Last night i was backing out in my friends yard and hit a tree and cracked the rear windshield into thousands of tiny pieces. i need to replace it soon since it have been raining alot in PA lately. can i replace it myself? get an old one form junkyard? or how much would it cost to get it done at a shop??

 

I did one on my 01 and it was very easy to do... hardest part was cleaning the old gasket sealer off. Took maybe 2 hours and 10 razor blades.
Not sure if 96 back is the same though.... 97 up has no trim around it , just a gasket.

 

I'm thinking the 96 might just pop out like the rear side windows do, but I couldn't be sure. If it does then you could probably do it yourself.

 

you hit it right on the dot. just take a flat head and start from a corner on the gasket from the inside. it will come right off, easier if the window is already broken. then put the new glass in the gasket and just pop it back in, easy day. you can use silicone at the top if you want so it is a tight seal but it is not necessary.

 

It helps to use a wire to feed the rubber gasket too.

 

Sorry if I sound dense but what do you mean by using a wire to feed the gasket? I've never changed a window so I'm have no knowleage of this.

 

This only pretains to the rear windows of the XJ (and some Porsche rear side windows). The rubber gasket for the window is what holds it in. So when you need to install one you insert a wire in the gap of the gasket with both ends of the wire ending (with length to hold on to) at a corner of the gasket. Put that corner in first with both wire ends inside the vehicle. With another able body outside the window applying pressure (but not enough to break the window) from the inside you begin pulling the wire straight out, which with enough lube, will pull the gasket lip inside. It's recommended that you pull the wire ends at the same time and finish along the straight edge of the window and not a corner. It's kinda hard to explain but once you try it it'll make more sense.

 

where can i buy a new rear windshield?

 

when installing it use a thin rope, put the gasket on the window and the rope inside the other side of the seal and then you pretty much sit in your car and pull slowly on the rope. but just make sure some one on the other side holds the window haha

 

Start looking on craigslist and in the boneyards.

 

ok i will. if i cant find one anyone know howmuch it would cost to get it done at a shop?

 

More than doing it yourself and getting a used one haha

 

I'd imagine it's pricey if you have the defroster...could call somone like safelite glass (yeah the windshield dudes) and see if they do that and get a quote

 

 

What window?