BOOM! Rear window exploded this morning

E

emoore924

New member
So I'm sitting at a light, waiting for it to change and all of a sudden BOOM! there goes my rear window. I wasn't doing anything to it (not trying to raise or lower it, the truck was stopped at a light, no one was behind me...)

Now I did have the defroster on to clear the mirrors but I think it had cycled off because I looked right away to see if it was still on and it was not. It was about 15F this morning, so it was cold but nothing that I think would justify vaporizing my back window.

Oh well. $294.90 for Safelite to repair.

Edit: 2005 SR5 with 65000 miles



 
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All the posts I've seen regarding this means I cringe every single time I turn that sucker on. Usually I'm just running the rear defroster to turn on the side mirror heaters.

Is the $294 price including another rear defroster?
Somehow it seems cheaper than the other numbers I remember....
 
Nope, no aftermarket tint. The glass broke into tiny little pieces and with tint, I think it would have still broken but it would be in a big sheet of broken glass held together by the tint.

The price is what they quoted me for an aftermarket direct replacement with a lifetime warranty (!). So yes, the defroster too (kind of painted onto the glass anyway). I can't remember whether the FM antenna is in the back or the side glass but that too if its there...

This is not Toyota glass (maybe that's a good thing). :twitch:
 
I've never once used my rear defroster simply because I've seen too many threads on here where this has happened. Yeah, it sucks to not be able to use the feature. But I would rather take two minutes to scrape off snow than run the risk of my rear window exploding in the dead of winter.
 
Be weary of safelite. Their install procedure is poor, but with the rear glass it is different than a w/s though. But just saying their quality of their glass is also subpar. :yo:
 
Dylan said:
I've never once used my rear defroster simply because I've seen too many threads on here where this has happened. Yeah, it sucks to not be able to use the feature. But I would rather take two minutes to scrape off snow than run the risk of my rear window exploding in the dead of winter.
Click to expand...

How many times have you heard of this? This is the first time I have seen someone saying it happened? It can't be a common occurrence. I've used my defroster for years without it exploding...
 
ben550 said:
How many times have you heard of this? This is the first time I have seen someone saying it happened? It can't be a common occurrence. I've used my defroster for years without it exploding...
Click to expand...

It has been reported numerous times by several individuals. Due to what they think being the solder in the rear glass breaking down and over time causes spotty heating and such:lasercannon:


are some examples

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/73590-rear-windshield-shattered-morning.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...ered-spontaneously-while-driving-highway.html
 
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This thread (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/190892-boom-rear-window-exploded-morning.html)
emoore924
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/73590-rear-windshield-shattered-morning.html
busbeepbeep
A friend of X6RUNNER
Prldtigers
Sparkle829
Sixpack
Tled55
Flygirlz
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/188658-well-my-rear-hatch-window-shattered-defroster.html (there are some suggestions for a preventative fix here)
Topher88
chompster4runner
A friend of TOY2G
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...ered-spontaneously-while-driving-highway.html
rpm5099
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/184891-rear-windshield.html

I count 12 separate reports of it happening based on a a quick search of the forum.

Don't go cheap on installing glass. The previous owner had the windshield replaced with a generic aftermarket one, and the installer scratched the paint on the front edge of the roof when they pulled it out (it's rusting now), and they didn't install the weather stripping correctly (there is excessive wind noise). I don't know who installed it, so I can't go back and have them fix it.
 
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I don't see any reports of it happening to a 5th gen, so maybe they updated the design? Can someone with a 5th gen see how the defroster is connected and take a picture for us?
 
I installed mine myself. Wasn't too difficult. For those that do install it them self, check on how the warranty works. Some places give you no warranties when you're installing it yourself.
 
I am surprised there isn't a disclaimer it. Turning that on has the same effect as pouring hot water, probably worse. It heats up fast and hot.
 
I've had this happen twice in my 2nd gen both times on really cold mornings just after the rear defroster shut it self off. My friend who's a glass smith told me that more than likely two factors with the rear windows on the 4R, seeing as our window goes up and down it can get scratched and etched causing wear on the defroster wires(lines) plus scratches on the outside can hold freezing water when heated too fast can expand leading to the shattered rear window. One of the main reasons I never put the rear window down when really dirty.
 
I guess ill just pull the fuse then so I don't accidentally use the defroster... Its never really that bad. And its not hard to do a quick walk around knocking off the snow before driving off.
 
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