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View Full Version : DIY: Sealed window removal, windshield, rear window and port windows



HondaFreak
06-19-2010, 04:35 PM
I'm probably the ONLY moron that's gonna do this, but here it is anyway. This is how I removed all 4 of my windows. The windshield, the two port windows and the rear window. For this exercise I'm doing the rear window, though they are all done the same way and without breaking them. The only tough parts are getting the hole started in the seal and then getting past the clips that secure the windows the body.

Tools needed:
(1) Small 1/8" coping saw blades fine or course, doesn't matter
(1) wire cutters or dremel type tool to remove 1 end of coping saw blade. I used a dremel
(2) #49 guitar string
(1) breakable pen knife razor blade dealeo (optional, but helps)
Scrap cardboard or small wood dowel.

The whole idea here is to make a small hole in the seal with something super thin and small. If you use something too thick and round you'll crack or shatter the glass. No es bueno!
This is where the coping saw blade comes in.

First you'll need to remove the 2 prongs on one end of the coping saw blade. I used my dremel, that way I could create a knife like edge on the side I cut off the coping saw blade.

Prongs on:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_190d778e.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=190d778e.jpg)

Prongs off:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_ac5fa328.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=ac5fa328.jpg)

Here is the rear hatch window. I chose to start at the top drivers side corner. You will need to remove the rear spoiler before attempting to remove the hatch glass.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_b0f4c6a8.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=b0f4c6a8.jpg)

Here I'm inserting the coping saw blade.....slowly! Pull it back and forth....in and out....slowly. Yea baby just like that. That feels GOOOOOOOOD!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_82f6b1ee.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=82f6b1ee.jpg)

Ok, so here you can see my penetration. You like that?
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_df869bac.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=df869bac.jpg)

Now that there is a tiny hole, you can take your break away razor and make the hole bigger but just cutting the seal a bit more.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_e64164e6.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=e64164e6.jpg)

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_a815fa82.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=a815fa82.jpg)

Now take mr.#49 guitar string out.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_4fa231cc.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=4fa231cc.jpg)

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_74b99e8d.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=74b99e8d.jpg)

Now, wrap one end around some cardboard and half tie it and or loop it over itself so it doesn't slip off the cardboard rolls. I did it so that one cardboard roll was in the middle of the guitar string. Leaving excess in case the string breaks you can cut the broken part off and get another use out of the rest of the string. And yes it prolly will break from the friction heat.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_4a5a7374.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=4a5a7374.jpg)

Poke one end through the hole you made in the seal and wrap it around the other cardboard piece. Start "sawing" with the guitar string. Being careful not to rub it against your paint. Always rubbing against the glass. I did the rear hatch with the hatch open and up.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_d7e4c53b.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=d7e4c53b.jpg)

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_ffd70cb3.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=ffd70cb3.jpg)

Here you can see I broke the guitar string. Cut the sharp end off. Hopefully you listened and used from the middle to one end (about half) and now you have a whole other half to use.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/th_d61fefb3.jpg (http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n2/HondaFreak_01/DIY%20Windows/?action=view&current=d61fefb3.jpg)

There are clips securing EVERY sealed window to the body. YOU WILL hit these clips with the guitar string and will probably have a hard time getting through them. I did, it's normal, just take your time, mind the angle of the guitar string keeping it as parallel to the seal as possible. This is a 6 out 10 on the hard shit to do 'O meter.

I will update this post later with ALL of the clip locations for all of the windows.

Good Luck, Christian

27rocks
06-19-2010, 06:27 PM
Hahaha very nice Christian!