Replacing Window Trim

[hoss4659]

The alloy trim strip on the rear window/back light was damaged when a previous owner replaced the rubber seal about 3 years ago. What is the best way to replace this trim?

If it involves replacing the seal, how do I avoid messing up the defroster leads when cutting out the old seal? The car is an '88 coupe. If the process involves freeing up the glass I think I will replace it with a part from an earlier care to get rid of the third brake light that blocks the view of the lane behind the car in the rear view mirror. Lots of LED strips that can be substituted.

[IS300]

Just did my back window.... the defrost... male ends are on the glass... female connectors wires are around in the rubber.... I used a razor knife flat on the glass cut the top rubber then pushed out the glass , then separated the wires from the remaining rubber....and did not cut the wires....the aluminum trim is easy to bend...replace the seal ad the trim before you install the glass into the car

[Hnichols]

Yes, you'll have to remove the rear window, which, as IS300 mentioned, involves destroying the present seal (if the seal is in good shape and you want to reuse it, you could theoretically do the reverse of the string installation procedure, but I hardly think it would be worth it).

Wayne's 101 Projects book has an excellent discussion of both removal and installation. It's not a project to be undertaken lightly -- not impossible, but you really have to be patient with it. I personally wouldn't do it it unless your rear window is leaking, which you could check by removing the rear seats and rear parcel shelf, which you'd have to do anyway. Depends on the extent of the damage to the rear trim.

As far as not damaging the rear defroster wires, the more challenging part will be seating them in the new seal, which will involve cutting holes in the rubber. This requires real care, especially as rubber is tricky to cut (it tends to shear in ways you don't want it to) and new Porsche seals (the only kind you should use) are about $400.

There are some good threads on this in the archives.

Good luck!

[will hung]

Re-using the seal will save you money, but it will significantly increase the chances of introducing a leak. The seal has been distorted by the bent trim, so putting the trim in, undamaged, will help, but not correct it. Avoid having to do it a second time and buy a new seal.

[Jonny042]

Last factory seal I bought wasn't $400.00, more like $125. And, FWIW, the aftermarket aluminum trim I bought from Pelican for my 87 front windshield fit well.