suitable Dow-Corning bonding adhesive (they probably make the original bonding adhesive).

The above is totally wrong. The glass is hinged on to the main tailgate near the main hinges.

Do you know that the glass part opens separately from the metal tailgate frame?

It is locked at the bottom by a button under the rear window wiper "boss". Tuck your index finger under the lower edge and you will feel a button. Press this and the glass will be released, opening upwards.

Once fully raised, you will see the glass's hinges level with the roof, either side each with two 6 point domed headed Torx screws. It is either these, or the main hinge base screw(s) which will need tightening.

Don't tighten them too much as the glass may have "dropped" from it's correct position within the seal opening. This will be seen by the bottom edge of the glass "resting" on the outer painted edge of the window opening. So close the glass with care, checking that the glass edge does not touch the metal

Why is the above totally wrong,?:shrug: the tailgate glass is bonded to a metal frame which hinges separately from the tailgate. I assume the owner would know that.

Yes, it WAS bonded to a metal frame with a rubber sandwiched between that forms the seal. Some if it is still bonded or at least held together with the handle and the washer jet.

I have found some windscreen bonding agent and as soon as the weather clears I will strip the thing down to it's component parts, clean off the old bonding goop and re-bond the thing together.

Hello Oldcarguy,

Oooops...... I stand corrected. I overlooked the window's frame on the glass's underside.

I have a spare tailgate window with the same problem, but have abandoned my efforts in separating the glass from the frame. I freed it all the way round from the top centre, and down both sides to near to either side of the lower centre wiper/lock mount. The glue here appears to be the full width of the mount.

I have removed all the lock/wiper mounting screws. It is just the sealant that is holding them together, but they just would not part.

Where I did free the two on the top and sides, I used a fret saw blade, held in mole grips, drawn outwards and later tried a wire "cheese cutter" method, which worked where the glue bead was thin. With these two methods, this took ages with neither being particularly quick at separating the two, so I gave up.

Thanks for the idea GeoffWW, I am going to carefully separate mine.

I have more patience than money and have fretsaw blades, razor blades, a razor saw with the "rib" removed and the like, even an embossing heat gun in case the sealant is a thermoplastic compound.
I find petrol or fast flash thinners are good for removing silicon based glues or at least for weakening other glues.

No problem Geoff, and looking at the trouble to separate the two pieces I still recommend getting another tailgate glass.;)
I have one to put on mine shortly, hopefully to have more than two demister elements working. The old one is okay otherwise so if you want it Andrew you can have it.