The glass back window on a 97 Pontiac Sunfire

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dj_cam1987 - 17 Jun 2006 19:03 GMT

Hey all. I just recently bought a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire convertible for a
pretty decent price. The car is in excellent condition, except for one small
imperfection. The convertible top has a glass window, but somehow that glass
window has fallen out of its moldings and is now a seperate entity from the
car. My question : Is there a way to put the glass window back on myself?

If not, and I have to go to 'an expert' what should I say to to them? I had
called a place in Phoenix( i live in Arizona) but they said that it could not
be put back on and i would need to install one of their tops, Not going to
happen anytime soon.

Any info you guys could provide for me would be most helpful.

dj_cam1987

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Paradox - 18 Jun 2006 02:53 GMT

I would try and get some urethane like they use for installing windshields
and use that. careful it can get messy.

> Hey all. I just recently bought a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire convertible for a
> pretty decent price. The car is in excellent condition, except for one small
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> dj_cam1987

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=AB Paul =BB - 18 Jun 2006 04:52 GMT

There has GOT to be more than one convertible top place in Phoenix.
Tell them the back window fell out and you would like it fixed.

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Brian - 18 Jun 2006 06:30 GMT

> Hey all. I just recently bought a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire convertible for a
> pretty decent price. The car is in excellent condition, except for one
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> dj_cam1987

Hey dj:

I've "roped in" a couple of windows in my time...but never on a ragtop.
Frankly, I don't know if the same techniques would work...I presume the
glass was held in a molded piece of rubber sewn into the fabric top,
correct? The rubber has a notched profile and the notch is where the glass
sat? Might work, might not, YMMV.

B

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Harry Face - 18 Jun 2006 06:33 GMT

Most top shops don't repair window curtains, they replace them. They
should be able to replace just the window curtain if it is a separate
assembly from the convertible top. Shop around.

Where did the curtain come off the glass?? At the bottom only??

There is so little room for that top to compress that a strain is put on
the glass and curtain mating surfaces when the top is down it causes the
separation. The bottom of the window is literally pushed into the back
wall of the top well.

In my 68 GM Repair manual the process for attaching the glass to the
material was called dielectrically bonded.

On my 68 Buick convertible the back window was allowed to float about
2-3 inches fore & aft when the top was lowered. Todays cars that back
window doesn't have any give when the top is down.

Sadly, due to dirt & water & age shrinkage its virtually impossible for
the owner to reglue the two pieces back together.

Mustangs & Sebrings do the same thing.

good luck

Harryface.

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