Replacing rear quarterlights

Rear quarterlights are found behind the rear passenger doors on a four-or five-door car or behind the side doors on a two- or three-door car. Some open, others don't.

Although quarterlights are generally troublefree, there are occasions when you may want to remove one, such as if the glass is broken, the opening handle is faulty or the weatherseal is leaky.

Rear quarterlights fall into two types, opening and fixed.

Many quarterlight assemblies are only available as a complete replacement unit. Check with your dealer before starting work.

Replacement pins for the hinges or toggle-type handles are usually available. The pins are often retained by circlips. Some windows are not fit ted with true hinges but have simple lugs that fit into holes in the car body.

If the glass has broken it is a good idea to fit a new weather seal . Any fragments of broken glass in the old seal could break the new glass as it is being fitted.

An opening quarterlight has its handles and hinges attached in one of several ways. They may be fixed to a surrounding frame or to the glass itself, and they may be riveted, glued or held with screws. You must take great care not to break the glass when removing and replacing the attachments.

Fixed quarterlights are held in a weatherseal which fits to the aperture in the car body.

If the glass has broken, remove all the fragments to avoid injury. Then remove the seal by carefully pulling it off the lip on the bodywork.

If the glass is intact you will need a helper to get it out. Get your helper to support the outer side of the glass while you push it firmly with the palm of your hand. Do this at the corner of the glass with the greatest angle. This will pop the glass out of the seal at that corner. Then work your way around the glass, pushing firmly until it comes free. Then pull off the seal.

To refit the glass, apply a bead of sealing mastic around the inner channel of the seal (where the glass fits), then fit the glass into the seal.

Apply mastic to the seal outer channel and thread a stout cord around the channel so it crosses over at the bottom of the glass with about 9in (23cm) free at each end.

Position the top edge of the window and seal in place on the lip of the aperture. Get your helper to lightly press the bottom of the seal inwards into position to butt up against the aperture lip. Make sure the free ends of the cord are now inside the car.

Pull on one end of the cord so the inner weatherseal lip is pulled over the lip on the body aperture.

Repeat the operation for the other side of the window until the whole of the inside lip of the weatherseal is located over the aperture. Press the window so it is seated firmly in place.

Removing and replacing the hinged type rear quarterlight is usually quite a simple job. Start by opening the window and, with a helper to support the window, undo the screws securing the catch handle to the body.

Now release the fastenings holding the quarterlight hinges to the body and lift the window away.

Some cars allow you simply to pull the glass out after the rear catch handle has been removed.

If you need to remove the handle or hinges inspect them to see how they are attached. Not all types can be removed.

If the glass has a surrounding frame the attachments may be riveted or screwed to it. Others may be fixed to the glass itself and held with adhesive or by screws that pass through the glass.

If glued attachments have become loose you can reglue them with special glass bonding glue (see Bodywork 56 and 57).

If the pins for the hinges or handle are worn or broken, find out if replacements are available before removing them. If replacement pins are not available you'll have to replace the entire hinge or handle.

Remove the pins by releasing the circlips (if fitted) and carefully tapping them out of the fixing with either a pin punch or a nail and hammer. Fit the new pins in the same way.