Rear Window Opener?

[vadr45]

The more I drive my 09 3-door, the more in love I am...and the more I think of things I'd like to do if time and money were infinite. So here's my latest brain-burp:

Most small cars in the 70s and 80s used to have rear windows that opened on a front hinge and bolted down in the rear. It was a wonderful way to keep the car aired out in the pre-universal air-conditioning era and allowed you to open the car up at highway speeds. Does anyone make a conversion kit for 3-door Yarii so that we can open our rear windows?

[instantninja]

theres a company that makes a kit for FJ Cruiser rear windows. if theres enough interest i'm sure they might make one for yaris'. http://www.fjfreedomwindows.com/

[instantninja]

there are vent windows availble for FJ Cruisers, I bet the kit could be adapted to use on a Yaris.
http://www.fjfreedomwindows.com/

[vadr45]

Thanks, i-ninja, I've called and left a message at the nearest dealer asking if the FJC kit can be altered for the Yaris. I don't see why not - it's essentially a moon-roof kit for the side of the car, but it sure would be great if someone had come out with a Yaris-specific kit!

[CTScott]

The FJ kit is very cool. This idea has been discussed on here in the past, but it was never implemented. With my 5 door it isn't an issue, but my kids hate the fact that the windows don't open on my 3 door.

[Captain Slow]

I thought you were talking about the back-glass. It'd be awesome if you could roll down the window in the hatch and get some massive air going through.

[vten]

i want this as well !! subscribed

[suckerface]

For a long time I was looking into attempting to make a power rear (hatch) window. Was looking at the actuators in the 4runners. Was going to try to fab in some guides for the window to slide in, and wire a switch up front to lower it.

Only problem is that the glass is glued in (per Scott) and exhaust fumes may be likely to get in (per Garm). Never got around to it, but I'd love to see it done! The rear vent windows sound great too!

[Captain Slow]

Imagine how fun it'd be to cruise down a country highway with the windows and the hatch glass open.

[vadr45]

...Only problem is that the glass is glued in (per Scott) and exhaust fumes may be likely to get in (per Garm). Never got around to it, but I'd love to see it done! The rear vent windows sound great too!

Yeah, I remember the rear window opening in my father's 1964 Plymouth station wagon: massive intake of noxious gasses to the front-seat lungs. But that should not be true if the rear side-windows could be opened. In my Karmen Ghia I used to get bad gas smells when turning left at 35+ MPH...but that smell was from the front and the flow from the back side slits was pure...and helped the gas fumes to dissipate.

[nookandcrannycar]

theres a company that makes a kit for FJ Cruiser rear windows. if theres enough interest i'm sure they might make one for yaris'. http://www.fjfreedomwindows.com/

Idahotom would probably buy one. His dog doesn't like the fact that the rear side windows don't roll down in the 3-door :biggrin:.

[Klink10]

I know I would and mine died.

[Captain Slow]

I'd buy a kit like that (assuming it's not super expensive) in a heartbeat. Even if it was like a targa top type thing and you had to remove the window and leave it somewhere. On a day with a totally clear weather forecast you could remove the window just to ride around then put it back on when you got home.

This would probably also be the easiest and cheapest solution and would still seal well.

If anyone feels like taking the project up please feel free to take my idea and run with it, I just want a free kit if you make one ;)

[vadr45]

I'd buy a kit like that
This would probably also be the easiest and cheapest solution and would still seal well.

Actually Captain, I may have found a cheaper and easier solution, provided that you can cut and drill car-glass. A Morris Minor owner made this air hole for his dog in his fixed rear window:
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww132/vadr45/ScreenShot2013-02-19at93123AM_zps0dac5a72.png
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww132/vadr45/ScreenShot2013-02-18at54534PM_zps234dae10.png

It actually looks as if it could be done with glass in the Yaris rear window, but leakage in rain would be a problem.

[Captain Slow]

that and it looks terrible

[vadr45]

that and it looks terrible

Yeah...but he replaced his glass window with plastic, so it scratches every time he opens or closes it. And I suppose that dog-slobber doesn't help. But it's a Morris Minor, fur cryin' out loud, and they look like poached eggs at the best of times.

But if your point is that the right way to do it is to hinge the glass window at the front and put a pop-out latch at the back, I am compelled to agree with you.

[MadMax]

But if your point is that the right way to do it is to hinge the glass window at the front and put a pop-out latch at the back, I am compelled to agree with you.

I think that's the concept, which would be cool if it could be done at a decent price!

If I am not mistaken, even my 1976 Ford Pinto had these. Why modern cars don't I can't fathom. My only guess is that it might be easier to break into the vehicle with them...

