2011 Infiniti M37X

© 2010 National Glass Association. All rights reserved. Visit GlassMagazine.com for glass removal and replacement instructions for more than 450 vehicles. To sign up to receive the For Technicians Only e-bulletin, email FTO@glass.org.

Vehicle type: Four-door sedan

NAGS® numbers*: Windshield part numbers FW3309 solar, rain sensor, and FW3310 solar, rain sensor, lane departure system; back glass part number FB24805 solar, heated

Helpful tools or supplies: A new gel pack will be required for the rain sensor, but the lane departure sensor can be reused if care is taken during removal. Back glass cutout might require a longer cutting blade due to the width of the existing urethane bead.

Watch for: The entire perimeter of the back glass is exposed, and there are two hangers on the top of the glass about 3 inches in from the corner. If your goal is to salvage the glass, take care not to cause undue pressure and fracture the glass during cutout.

*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 FW3309 and FW3310.

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. Prep the glass prior to removal to check for proper part, appearance issues and defects. Note, the top molding must be properly affixed.

4. Check operation of the rain sensor by sprinkling the sensor window with water to ensure it is working properly. Check operation of other parts to be removed during replacement. Make sure that:

• All windows, doors and the hood are closed
• The vehicle is started or turned on
• Wipers are turned on in the intermittent position

5. To remove the rain sensor and rearview mirror, first remove the two decorative covers that hide the hardware. The top panel covers part of the headliner and the top portion of the mirror cover. Remove the top cover first, and then the bottom, using your fingers to unsnap them from their bases.

6. Disconnect electrical power to the mirror.

7. There are two sensors: the rain sensor has a horizontal clip, and the smaller lane departure sensor has a vertical aluminum clip. Release both by prying out on one side, then the other. Carefully separate the sensors from the glass surface. A new gel pack will be required for the rain sensor, but the lane departure sensor can be reused if care is taken during removal.

8. Once you have removed the rain sensor from the glass surface, make sure that the vehicle is not turned on again until the rain sensor is replaced onto the glass surface.

9. Remove the rearview mirror by loosening the T25 Torx set screw and sliding the mirror off the pad.

10. Remove the windshield-wiper nut covers.

11. Remove the windshield-wiper nuts using a 14-millimeter wrench or socket.

12. To begin cowl panel removal, first remove the two access panels labeled "brake fluid" and "battery".

13. Remove the 12 retainers from the leading edge of the cowl panel by prying up the center and then the base of the retainer. There are four under each panel.

14. There is one unique clip in the center of the panel. Pinch and lift to release.

15. Remove the two fender covers at the base of the A pillar and at each corner of the cowl panel by releasing the insert retainer and then sliding it from under the fender toward the engine compartment.

16. The entire cowl panel slides out from under the lower edge of the glass for removal. Set the panel in a safe place.

17. The A-pillar moldings are attached with a two-clip system. One clip is attached to the molding and has two male insertion points that insert into the second clip attached to the pinchweld wall with a rivet. There are four on each side. The molding extends up the A pillar, along the top, to the top of the back glass. They are removed easily with a pry tool. You can also use your fingers to carefully pull upward. Follow this same procedure all along the top until the molding is released. Then, place the molding in a safe area to protect against possible damage.

18. The top molding comes bonded to the glass part. It fully fills the gap between the glass edge and the pinchweld. A tight appearance is important to the luxury car owner, so placement and secure positioning is important until the adhesive cures to the point of solidity. 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
19. Make sure cutting blades are sufficiently sharp.

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

21. Use the cutting tools of your choice to remove the glass from the adhesive bead. If you use a power tool, lubricate the cutting area with water. Spray the top and sides; then make your cuts.

22. 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
23. After cutting the windshield out, remove contaminants such as dirt, moisture and debris from the pinchweld. Clean the dashboard.

24. Dry fit the new glass to the opening. Make sure that the top moldings are going to be presentable to the owner. Mark your glass using a grease pencil or retention molding tape.

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

26. Set the windshield onto the old urethane.

27. With the windshield resting in the opening, make sure it is in the right spot.

28. 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.

29. Follow the urethane manufacturer's recommendations for installation.

30. 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.

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

32. Apply the glass prep and primer following the urethane manufacturer's recommendations.

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

34. 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.

35. Mount the rain sensor to the glass surface. To do so:

• Make sure that the ambient temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above
• Clean the mounting area and let it dry thoroughly
• Warm the gel pack by putting it in your pocket or warming it with a hair dryer for a few seconds
• Attach the new gel pack to the lens, making sure that there are no bubbles or gaps
• Wet out, from one side to the other, to make sure there are no bubbles or gaps in the seal between the lens and the glass surface
• Re-attach the chrome clip by snapping it in place to retain the lens to the bracket.

36. 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.

37. 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.

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

39. 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.

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

41. 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.

42. 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 FB24805.

2. The entire perimeter of the glass is exposed, so take care to avoid damage to the body during cutout.

3. Tape up the top and sides of the pinchweld area.

4. Remove the interior quarter-panel garnish moldings using your fingers to pull the panels free. They are held in place with four door-panel-type retainers and two sandwich-type retainers.

5. Disconnect the three connectors on the passenger side of the glass and one on the driver side.

6. The cutout might require a longer cutting blade due to the width of the existing urethane bead. When using the longer blade to cut the glass out from the exterior, be careful not to damage the electrical connections.

7. If your goal is to salvage the glass, be aware that there are two hangers on the top of the glass about 3 inches in from the corner. Take care not to cause undue pressure and fracture the glass.

8. Cut out the back glass using the tools of your choice. If you use a power tool, lubricate the cutting area with water. Spray the top and sides; then make your cuts.

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

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

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

12. Set the glass onto the old urethane.

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

14. Adjust both sides to the correct setting. Lift the glass and place it on a windshield stand or suitable workstation.

15. Follow the urethane manufacturer's recommendations for installation.

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

17. Check for any damage to the electrical appliqués and repair if necessary.

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

19. Apply the glass prep and primer following the urethane manufacturer's recommendations.

20. Using the tool of your choice, remove as much of the original urethane bead as the urethane manufacturer recommends. Make sure there are no contaminants and do not touch the pinchweld after you have prepped the area.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Lift the back glass from the windshield stand or workstation using vacuum cups. Set the glass on the urethane at the mark you made during your dry fit. Line it up with the dry-fit marks; it is now in place.

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

25. 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 or add more urethane to the spot and ensure that the glass makes contact with the wet urethane.

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

27. Check the operation of the back glass electrical components.

28. Allow the urethane to cure according to the urethane manufacturer's recommended cure time before returning the vehicle to the customer.

29. 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 450 vehicles. To sign up to receive the For Technicians Only e-bulletin, email FTO@glass.org.