Exploding Rear Window - another victim
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
From: Yarmouth, ME
Exploding Rear Window - another victim
If there is anyone lonely enough to be tallying victims of the mysterious "exploding rear window phenomenon" aka ERWP, add another to the list.
Situation: Driving straight, on the highway, 60 mph. Sunroof open only.
Action: Window suddenly exploded with a loud bang, no impact evidence.
Reaction: WTF!
Outcome: $200 deductible, 5 day wait, hard-to-find factory glass, $1440 total (885 just for glass) included all new seals, porsche adhesion kit, done by a trusted quality resto shop I've worked with before. Had paintless dent repair dial in a few spots at the same time...... not bad, but a hassle......
The mystery continues.
Situation: Driving straight, on the highway, 60 mph. Sunroof open only.
Action: Window suddenly exploded with a loud bang, no impact evidence.
Reaction: WTF!
Outcome: $200 deductible, 5 day wait, hard-to-find factory glass, $1440 total (885 just for glass) included all new seals, porsche adhesion kit, done by a trusted quality resto shop I've worked with before. Had paintless dent repair dial in a few spots at the same time...... not bad, but a hassle......
The mystery continues.
Addict
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,017
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From: Lat: 47 Deg 26.848N Lon: 122 Deg 21.341W Seattle
Yikes...bad deal. It is kinda rare though.
If I recall, the manual limits the sunroof to a max of 50 MPH. I wonder if this is why.
Hope you are back in the saddle!
If I recall, the manual limits the sunroof to a max of 50 MPH. I wonder if this is why.
Hope you are back in the saddle!
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 355
Likes: 2
From: Voorhees, NJ
- Dave
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 22
From: Westlake Village, CA
Thats crazy stuff! I always hear what sounds like the seals around the rear glass flexing when I have to enter or exit driveways at an angle. I half expect the window to explode whenever this happens. Has anyone determined if having a lowered car with stiffer than stock suspension adds to the problem?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 936
Likes: 4
From: San Pedro, CA
When my window exploded it was sitting in the garage. Open sunroof while driving had nothing to do with it.
A front strut brace and BK harness truss bar helped reduce body flexing and window frame creaking dramatically. I installed these after losing the window.
A front strut brace and BK harness truss bar helped reduce body flexing and window frame creaking dramatically. I installed these after losing the window.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 592
Likes: 24
From: Deep South
Mine exploded while exiting a gas station this past year. Sunroof closed, but this is the first I've heard of a speed limit on the sunroof !! There's a lister Down Under who has had several rear windows explode (on the same car) so I'm not sure about how rare it is.
David 23, I also have a front strut brace, but hadn't thought about trying a harness truss bar to limit body flex near the rear end. Sounds like a good idea !
David 23, I also have a front strut brace, but hadn't thought about trying a harness truss bar to limit body flex near the rear end. Sounds like a good idea !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 936
Likes: 4
From: San Pedro, CA
Mine exploded while exiting a gas station this past year. Sunroof closed, but this is the first I've heard of a speed limit on the sunroof !! There's a lister Down Under who has had several rear windows explode (on the same car) so I'm not sure about how rare it is.
David 23, I also have a front strut brace, but hadn't thought about trying a harness truss bar to limit body flex near the rear end. Sounds like a good idea !
David 23, I also have a front strut brace, but hadn't thought about trying a harness truss bar to limit body flex near the rear end. Sounds like a good idea !
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 398
Likes: 2
From: AR
I've read many post on the exploding rear window, and I having some experience in the glass industry, I thought I might be of some help, although my back glass is plastic. 
The back glass exploding problem is not just with 993's or Porsche's IMO. I've seen tempered glass (Back glasses, door glasses ect...) break on many different cars for no apparent reason. We sold and replaced many in Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, and just about all the mfgs. I've also seen a guy use a sledge hammer on a Camaro back glass and nearly kill himself trying to break it. The hammer just keep bouncing back until he hit it near a corner and it finally exploded. We replaced more Camaro / Firebird Back Glasses than any (talk about a problem, these cars had a major issue with the glass breaking). The strength is in the center of the glass. I've also broken one just taping the edge with a small screwdriver. I cringe anytime I see someone near the edge of a door glass with a metal object. The edge is the weakest point. I've also seen a guy take a door glass and throw it like a Frisbee across a parking lot and it was only scratched. And I've also taken a back glass from a pickup and set it on a table and nearly bent it over 90deg. and it didn't break. And I've seen a guy walk out of our shop in the winter, going from 70 deg. to say 15 deg. with a new door glass under his arm and it exploded before he could get to his car.
So tempered glass is very strong and can be very flexible, but it can also explode unexpectedly due to many different factors.
Just my $0.02.
The back glass exploding problem is not just with 993's or Porsche's IMO. I've seen tempered glass (Back glasses, door glasses ect...) break on many different cars for no apparent reason. We sold and replaced many in Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, and just about all the mfgs. I've also seen a guy use a sledge hammer on a Camaro back glass and nearly kill himself trying to break it. The hammer just keep bouncing back until he hit it near a corner and it finally exploded. We replaced more Camaro / Firebird Back Glasses than any (talk about a problem, these cars had a major issue with the glass breaking). The strength is in the center of the glass. I've also broken one just taping the edge with a small screwdriver. I cringe anytime I see someone near the edge of a door glass with a metal object. The edge is the weakest point. I've also seen a guy take a door glass and throw it like a Frisbee across a parking lot and it was only scratched. And I've also taken a back glass from a pickup and set it on a table and nearly bent it over 90deg. and it didn't break. And I've seen a guy walk out of our shop in the winter, going from 70 deg. to say 15 deg. with a new door glass under his arm and it exploded before he could get to his car.
So tempered glass is very strong and can be very flexible, but it can also explode unexpectedly due to many different factors.
Just my $0.02.
