The Cutting Edge
new car installations

2011 Honda CR-Z
by Jamie Browning

Getting Started:
For vehicle and glass preparation, it is important to refer to AGRSS/ANSI 002-2002 as well as your adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations. Inspect the windshield for defects and any contamination that may compromise the bonding of the adhesive. Honda recommends the removal of the following parts for a safe install: rearview mirror, hood hinge cover, both side windshield mouldings, cowl panel, wipers and both roof mouldings.

To remove the windshield side mouldings, lift up on them at the top and slide them up toward the roof. This will leave the clips still on the car and they can be removed by turning them 90 degrees. The rearview mirror is the normal Honda style and can be removed by turning the base 90 degrees in either direction. To remove the wiper arms, set them to the auto-stop position and start by removing the driver’s side first. Remove the caps and wiper nuts and gently press at the hinge on the wiper to remove them.

To remove the cowl panel, remove the rubber seal along the bottom of the cowl, detach the clips, and disconnect the windshield washer tube. To remove the roof moulding, use a plastic pry tool and carefully pry the moulding up to release it from the front bracket and from the pin. Lift up on the front of the moulding and pry the rear section to release the rear bracket from the pin. The hood hinge covers are removed easily by releasing the clips.

Removing the Windshield:
Any method of removal can be used as long as the technician can perform the removal in a safe manner for the vehicle and him/herself. The factory bead of urethane is small and can be cut easily with proper tool use.
Preparing for the New Windshield:

Trim the existing urethane bead to 1/16 of an inch or 1 to 2 millimeters. Use your adhesive manufacturer’s pinchweld primer to cover any areas that were scratched during the removal or trimming of the urethane bead and allow to dry properly.

Placement of the New Windshield:
Dry-fit the new windshield and mark it so it can be placed correctly. Use the dots on the new windshield as a guide for primer if required by your adhesive manufacturer and prepare the new windshield according to the adhesive manufacturer’s specifications. Apply the urethane using the triangle bead per AGRSS methods. Make sure you have the correct deck height and that the marks you applied during the dry-fit align with it and tape the windshield into place.

Finishing Touches:
Install the cowl panel in reverse order (don’t forget to hook up the windshield washer tube) and install the wiper arms, making sure they are aligned correctly, and torque the wiper nuts to 18 Newton meters (Nm) (13 foot pounds). Install the roof mouldings and make sure the pins are held firmly in place. Reinstall the clips for the side mouldings and snap the side windshield moulding back into place. Slide the rearview mirror up onto the bracket and turn 90 degrees to install.

Jamie Browning, the winner of the 2009 Pilkington Clear Advantage Auto Glass Technician Olympics, is the owner of Browning Auto Glass in Daniel Island, S.C. He has more than 17 years’ experience in the industry. Mr. Browning’s opinions are solely his own and not necessarily those of this magazine.

AGRR
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