5 Tips to Replacing Your Side Window
When the window of your car is broken during a minor accident, you should consider replacing it yourself. If you opt to wait for the insurance company to approve your claim, it might take ages. A broken window exposes you to wind which might cause you to suffer from coughs and colds. Besides that, your personal items are vulnerable to theft. Moreover, you will save a lot of money because you will not spend even a single cent on labor. All you need is a screwdriver and a multi-tool pen knife to get started. Below are tips that can help you replace a broken window like a pro.
1. Shop for New Glass Panel
Shopping for a new glass panel is pretty simple. This is because there is a standard size for each model of a car. You therefore don’t need to take any measurements. As long as you have the recommended glass for your vehicle, it will fit perfectly. Since there are many stores that sell auto parts, you should compare their prices to make sure get a discount. You can get more insights by visiting glass.net Customer Reviews before you make your purchase. The fun of it is that you will order for your glass via the internet. If you are on a budget, you should consider buying second hand glass panel from your local mechanic because they are more affordable.
2. Store the Panel Safely
You may not have the time to install the new window glass immediately. If that’s the case, you will have to wait for a day that you are less occupied. In the meantime, you should store the panel in a secure place. If you put it in a crowded room, it might get knocked down by pets and kids or by falling objects. Although it might not break, it will eventually start warping. You should therefore make it lean on the wall. The garage is actually the best place to keep such a glass panel because it’s not frequented by many people.
3. Have Your Tools Ready
Replacing a side window is not rocket science. You just need to arm yourself with a set of screwdrivers and a multi-tool pen knife and you will be good to go. The screwdriver will be used for operating the screws that hold the glass panel mechanism. The multi-tool is reserved for raising clips. You will also need a vacuum cleaner for removing the small particles of shattered glass. Such particles can get between the folds of the car seats and injure you. You should therefore suck them out using a vacuum machine to spare yourself from such trouble.
4. Pull Out The Window Mechanism
Before you install the new window, you have to access the window mechanism. You should start by removing the inner panel of the door that’s normally on the lower side. Once the inner panel is out of the way, you will be able to operate the window mechanism. Manual window mechanisms are easy to operate because all you have to do is use the roll up/down lever to bring it up. In modern cars, you have to start the car to be able to adjust the window.
5. Mount the New Glass
To install the new glass panel, you should grab the chisel of your multi-tool and run it along the rubber seal that’s located at the floor of the door. This will create a contour that will accommodate the window. You should then glide the glass panel slowly into the slot to avoid breaking it. Once you have confirmed it’s in the right position, you should fasten it with the provided clips and screws. You should then turn the engine on so that you can test the new window. If it goes up and down smoothly, you can now fasten the inner panel with screws and be done with it.
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