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Rear Window Explosion
Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:00 pm
by monnomania
Today I had a strange event - while driving along I had the rear window of my L400 explode into two - not one - billion pieces. Thankfully the rear window tinting kept all the bits together and I am able to drive around still without a great gaping hole in the back. I figure it had something to do with the rear window defogger...
Anyone got any idea WHICH other vehicle manufacturer and models that I might substitute to source out a new rear window? There are NO L400's in this country!
The nearest I can figure is
-the first model offering of the Hyundai H1 (no Starex to be seen here also)
-Kia looks like a close fit
-??????
result
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 7:14 am
by monnomania
-L300, Montero or any OTHER Mitsubishi part - no way!
-Hyundai H1 or Starex - nope
-Kia Pregio wagon - haha
nothing fits. Having a rear window made to measure.
Re: Rear Window Explosion
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:39 am
by thedjjack
get one cut out of plastic?
Re: Rear Window Explosion
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 9:37 am
by dfnder
Yeah I would get a piece of 1/4 plywood and use that as your tear window. The mirrors are good enough to use only them
Re: Rear Window Explosion
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 10:04 am
by Pajero
My parents had the side window in there chev astro van blowout like that too, We think a rock hit it just right, were there any trucks around or passing you? any kids near by?
just a thought....
good luck with the repair
Joe
Re: Rear Window Explosion
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:51 pm
by jessef
Similar thing happened to our pickup rear window. Was in winter/cold and defrost was on. Assuming the defrost simply didn't turn off + cold outside caused it to shatter.
That's the most likely explanation as it seems to be common if you ask a glass shop about rear windows.
Re: Rear Window Explosion
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:32 am
by monnomania
$200 bucks and had a tempered tinted window made to measure and fitted into place. Not a bad job, looks good - only issue is being that there is now NO defrost strips. That will resolve any other explosion possibilities.
You can get anything fixed up here in South America. Too bad it is not the same spirit in North America. Easier to replace stuff, I guess, than to bother working out a solution...
Re: Rear Window Explosion
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 1:24 pm
by Big-Bird
There was an off-road event in MOAB a few years ago where an Xterra owner had smashed both rear side windows. He went back to town and had a shop cut and measure to fit some aluminum diamond plate. A glass shop cleaned up the broken bits and bonded the plate to the opening. He was back the next morning on the trail. The metal plate was easy to coax/form into place and it had the side benefit of reducing in-cab tempuratures in the Utah desert heat. The diamond plate also added a beefy appearance to the Xterra. I bet the back window on a Delica would be nearly as easy for a skilled metal basher with some patience.
Besides...who the hell can see anything out the back window of their L400 at the best of times! Road spray always blinds it and the mirror is near useless unless it and the rear window and clean.
Get a back up camera or if you're feeling rich a set of BACK-UP sensors. Heck do both!