Here's the deal. I put the convertible top down yesterday for my drive to work (since it was really nice out). When I got there and put the top back up, I noticed the rear glass window had completely come apart from the seal at the top of it. Not much I could do except lock the car and hope it didn't rain while I was working. I know about 3 years ago the previous owner had the whole top replaced, but apparently it's not OEM. This morning I went to one of the auto upholstery shops nearby and he pretty much said I had two options:

a. Fix the sillicone (sp) seal w/ no guarantee that if I put the top up and down that it would hold (mainly b/c of how the new top is going down)-That would be around $100

or b. Replace the glass window all together with a plastic one that will be able to hold- about $600 for just the WINDOW + whatever for labor.

I love this car, but damn, $600 for a piece of plastic..?

Keep in mind that I am in college, and only working part time. I think I could live with not putting the convertible top down very often (I don't a bunch anyway), but I just don't know...

Thoughts please...

well he was partially right. You do have another option of replaceing just the window glass and hood. The glass and hood are separate feom the main top. The top is two parts made of stayfast canvis. Pretty much all stayfast tops are just as durable. Do not buy the cheaper vinyl top with plastic window if you love your car! The window piece can be had online for about $300. Ill put up a link to the place I have used before when I get home.




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Well I think the reason he suggested the plastic window is b/c it wouldn't get torn away from the vinyl top so easily. But yeah, I think the guy I bought the car from must have gone with the cheaper top then. Did you get another glass window then? $300 sounds a lot better..thnks for info

what color is your car top.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Toyota-Celica-1995-199...1QQcmdZViewItem

this is a cheap alternative, i know its plastic, but it will hold till you fix it permanently. You can do this job yourself. Dont pay labor. get somebody to help you during the weekend.

My top is also separating but from the bottom, i am planning on sealing it again. no intentions to buy a new top yet till next year.

600 is a lot of money.... for that i can replace the whole top and do it myself....

please fix your car and dont sell. its doable, fixable and a shame if you get rid of it...

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96bluevert; PM'ed

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The tops black. How long do you think that temperary one could last? It's kind of tempting...

It's just when I have to repair something that cost hundreds of $$$ is when I tend to second guess getting my vert...but when everything's working fine, I love it! . It would take something MAJOR to make me actually wind up selling her.


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I don't see a pm

I was looking on ebay and right now this is the only auction for a rear window right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYOTA-CELI...sspagenameZWD1V

It's a glass rear window w/ defroster just like OEM, so I think it should do pretty well, don't you think?

WTF? I sent one....

Well it was involving how to do it yourself. Same job as the mechanic. It was much longer than this post... And i forgot what i said, lol.

Basicly, do you feel comfortable doing it yourself? I can walk you thru and show you pics, but it does require some work, and medio-core skill with a caulk gun.

lol. Don't know what to tell you about the pm D-Man...Still not possitive I'd be doing it myself. Pretty sure I could do, so long as I get one of my buddies over here to help keep it up.

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I got it

The same thing happend to me when i first bought my car . I asked everybody I could find if it was fixable .
unfortunatly I ended up replacing the whole thing with a used one out of a junk yard.
If you look up 95 celica on ebay there's alot of new tops for sale

okay, Bluevert, check now.

And thank njccmd2002 for forwarding the original message *back* to me to send to you, lol...

i'm crazy... its okay... Just look the other direction, thats what everyone else does

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Don't know how easy it would be to find a 6gc vert top in a junk yard, it's pretty hard to find any kind of 6gc parts at my local junkyard period

I'm contemplating getting a new top or just the window insert from ebay...hmm...

and D-man, thanks for offereing the help!

Before:


After:


New window/insert installed. The rip in the old one was too big and hard to stitch up, so had to resort to a new set up.

next up...new struts.

Hey-Hey!!

Glad to see you got it back!! YAY!!

So you had to replace the inserts too eh? And didnt sew up the hole? Well, like i said, it all depends on how big the split was. lol.

Hey, It's fixed now and looking pretty damn good if i may say so, pretty damn good indeed.

(again, sorry i was installing those rotors when you called. lol.) But you already know a good mod just cant be put off!

^^^ It's cool, I'd have done the same thing..lol Unfotunately b/c of the cost of this/new struts, and a few other repairs I need to do soon, no more mods for the celi for a while ..

But yeah, I'm soo happy I can finally drive my car instead of taking the bus to work (too much rain here, didn't want to risk getting hella water inside the car).

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Ooh! Get air struts.

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how much did you spend

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$800 after install, didn't think I wanted to try install myself.

wow

well, important things first, i need to fix mine, i have not had time, mine is minor, and no leaking.

Yeah, that's what I get for not taking care of it when I first noticed it was comming apart . Oh well, know better for next time (hopefully won't happen anytime soon, since it's brand new)

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Hey, i have actually the same problem as you.. but my glass was shattered while i was moving.

You got your fixed at a shop right? how much was the labour (cost and time). I was estimated 11 hours. and did you replace your back glass with one of those back glass from ebay?

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ouch.

yeah I had a shop install it. I just had them get a rear window (for time purposes, b/c this is my DD and I was a little iffy about the ebay ONE that's for our cars). That's also why it cost soo much...$480 for window/insert, and about $350 for install ( i know not precisly $800 in all)..So total was $830. As far as time, it only took them aobout 5hrs, but they didn't seem to have a lot else going on that day, so probably more time to work on mine

wow that sounds like you got a great deal than. its funny cause over here some shop dont even believe a convertible celica existed, so yeah.... wierddd ahaha

thanks for the info, im going to shop around and see one thats willing to have it done for around 800. thanks!

Not sure if this is possible but it would certainty be cheaper. Y not go to Menards, buy a piece of high-grade plexy glass, and cut a custom piece and put it in urself?

Edit: I know ur past the window part but maybe just an idea for someone else, opinions?

This post has been edited by I3arruka: Mar 17, 2008 - 1:23 PM