Keys locked in car!

Best to buy the eBay just and get a local glass fitter to remove your old one before refitting. It’s a pig of a job DIY and will be much easier for a professional with a cutting wire.
What I need to understand is where is bonding material located that needs to be cut with the wire? The Ebay item seems to consist of the glass triangle surrounded by a plastic frame. It's obviously bonded into that frame making it into an integrated unit. So are you saying that the glass + frame is itself then bonded in place in the car and THAT needs the cutting wire to free it.? Anyway, whatever the outcome, I need a replacement, so I'll purchase the Ebay listed item. Just done that .... £28.50, sent! That's not too bad, Eh? I'll have a look at removing the rest of it, later. If it's obviously difficult, then I'll take your advice, Steve, and have it done professionally!

David
 
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Just remember if you are trying to remove the old bonded remains that the replacement has to fit perfectly into the aperture. So if you gouge or bend the bodywork behind the window there is chance it could leak. TBH if you are getting someone to fit the replacement one let them remove the old bits as well. Now who was it on here that was the car windscreen fitter?
 
AAAHHH Just found out who the windscreen fitter was. It was ChrisA2 who is now banned so that is a dead end then.
 
AAAHHH Just found out who the windscreen fitter was. It was ChrisA2 who is now banned so that is a dead end then.
He's on the Facebook groups still, but I wouldn't say you're A2OC if you try this route :oops:
He's also based in Leicester so probably a non-starter for @DJ 190 in Deeside anyway.
 
He's on the Facebook groups still, but I wouldn't say you're A2OC if you try this route :oops:
He's also based in Leicester so probably a non-starter for @DJ 190 in Deeside anyway.
I've got someone I know who could do this. Thanks, anyway .... I do have some confidence in getting the remnants out so I'll just see how things go and take it one step at a time. I'll be sure not to force anything and to try to remove all the fragments of glass, first. If it does become too difficult, I'll just quit and leave it to the professional windscreen fitter ....

David
 
Made progress here.

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As it was initially

DSCN1190.JPG


Rubber surround removed with pincers

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All glass fragments removed

DSCN1192.JPG


Internal showing "rivets"?

DSCN1193.JPG


External, but where's the rivet head?

So this is the mystery .... Looking inside with the internal window surround removed, there appears to be a series of rivets holding the window in place. However, when looking for the head of each rivet from the outside, there isn't one! So I could drill/file-off all those apparent "rivets" and then try to lever away the remainder of the front window. Before I do that I'd like to ask if any A2OC member has actually removed one of these windows? I can see how a pull-wire could be inserted to then cut through the adhesive, but it would have to be a very fine wire .... Oh, now if all of those "rivets" do actually hold the window in place, then a pull-wire wouldn't work because the rivets would obstruct its path?

David
 
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I suspect the "rivets" were used on the assembly line to hold the separate inner window frame to the outer side panel and not for holding in the glass. It is important that all traces of the old bonding is removed from both the frame and replacement glass. The surfaces both need to have a special primer applied before the bonding glue is applied. The window then need to be fitted correctly and pressure applied to ensure it sits flush.
 
They do seem to be retaining to window frame. It isn't possible to even slightly force the frame away from the body. I'll drill off a couple of those "rivet" heads and see if the frame does then come away from the body. You've mentioned the need for a special primer and bonding glue. Do you think that a window fitter would have what's required or would I have to source it from somewhere else? When I receive the replacement window it will probably give me an insight as to how the unit is secured and how the supplier had removed it from the donor A2 ....

David
 
Oh Man,

This is such a mission! What a shame!

Good luck and all the best wishes.

Not actually helpful I know but positive thoughts can’t hurt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
If only he had put one of the larger windows in, I have a complete breaker here and could have replaced it for you in the space of an hour! Why why why do they choose the worst window to put in???? Have just sold a drivers window to a chap in exactly the same predicament...
All the best pal, next time bell me, I'm only down the road!!!!!
 
