2010 Buick LaCrosse

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Vehicle type: Four-door sedan

NAGS® numbers*: Windshield part numbers DW1822 solar, acoustic interlayer, and DW1823 heads up display, solar, acoustic interlayer; back glass DB11754 heated, antenna

Helpful tools or supplies: Cutout wire for removal of the back glass

Watch for: The windshield on this vehicle had a decorative panel above the mirror that housed a condensation sensor and a high-powered receiver that we assumed was for a remote start option listed on the sale sticker. There was no other option that would account for such a powerful receiver. The technician will have to remove the sensor and receiver to install the new glass. Note, the remote start receiver might not be available to southern markets.

*With permission from National Auto Glass Specifications. Call NAGS at 800/551-4012 or visit http://glass.mitchell.com/.

A. Windshield
Preparation
1. Cover the front seats, floorboards, dash and steering wheel with a clean drop cloth or disposable plastic covers. Note: Always wear eye and hand protection when working with glass. Make sure you have the right glass and moldings and that the urethane systems you are about to use are current. Windshield part numbers are DW1822 and DW1823.

2. Drape the fender with a fender cover and tape up any vulnerable areas on the vehicle to protect against possible damage. Tape up the defroster vents to prevent debris from falling into the openings.

3. Remove the 25T Torx set screw at the base of the rearview mirror for removal.

4. The windshield on this vehicle had a decorative panel above the mirror that housed a condensation sensor and a high-powered receiver that we assumed was for a remote start option listed on the sale sticker. There was no other option that would account for such a powerful receiver. The technician will have to remove the sensor and receiver to install the new glass. To do this, remove the decorative cover by releasing the clips from the bottom edge. It might be necessary to use a small pocket screwdriver to depress the clips. It might be tight, but you probably will not damage it if you start at the bottom edge. Slide the condensation sensor, mounted to the right of the mirror, out of its retaining clips. Then, remove the receiver from the retainer to the left of the mirror by prying back on the clips on each side and removing it from its mooring. There are three wiring connectors; only disconnect those that must be separated for glass removal. Let the other devices hang where possible.


5. Remove the windshield-wiper nut covers.

6. Remove the windshield-wiper nuts using a 13-millimeter wrench or socket. Move the wiper arm in an up-and-down motion to break it loose from the post, or use a wiper-puller. Caution: Wipers can sometimes be hard to remove. To avoid stressing the post, use a wiper-puller.

7. Remove the four expansion retainers along the leading edge of the cowl panel and one in each corner. Pry up the center and remove the base of the retainer.

8. The glass will come bonded with a three-quarter-sided underside molding. Note: Before beginning windshield removal, verify the new windshield is the correct one and the urethanes and primers are current. Never use outdated products as this could jeopardize the structural integrity of the vehicle and the safety of its passengers.

Removal
9. Make sure cutting blades are sufficiently sharp.

10. Before cutting out the windshield, remove contaminants from the glass and pinchweld to prevent contact with the urethane.

11. Use the cutting tools of your choice to remove the glass from the adhesive bead. There is more than enough room for a cold-knife cutout, but make sure to tape up the painted surface as a precaution. If you use a power tool, lubricate the cutting area with water. Spray the top and sides; then make your cuts.

12. Take the windshield out of the opening using vacuum cups. Make sure the vacuum cups do not overlap a crack in the glass. Lift the glass and place it on a windshield stand or suitable workstation.

Installation
13. After cutting the windshield out, remove contaminants such as dirt, moisture and debris from the pinchweld. Clean the dashboard.

14. Dry fit the new glass to the opening. Mark your glass using a grease pencil or retention molding tape.

15. Place your vacuum cups on the new windshield in the appropriate location.

16. Set the windshield onto the old urethane.

17. Adjust both sides to the correct setting, marking the passenger side, then the driver side. This can be accomplished easily due to the molding design. Lift the glass and place it on a windshield stand or suitable workstation.

18. Follow the urethane manufacturer’s recommendations for installation.

19. Clean the inside of the windshield using a urethane manufacturer-recommended product. Do not touch the bonding area of the windshield after cleaning, prepping or priming it.

20. Wear powder-free Nitrile gloves to protect against harsh chemicals.

21. Apply the glass prep and primer following the urethane manufacturer’s recommendations.

22. Using the tool of your choice, remove the original urethane bead, leaving 1 mm-2 mm of existing urethane on the pinchweld. Make sure there are no contaminants and do not touch the pinchweld after prepping the area.

23. Apply the pinchweld primer only to the areas where needed, and follow the urethane manufacturer’s recommendations. Allow preps and primers to dry as recommended by the urethane manufacturer.

