Rear windscreen (?) water leak

[ChryslerCruiser]

Not sure what the correct term is for the rear window (not the side glass)?

Anyhow,

I had the car outside when it just started to rain, and took the opportunity to look in the trunk to see if I could see why the trunk lid is rusting..

Sure enough there was water running down the seam that is right next to the trunk lid hinge! So I assume my rear window is not sealed well, or something like that.

HOW do I remove the rear window? I most certainly do not want to have it get cracked or broken... AND I also have never removed one before so maybe it is a job for a professional?

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome!

 

[volare 1977]

most likely a hidden rust hole

 

[ChryslerCruiser]

most likely a hidden rust hole

So the rear window is installed with urethane, and the leak is in the seam next to the window?

Is it realistic to plan to remove the window to repair-find the rusted metal?

Or better to do everything to NOT remove the window and see if I can resolve the leak?

 

[AMC Diplomat]

Pics?

 

[ChryslerCruiser]

Yep, it is probably a rust pinhole.. as there is a rust bubble right at the bottom/corner of the windshield.
Also further evidence is the paint has cracked in a straight line between that corner rust bubble, straight back which I suspect is the seam between the rear quarter panel and what ever the narrow trip of metal that goes across to the other side of the car...

I will try to get a picture and see if I can upload it..

 

[ChryslerCruiser]

 

[Mikes5thAve]

It could very well be from that rust but you need to know excalty where it's leaking from to know for sure. Only way of fixing it is to take the glass out.

 

[volare 1977]

I have used clear flow-able windshield sealer before but that is only on small leaks

Permatex® Flowable Silicone Windshield & Glass Sealer, 1.5 OZ​

 

[AMC Diplomat]

You'll need a trim remover tool



Take your time and use the tool to pop the trip off the clips. These tools are usually available at any auto parts store. And be careful, the pointy end can slip and it's sharp.

 

[ChryslerCruiser]

So the trim is a ‘T’ shape that does something to hold the glass in, or just for decoration?

And does that suggest that the window is held in place by a rubber gasket and the trim?

I have no experience with windows that are glued in place by urethane… but a little bit of experience with rubber gasket (and leaky) front windscreens…

 

[AMC Diplomat]

Someone here will need to check to see if I'm wrong about J bodies, but on M bodies that rear trim is held in by clips



The trim remover tool catches the clip and pops it off the back of the trim.

The window itself is glued in, but you might be able to get to a hole under the trim and epoxy it shut. The trim on M bodies isn't glued to the window.

On the M bodies there's a little channel that the clips sit in that fills with dirt and debris.

But I could be wrong. Hopefully somebody with a J body can double check me.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

I have a spare piece of trim off a Volare, there's a channel on the back of it that the clip catches:

 

[ChryslerCruiser]

So if I am REALLY lucky I can pull the trim off and get to the rust... but most likely the window will have to come out... ?

I'm ok with removing the window just so long as it does not get broken!!!

 

[volare 1977]

Get the trim off and see if it needs to come out. May not. Personally I would have it professionally removed and installed if it needs to come out.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

So if I am REALLY lucky I can pull the trim off and get to the rust... but most likely the window will have to come out... ?

I'm ok with removing the window just so long as it does not get broken!!!

If you're lucky. But like volare 1977 said, if you need the glass out, pay a professional. Because that glass does not grow on trees, and if you break it you'll have to hunt another one down.

But you might get lucky enough to get to the problem. If you like doing rust surgery, then I recommend Ospho and Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer. If you can get the loose pieces and paper thin rusty metal out and treat the rest with Ospho and rusty metal primer, you can really slow that rust down.

The right way would be to pull the window and weld in new steel, but who has time for that when Ospho, primer, and short strand fiberglass exist?

 

[ChryslerCruiser]

Thanks for all of your input and suggestions. Yes, it’s a job for a professional if I need to take the glass out…

I will remove the trim and clean the dirt and rust out… then decide what the best action is…

Probably more from me on this topic once I am staring at pinholes and rust bubbles….

 

[AMC Diplomat]

Thanks for all of your input and suggestions. Yes, it’s a job for a professional if I need to take the glass out…

I will remove the trim and clean the dirt and rust out… then decide what the best action is…

Probably more from me on this topic once I am staring at pinholes and rust bubbles….

My trunk seal was bad and that caused a lot of headaches. So keep an eye on that too.

And even though I have an Arizona car, you would be amazed by the muck I got out of both front and rear windshield channels. No rust though, but I can't imagine it would have lasted much longer.

If you can get it to the point where you can stop it from getting worse, then that's better than nothing. Driving it and enjoying the car is more important than leaving it as an idle project

 

[Mikes5thAve]

Be careful with the trim, you can crack old glass putting it back on. Altho rear glass is more forgiving then windshields.

 

[80mirada]

My Mirada had a leak because the urethane had dried out and split

 

[LSM360]

I removed my front and rear by myself, cleaned the channels thoroughly, then had my local Safe Lite come install the glass. I removed the clips carefully, then layed a big blanket on the trunk lid, and from inside I placed my feet on the glass and gently worked it out. I know, not the best way but it worked. As it got looser and looser I was able to work it out from the outside. It was surprisingly loose since all the sealer had dried up. I was very happy to find zero rust in the channels. Just a lot of dried up sealant I had to work on for hours to make sure it was all out.