Safelite reseals rear hatches?

[billy mild]

Wondering if anyone has had them do this? Its apparently only $180. I am really considering having it done on my 944. Post up your results if you have had this done.

[iplagolf]

Don't know where you are, but I had mine done at a glass shop in Evansville, IN for 150.00. I took all of the parts off and just took them the glass and frame. They did a great job and no more leak.

[SolReaver]

Safelite did a CRAPPY job on my front windshield. I wouldn't trust them.

THIS is how to do it. If you are man enough, that is...

87 924S Hatch Glass install

BTW, a search for "rear hatch" would have found the thread. Additionally BEFORE this thread was posted and the procedure documented Safelite was charging 400 minimal for the job with NO guarantees.

[djnolan]

I have been considering having Safelite perform this repair. Has anyone had any luck with this repair?

http://www.9xauto.com/hatch/hatchkit.pdf

[billy mild]

If I could get Safelite to do this I might just say F it and have them do it. They offer a lifetime warranty so what do I have to lose except money. haha.

I was hoping I could hear a first hand experience from someone who has had this done.

[SolReaver]

Guys, I don't want to debate the matter and, at the risk of repeating myself...I have had excellent success with THIS method. THIS is how to do it. Safelite will NOT guarantee a hatch repair unless they supply the glass and if you are careful you can and should reuse your own as the newer after-market glass is too thin to fit the frame correctly.

IMHO: Safelite S*cks! They can handle Hondas or Chevys, but keep them away from your Porsche as it takes a level of skill they are unwilling or unable to manage.

Click the link, look at the pretty pictures and ask a question if you don't understand.

87 924S Hatch Glass install

Check the date of the thread. The rear hatch is STILL good, results speak for themselves.

Djnolan: Using super glue?? are you sniffing the stuff or something? That is the worst write up I have ever seen on the subject. Might as well be entitled "how to do it wrong with disastrous results" who wrote that piece? and grainy black and white photos....yuck... can't they buy a camera at a thrift store or something?

You CAN'T do the job right without compressing the frame and weighting the glass. You just can't. I tried. You need spacers on the lower edge and straps to snug the glass to the frame.

But hey...what Do I know....I actually did it and THEN talked about it...

P.S. the rear hatch glass is rumored to be the same as a a Renault Fuego. Go figure...

[billy mild]

Originally Posted by SolReaver

Guys, I don't want to debate the matter and, at the risk of repeating myself...I have had excellent success with THIS method. THIS is how to do it. Safelite will NOT guarantee a hatch repair unless they supply the glass and if you are careful you can and should reuse your own as the newer after-market glass is too thin to fit the frame correctly.

IMHO: Safelite S*cks! They can handle Hondas or Chevys, but keep them away from your Porsche as it takes a level of skill they are unwilling or unable to manage.

Click the link, look at the pretty pictures and ask a question if you don't understand.

87 924S Hatch Glass install

Check the date of the thread. The rear hatch is STILL good, results speak for themselves.

Djnolan: Using super glue?? are you sniffing the stuff or something? That is the worst write up I have ever seen on the subject. Might as well be entitled "how to do it wrong with disastrous results" who wrote that piece? and grainy black and white photos....yuck... can't they buy a camera at a thrift store or something?

You CAN'T do the job right without compressing the frame and weighting the glass. You just can't. I tried. You need spacers on the lower edge and straps to snug the glass to the frame.

But hey...what Do I know....I actually did it and THEN talked about it...

P.S. the rear hatch glass is rumored to be the same as a a Renault Fuego. Go figure...

your write up is very good. I wish you were closer and could help me get my hatch stripped down. I have actually resealed my hatch and it lasted 6 months. Then one day boom it split again. If safelite strips it all down then primers the glass(like they said they would) then it should be a pretty solid repair.

[SolReaver]

Yea, I feel your pain. My first attempt lasted about the same. It is discouraging to do a job again. However...I am willing to bet that you didn't use the 3M primer and urethane OR didn't weight the glass down while compressing the frame. For the beauty clip at the top to hold against the glass you need the glass RIGHT up to the frame. Without the straps the aluminum will just bow out and it all goes to crap.

Just chalk it up to experience and do the job again. Following this method should give you a pretty good result. Feel free to improvise and improve upon my methods.

As you know...the installation is just a fraction of the work..the real PITA is carefully separating the glass from the frame and cleaning the bejessus out of everything. I suggest one of those box cutter razors with the thin blades and LOTS of patience. Some picture wire and handles... No Prying!

Yea, shipping costs to and from Houston are not gonna make that feasible, additionally the whole prepping thing takes days and at my hourly would run into hundreds of dollars pretty quick.

This is why a lot of people just get another hatch...But, how long until THAT one goes..

[Rasta Monsta]

Originally Posted by SolReaver

No Prying!

[SolReaver]

Yes, that is exactly why your screwdriver needs to remain in the toolbox.

Additionally resting the glass on a table like that will not end well.

Note my pictures in the referenced thread and pay particular attention to the background. What IS that Air mattress for? How is the glass being handled as it is prepped? How many straps are used? Why the cross placement? How much do those bags weigh? All the clues are there.

[billy mild]

Originally Posted by SolReaver

Yea, I feel your pain. My first attempt lasted about the same. It is discouraging to do a job again. However...I am willing to bet that you didn't use the 3M primer and urethane OR didn't weight the glass down while compressing the frame. For the beauty clip at the top to hold against the glass you need the glass RIGHT up to the frame. Without the straps the aluminum will just bow out and it all goes to crap.