Unfortunately it was another case of someone who knows nothing about an A2 causing more damage and cost to the owner no matter how well meaning they were. Some side windows that are bonded in have little clips that locate on the open door edge. Not in the case of the A2. BTW the glass fitter will have all he needs as it is the same primer and bonder as used for windscreens.
Please do not drill, grind or file anything off the car, only remove the old "glue"
 
They do seem to be retaining to window frame. It isn't possible to even slightly force the frame away from the body. I'll drill off a couple of those "rivet" heads and see if the frame does then come away from the body. You've mentioned the need for a special primer and bonding glue. Do you think that a window fitter would have what's required or would I have to source it from somewhere else? When I receive the replacement window it will probably give me an insight as to how the unit is secured and how the supplier had removed it from the donor A2 ....

David


Don't drill those out, they will be spot welds for the bodywork and nothing to do with the glass and you will cause more damage!!

Basically the old polyurethane glue that was holding the glass to the bodywork needs to be cut back leaving around 1-3mm height on the bodywork. A windscreen fitter would usually use a pinchweld chisel or it is possible to use a stanley knife with blade flat against the bodywork if done carefully.Then the glass and bodywork will need to be cleaned so there are no contaminants in the areas where the polyurethane glue is applied. A primer will usually need to be applied to glass and possibly onto the bodywork. Then the glue would be applied ideally to the glass, but can be applied to bodywork if not confident of correct position to follow and then set the glass into position. A windscreen fitter would have all the necessary glue etc as it is the same stuff used to bond windscreens.

Also the ebay listing you linked to. Yes it is possible to remove the glass intact but it was probably from a breaker where they were not concerned about damaging the body or paint when cutting it out and looking closely at the rubber trim you can see where it has been nicked slightly on the edge so has maybe not been removed perfectly. You would also only use a cutting wire to remove an intact glass not one that has been smashed like yours.
 
David I’d advise against drilling off those rivets, that’s the spot welds as mentioned above. I’d love to be proven wrong but I’m convinced it’s just bonded in place and needs to be cut out.
They are perfectly formed circles and do look like rivets. I'm sure that they are anchoring points. So whether they are rivets or spot-welds, they will have to be released to remove the window frame. It is just too firmly held for it to be only bonded. A cutting wire won't pass between the frame and body because of those anchoring points.
All the best pal, next time bell me, I'm only down the road!!!!!
Thanks for that, but I was in Delamere Forest. some distance away. I suppose the larger window would have made much more of a mess. However he said that this had happened before and that that was the window to choose ..... Before I knew it he was smashing that window! Oh well, it's all "water under the bridge", now!
Please do not drill, grind or file anything off the car, only remove the old "glue"
I've only thought to grind off those "rivet" heads. Those locations do seem to be anchoring the frame to the body. They are proud of the frame and not part of the body. I can't think that a windscreen installer would not be faced with the same situation that I'm in. (A frame held very firmly in place)
So I'll wait for the delivery of the replacement unit and get ideas from that.
Thanks, everybody!

David
 
Basically the old polyurethane glue that was holding the glass to the bodywork needs to be cut back leaving around 1-3mm height on the bodywork.
looking closely at the rubber trim you can see where it has been nicked slightly on the edge so has maybe not been removed perfectly. You would also only use a cutting wire to remove an intact glass not one that has been smashed like yours.
Thank you for your input. You have got a few things wrong, though. The glass it initially bonded to a frame. It isn't bonded to the bodywork. The frame is then bonded to the bodywork and also additionally held by welding or some other means. Now regardless of whether the glass is intact or shattered, it is only necessary to detach the frame from the bodywork. So I wasted some time by cleaning-up all those glass fragments (but it made it safer and easier to work on it) I've also surmised that a cutting wire will not be effective in removing the frame. I will examine the Ebay purchase and if it is compromised, then it will have to be returned. There is another window listed from a different Ebay site. I could always try that source if I need too ....

David
 
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