Covering a broken back windshield is often necessary as a temporary fix to protect your vehicle's interior from weather and secure the opening before a proper replacement can be installed. A common and effective method involves using thick plastic sheeting or even large garbage bags and strong tape.
Why Cover a Broken Back Window?
When a back window is broken, it leaves your vehicle vulnerable. Covering it temporarily helps to:
- Prevent Water Damage: Rain and snow can quickly damage the interior, leading to mold or electrical problems.
- Keep Debris Out: Leaves, dirt, and other road debris won't enter the car.
- Secure the Vehicle: While not a permanent security solution, a covering can deter casual intrusion and keep things from falling out.
- Reduce Noise: It helps dampen wind noise while driving.
Temporary Covering Solutions
The most accessible temporary solution often involves materials you might have on hand or can easily acquire. As noted in common practice, using plastic bags and tape is a widely seen method for side and back windows.
How to Cover Using a Bag and Tape
This method is a quick and easy temporary fix as mentioned in the reference. It's crucial for short-term protection before you can get the glass professionally replaced.
Materials You'll Likely Need:
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Large Plastic Bags | Thick garbage bags are often sturdy enough. |
| Strong Adhesive Tape | Duct tape or heavy-duty packing tape works best. |
| Scissors or Utility Knife | To cut plastic or tape. |
| Cleaning Cloth/Brush | To remove glass shards from the frame area. |
| Work Gloves | To protect your hands from glass. |
Steps:
- Safety First: Put on gloves to protect your hands from sharp glass edges. Carefully remove any large, loose pieces of glass from the window frame area.
- Clean the Area: Brush or wipe down the area around the window frame where you'll apply tape. The tape needs a clean surface to adhere properly.
- Prepare the Covering: Cut open the plastic bag(s) or plastic sheeting to create a single large piece sufficient to cover the entire window opening with some overlap.
- Position the Plastic: Place the plastic over the broken window opening from the outside of the car. Ensure it completely covers the hole with several inches of overlap on all sides onto the vehicle body or window frame.
- Secure with Tape: This is where running tape along the frame of the back window is key. Begin taping the plastic firmly to the vehicle body or the intact window frame. Start from the top and work your way around.
- Apply tape smoothly, pressing down firmly to create a seal.
- Overlap tape strips to avoid gaps.
- Making sure the bag is taut as you tape is vital to prevent it from flapping in the wind while driving. Pull the plastic reasonably tight before taping down each section.
- Check for Gaps: Once taped around, push lightly on the plastic from the inside to see if air escapes or the seal is broken. Add more tape as needed, particularly in corners or areas exposed to direct wind.
Remember: This is a temporary solution. It's designed to protect your car until you can get the window professionally replaced. Avoid high speeds or long trips if possible, as the temporary cover may not withstand significant wind pressure.