Just chalk it up to experience and do the job again. Following this method should give you a pretty good result. Feel free to improvise and improve upon my methods.

As you know...the installation is just a fraction of the work..the real PITA is carefully separating the glass from the frame and cleaning the bejessus out of everything. I suggest one of those box cutter razors with the thin blades and LOTS of patience. Some picture wire and handles... No Prying!

Yea, shipping costs to and from Houston are not gonna make that feasible, additionally the whole prepping thing takes days and at my hourly would run into hundreds of dollars pretty quick.

This is why a lot of people just get another hatch...But, how long until THAT one goes..

I used 3m Window Weld. I did a form of the pelican parts repair. I cut out as much of the old material as possible, then cleaned it out with laquer thinner really good. Pressed down on the frame then put the urethane in there. I used clamps to hold the frame in place as well as use rachet straps to bring the frame back in. This sat like this for about 48 hours inside.

It seems like if I could have stripped it all down, put a good bead around the frame and set the glass in the frame this would allow the window to attach correctly and conform to the frame. Safelite sounds like that is what they do. Who knows I got another glass place to call and see.

[SolReaver]

Well...you are going to have to take it all apart and clean it anyway. Anything short of removing the glass from the frame and cleaning to bare metal all around is half assing it.. Even Safelite will agree with that.

I seriously doubt that any shop can do that for 180, Once you show up the price will change. more likely they will try and shatter the glass so that you can buy some cheap thin stuff from them. I was quoted 300 to 400 years ago, I doubt it has gone DOWN in price. Safelite S*cks ! Did you miss that part?

Fine, your money...take pics of a "professional" doing it and tell me just how good their work is.

Guys...having other people work on these things is just NOT a good idea. They hardly ever spend the time and effort to do it right. If you want a job done right....Guess what?

[djnolan]

Boy, someone could make a decent living selling rebuilt hatches. I can't see any way ever getting this done on my two 944's. Could a rebuilt hatch be shipped? Or would I need to ship the whole car?

Maybe 944Ecology has some advice? He rebuilds torque tubes.

[SolReaver]

Yes, you could ship a hatch and have it rebuilt. The downside is that you need a car to rebuild them or a special jig to hold the shape. Ideally you fit it all to the car it will be installed on, but I have swapped hatches without too much fuss. Note how you lay the frame and glass in the hatch opening to get the precise fitment. It is a large and heavy piece of glass. IT takes FOREVER to do the prep work. you would THINK that since both the glass and frame are flexible the composite would be flexible....No, when you do it right the unit tightens up and feels like solid metal. When you do the job you will understand. it is kinda hard to explain. Part of the job is making the unit fit the car before it hardens up. Why do you think I did a Dry run?

The Glass companies ship their stock on special trucks to and from the wholesalers in each city. perhaps they would ship yours if you ask em nice...perhaps not.

IF you could door to door it, It would still take a good deal of time to do right and then a few more days to cure before being shipped back. The labor even at a cheap hourly would be several hundred depending on the level of difficulty and the more patches that have been performed, the harder it is. My shield had epoxy holding the shield in at the sides....oh god did that job bite.

Finally, there are no guarantees in life and even if you use the best of care...doo doo happens and the shield can explode on you with little provocation. Such a fun job!

Could you make money at it? perhaps a bit on the side but there are not enough 924s and 944s to warrant it full time. Then again, they are all getting older and the whole "musical hatch" game is playing thin as there are fewer and fewer good hatches around. I think the key would be shipping costs and insurance concerns.

[79MALIBU]

I installed new hatch struts. They seemed to stiff to me, but I left them on anyway. Then I started having trouble with the hatch opening up at random times. Including once at an autocross in front of many strangers and friends. It finally got so bad that I could not close the hatch. Then I noticed the gap at the top of the hatch, then I noticed the whistling and now perhaps a small water leak. Did the struts stretch the frame? I think yes. So after you made this repair, what have you done about the struts? Did you shell out the bucks for the OEM hatch struts?

[GreenWater]

For whatever it is worth. I just had Safelite replace my windshield two days ago. ( I had insurance and it only cost me $100.) The guy did a great job. No complaints at all. I guess it just matters who the guy is installing the glass and how good he is. As for the rear hatch, at least you don't have to worry about breaking the glass or messing something up, and they do have a warranty for their work.

[SolReaver]

First of all, Safelite S*cks. Our experiences varied and we can agree to disagree. They USED to be good but that was long ago and like I said, good for Toyotas or the average car.... not good for Porsche. YMMV but my opinion does not. These Hatches are NOT windshields. Windshields are easy. Of course they managed to screw THAT up on my car.

Yes, installing new struts breaks the old seal at the top of the rear shield. EVERY time.
It is a poor design and the only hatches that have survived this far are on cars that have not had new struts installed. Installing the new struts was a death sentence for the hatch seal.

I did the same thing. Funny how nobody tells you this Sh#t until after the fact. After all the aggravation I have gone through I leave them off and use them as prop rods. If I am going somewhere and want to show off I can leave them in place and with a turn of the trunk lock or a push of the button...click, and the hatch comes up smooth as glass...whirr clunk.

After a day of fun I disconnect the struts and leave them off. When you store the car, make sure they are off. The struts SHOULD be attached at the pins. I will get around to that mod...never.

Did I mention Safelite S@cks? They will NOT warranty used glass and that there is no way in hell they will bring this job in for $180.00. Repeat after me....Safelite S$cks...SAFE Lite Suuu....uuuu...