reseal hatch glass

gixer02 · 01-25-2002, 09:36 AM

My rear hatch makes creaking noises- my rough idle while cold will even make it make noise so while idling I pressed hard on the glass from the inside with my hand and it reduced the amount of creaking. Is there a more technical way to be sure it is the glass? If it is the glass about how much/how long for a shop to fix it? Thanks

Pat

Britwrench · 01-25-2002, 09:42 AM

You need to find a real good auto glass shop and get them to re-glue the glass to the frame. We usually charge around $250 -300 for this. Sometimes you only need to re-glue the top part of the glass by the hinges, that costs less.

gixer02 · 01-25-2002, 09:44 AM

thanks

Eturbo924 · 01-25-2002, 09:49 AM

are you sure it is the glass to frame and not the mounting posts vibrating in their latches due to a worn out hatch seal?

gixer02 · 01-25-2002, 09:53 AM

well... I'm not sure if it's the glass but I don't know how to tell. What can I do to diagnose it?

Eturbo924 · 01-25-2002, 10:09 AM

Two ways. Open the hatch. Have a friend hold the frame while you push on the glass. See if there is any free play. Normally they sepperate at the top so if you move the bottom back and fourth you can see the play. If there is no play evident.. move on

Next if it passes that. How easy is it to latch the hatch? If it takes no effort at all to latch it. Go to a local harware store and purchase some 1/2 in thick foam sealer tape for windows and such (exact size does not matter... but too thin and it will do nothing). They make some for automotive use. You can then line the bottom of the hatch and make the fit to the car nice and tight. You want to do it along the bottom due to exhaust fumes. You need to seal the rear end section at the latches and partly around the corners. Now with that in place see how the hatch sits. You should have to put a little force down on the hatch to make the latches catch. Then go and drive the car. If this eliminates the sound.... You should purchase a new seal and maybe adjust your posts to make the hatch sit lower (thus tighter.) One note there. Much of the time the posts freeze due to rust and will not adjust anymore. Then you can either replace them or use the tape as noted above to improve the sealing.

Good luck.

Eric

eimkeith · 01-25-2002, 10:09 AM

if it's creaking, that's most likely the aforementioned delamination issue along the top and upper sides of the frame.

944pete · 944pete's Garage

Mine has the same problem. I'll get around to fixing it this spring. While driving over 50mph there is a real annoying whistling noise from the hatch, but if you hit the recirculate button on the climate control it goes away completely!!

Pete 85.5

gixer02 · 01-25-2002, 12:03 PM

Thanks Eric- the glass felt firmly planted and so in place of the foam I cut up an old hand towel and taped it around the 2 corners and by the latches like you said. NO NOISE. It's funny how that little creaking annoyed me so much. So I'll just replace the seal- at close inspection it looks to be in poor shape. When you said do it at the bottom due to exaust fumes do you mean because fumes may enter the passenger cabinet?

Hey Pete- your problem is probably the seal too. The whistling is the first hint and the recirculate is the 2nd- the recirculate would change the cabin pressure (I'm assuming) and therefore it sounds like the noise is air related(flowing through the bad seal maybe?) and so maybe a new seal would do the trick- good luck

Thanks again Eric

Pat

Eturbo924 · 01-25-2002, 12:09 PM

Pat Yes that is why. The fumes will enter when there is any lifting of the hatch... it is normally real apparent when you open your windows... as you note to Peter... cabin pressure.

Nothing like smelling of exhaust when you get out of your car to turn your wife on.... or not

Glad I could help. And yes I agree it is likely that Petes' car has the same issue.

Have a good one guys and gals

Eric