What's built into a rear window
Most back glass is tempered, so it breaks all at once when it goes. The thin lines across it are the defroster grid, wired to tabs at each side. On many SUVs and hatchbacks the rear wiper motor mounts through the glass, and some cars use the grid as the radio antenna too.
Glass handled with suction cups and covers on the paintHow the job goes
- The cargo area and seats get covered, and every piece of broken glass is vacuumed out of the cabin, the liftgate channels and the trim.
- Old adhesive is trimmed back, then the opening is cleaned and primed.
- The new glass is set on a fresh urethane bead, with two people placing it.
- Defroster tabs, antenna leads and the wiper motor are reconnected and tested before we leave.
Drive-away and care
As with a windshield, the adhesive needs time to set. Your technician tells you the drive-away time for the adhesive used that day. Leave the defroster off until the next day, and don't open the liftgate harder than you need to.
Paying through insurance
Many comprehensive policies cover back glass broken by a falling branch, vandalism or road debris. The North Carolina Department of Insurance explains what comprehensive coverage includes; your own deductible decides what you pay.
