Hey guys!

Well get this, 10 mins ago I was parking my S, lifiting the top........and 1.5 seconds into the automatic lifting, my rear windshield EXPLODED! I can't for the life of me figure out what it might have been caught on! Or what might have caused it to explode. The motor is fine, it went all the way back up right after....

So I spent the last 10 mins, cleaning the mess and taping up the window. SO GHETTO NOW! Thank goodness the bulk of the glass fell into the area where the top sits in.

Anyone got any ideas, what might have caused this?

Thanks....

Steve

 

When you retrofit a glass rear window roof in a pre-glass S you have to install some elastic straps to ensure the support hoops move out of the way on opening and closing. My guess is that your OEM elastics are past their use by dates.

 

all glass is susceptible to self destruction like that, I've seen it happen on many vehicles for no apparent reason, though it seems to happen more often in hot weather. Seen it happen on home and balcony window glass as well.

 

NSo now what? When I get a replacement window, do I have to make sure they replace the elastics? If,what kind and how do they go? Any pics of this?

 

Look up one of the DIY glass window roof threads. That will have instructions.

 

02's and up had a glass rear window from the factory. The OP has an 03.

 

Glass can break for no reason.

A friend of mine had a side window explode on his Tahoe for no reason. One day he made a normal right hand turn and the entire window shattered. Nothing hit it and there were no known problems with the window.

 

I'm aware of that Jimmy. That why I referred to his OEM elastic not some third party elastic. OEM or aftermarket, elastic perishes over time.

 

Ok, so after some more investigating........

I noticed that there were some "screws" sticking out where the vinyl top sits in when it's down.

I also noticed, that there is a small tear on the inside of the top.....seems like it might have gotten caught on one of the screws that stick out. However, not all the screws are there......it seems that a few are missing. Maybe from the being pulled out when I was putting up the top....or they were never there to begin with.

What are those screws that are there..does anyone know what there purpose may be????

 

pictures