The lower back window of my 2007 Prius just broke again - for the 3rd time! I would like to know if I can replace it with a sheet of acrylic or polycarbonate instead of glass. The factory glass seems too weak. The plastic should be much more break-resistant. I can probably cut the plastic myself to about the right size. Is installation a possible do-it-yourself project? If not, can I bring in a cut piece of plastic and ask a professional to install it instead of the factory glass? Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!
I've hung around Prius Chat way too much, and way too long. And I'd say the interesting thing is that your problem is NOT a common one. Which doesn't really help you, but makes me think the problem isn't necessarily that the factory glass is too weak, but something about your Hatch/Frame/or Suspension...or combinations of all...that is causing undue amounts of stress on that particular piece of glass. Did you buy it used? Was it ever in wreck? Could any part of the hatch or frame be out of alignment or bent? Or do you slam the hatch closed like a perturbed Clark Kent? I'm curious as to why that piece IS breaking. Because I certainly wouldn't define it as a problem that is common to Prius. Putting something more durable in it's place might solve that particular problem, but I'd think an outside party might be very hesitant to replace OEM approved piece with something or anything that might not be approved.
Hmmm. When you close the hatch, where do you grab it and how hard do you close it? Are the gas struts working properly? Bill the Engineer
I won't chastise you for how you broke it, but I think a good glass shop could probably cut and install a piece if acrylic or lexan. I wouldn't recommend Plexiglas because it tends to weather quite poorly, turning yellow. I think it depends on whether it's a flat piece of glass or specially-formed.
I agree with The Electric Me That tail gate has been tweaked at some time. Accident or somebody slammed it shut with something sticking out. Recycled hatch replacement??
that piece is not quite flat; I don't know how you could make a piece of lexan look right. something is wrong if that glass (I thought it was plastic???) is breaking. hatch is tweaked, or the back of the car is bent from a bad wreck and poor repair.
I'd have been very surprised if it was easily-substitutable anyway. That's not how the parts industry works.