24. Apply a triangular bead of urethane to the same path as the freshly cut urethane on the pinchweld. Before cutting your V-notch, cut the tip off of your nozzle with a nozzle-cutter. With the cut nozzle, measure to the top of the roofline, and at 1/16-inch higher than the roofline, make a mark on the nozzle with a pen or marker. Notch the nozzle up to the marked line; this will give you the appropriate triangular bead.

25. Lift the windshield from the windshield stand or workstation using vacuum cups. Set the windshield on the urethane at the mark you made during your dry fit. Lower the driver’s side of the windshield onto the urethane and line it up with the dry-fit mark; it is now in place.

26. The windshield is now ready to be decked. Press firmly to ensure a good seal.

27. Before re-installing the parts, check for leaks. Use a leak detector to go over the perimeter of the windshield. If you find a leak, apply more pressure or add more urethane to the spot and ensure that the glass makes contact with the wet urethane.

28. Re-install the removed parts in reverse order.

29. Allow the urethane to cure according to the urethane manufacturer’s recommended cure time before returning the vehicle to the customer. Warning: Disregarding the safe drive-away time that your urethane manufacturer recommends could jeopardize the structural integrity of the vehicle and the safety of its passengers.

30. You have completed the removal and replacement of the windshield.

B. Back glass
Removal
1. Make sure you have the right glass. Back glass part number is DB11754. The glass is exposed on three sides.

2. The bottom of the back glass will come bonded with the lower trim piece. If your goal is to salvage the glass, take care not to damage the lower trim. To do so might require a wire-out procedure for glass removal (see step 6).

3. Remove the interior moldings from around the glass area.

4. Disconnect all wiring harnesses.

5. Using the tool of your choice, cut out the three sides, taking care not to score or damage the frit or wiring connectors. If you use a power tool, lubricate the cutting area with water. Spray the top and sides; then make your cuts.

6. Insert a wire between the glass and vehicle body. Work it carefully around the bottom corner and cut the lower bead of urethane in a back and forth manner. The interior rear deck might have to be removed to prevent damage.

Installation
7. After cutting the back glass out, remove contaminants such as dirt, moisture and other debris from the pinchweld.

8. Dry fit the new glass to the opening. Mark your glass using a grease pencil or retention molding tape.

9. Place your vacuum cups on the new back glass in the appropriate location.

10. Set the glass onto the old urethane.

11. With the back glass resting in the opening, make sure it is in the right spot.

12. Adjust both sides to the correct setting, marking the passenger side, then the driver side. Lift the glass and place it on a windshield stand or suitable workstation.

13. Follow the urethane manufacturer’s recommendations for installation.

14. Clean the inside of the back glass using a urethane manufacturer-recommended product. Do not touch the bonding area of the back glass after cleaning, prepping or priming it.

15. Wear powder-free Nitrile gloves to keep off chemicals.

16. Apply the glass prep and primer following the urethane manufacturer’s recommendations.

17. Using a pinchweld scraper, remove as much of the original urethane as the urethane manufacturer recommends. Before removing the old urethane, make sure there are no contaminants and do not touch the pinchweld after prepping the area.

18. Apply the pinchweld primer only to the areas where it is needed, following the urethane manufacturer's recommendations. Allow preps and primers to dry as recommended by the urethane manufacturer.

19. Apply a triangular bead of urethane to the same path as the freshly cut urethane on the pinchweld. Before cutting your V-notch, cut the tip off of your nozzle with a nozzle-cutter. With the cut nozzle, measure to the top of the roofline, and at 1/16-inch higher than the roofline and bodyline, make a mark on the nozzle with a pen or marker. Notch the nozzle up to the marked line; this will give you the appropriate triangular bead.

20. Place your vacuum cups on the back glass in the appropriate location.

21. Set the back glass in the opening.

22. The back glass is now ready to be decked. Press firmly to ensure a good seal.

23. Before re-installing the parts, check for leaks. Use a leak detector to go over the perimeter of the glass. If you find a leak, apply more pressure to the spot and ensure that the glass makes contact with the wet urethane.

24. Double check the gaps between the glass edge and the wall of the pinchweld. Be careful to restore the gaps to match the original to eliminate the possibility of noise complaints.

25. Re-install the removed parts in reverse manner.

26. Check the operation of the back glass by opening and closing it several times to make sure it is working correctly.

27. Allow the urethane to cure according to the urethane manufacturer’s recommended cure time before returning the vehicle to the customer.

28. You have completed the removal and replacement of the back glass.

© 2010 National Glass Association. All rights reserved. Visit GlassMagazine.com for glass removal and replacement instructions for more than 400 vehicles. To sign up to receive the For Technicians Only e-bulletin, email FTO@glass.org.