Cheers! M2

[MadMax]

Yeah...but he replaced his glass window with plastic, so it scratches every time he opens or closes it. And I suppose that dog-slobber doesn't help. But it's a Morris Minor, fur cryin' out loud, and they look like poached eggs at the best of times.

Easy now! The "Maddiemobile (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAhFGUK80nk)" was a white 1959 model Morris Minor! :laugh:

http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/019/Video/f8/6c/b0/mzi.bcgjrqol.227x170-99.jpg

[Captain Slow]

Honestly I don't care about the little side windows in the back, I want that hatch glass open. I may look into what it would take to make it a removable piece. On a totally clear and sunny day you could pop it off, set it in the garage, and go for a little cruise.

[Captain Slow]

TECHNICALLY it shouldn't be that hard.

you'd just remove the glass and put one of those large squishy gaskets all around the hole in the hatch where it used to be, drill some holes in the glass, weld some brackets to the inside of the hatch with something like hood pins sticking out of them, then slip your glass back into place and latch it down.

overall the idea is very simple, it's just getting little details like making sure the mounting pin holes are weather-proof, etc... that would be the problem. as they say, the devil is in the details.

[nookandcrannycar]

If I am not mistaken, even my 1976 Ford Pinto had these.



You are correct. My mother or father had a '76 Pinto temporarily during a car repair, and I remember locking the keys in the car in the parking lot of Malibu Grand Prix and having to pop that 'clasp' on the window to be able to get the keys out with a borrowed wire coat hanger.

[Yaris Newbie]

I would love to have either of them, side or back, open up. Anything every happen with this?

[CoryM]

As was mentioned, the open hatch glass would bring in exhaust fumes. Due to the aerodynamics of a car going down the road, there is a vacuum at the rear of the car. This will cause exhaust to be pulled into the cabin. If you want to try it, go for a drive with the hatch open. I've never tried in the Yaris, but I assume it is the same.

I don't think there is any viable option to do the side vent windows with the OE glass. Unless you wanted it to hinge on the bottom, or made the front hinges clamp the glass tight enough to hold it (still might fall out). To do it with plexiglas would be easy enough. Just buy replacement sunroof/moon roof hardware, aftermarket weather strip, and cut the plexi to the same dimensions. Hardest part might be making it sit flush.

[thatbryanguy]

CoryM is right, if you remove the back glass and go for a drive you won't be smelling fresh air, that vacuum is going to suck all your exhaust into the cabin and if it was me I'd be disappointed with all the work it took to make the back glass removable for a very un-enjoyable ride full of poisonous gas...

[MadMax]

No, he's not. First, we're not talking about the hatch, we're talking about the side windows which numerous cars (such as the aforementioned Pinto) had mechanisms that allowed you to crack them open. Exhaust was never an issue.

Secondly, since I drive a Jeep with the back window removed the majority of the time, and there is no exhaust smell. Same goes with the side windows (I run without them a lot of the time as well), there is enough airflow around the vehicle to ensure it gets dissipated without coming back into the passenger compartment.

[CrankyOldMan]

The wife's '98 Sienna has electric actuators for the rear side windows. They only open 1.5-2", but it allows a nice cross-flow if someone starts telling bean jokes. I also had an 80's Sentra wagon with a cable-actuated window on the passenger side. It's certainly possible to engineer this, it's just a matter of cost.

[thatbryanguy]

No, he's not. First, we're not talking about the hatch, we're talking about the side windows which numerous cars (such as the aforementioned Pinto) had mechanisms that allowed you to crack them open. Exhaust was never an issue.

Secondly, since I drive a Jeep with the back window removed the majority of the time, and there is no exhaust smell. Same goes with the side windows (I run without them a lot of the time as well), there is enough airflow around the vehicle to ensure it gets dissipated without coming back into the passenger compartment.

Oh I was referring to post #19 who said he was interested in the hatch window not the sides, but thanks. And I hope you're not trying to compare your jeeps aerodynamics to the yaris hatchback LOL. Ride in a yaris with just the back glass open or pop the hatch and then you'll understand there's not enough airflow to push the gases out of the Vacuum you create in the cabin even with the front windows rolled down. Especially at city cruising speeds 30-45ish.

[CoryM]

Oh I was referring to post #19 who said he was interested in the hatch window not the sides, but thanks.

As was I. MadMax, notice I said "hatch glass".
Side vent windows are fine. Will not cause exhaust to enter the vehicle while moving.

[MadMax]

Oh I was referring to post #19 who said he was interested in the hatch window not the sides, but thanks. And I hope you're not trying to compare your jeeps aerodynamics to the yaris hatchback LOL. Ride in a yaris with just the back glass open or pop the hatch and then you'll understand there's not enough airflow to push the gases out of the Vacuum you create in the cabin even with the front windows rolled down. Especially at city cruising speeds 30-45ish.

I've driven similar hatches with the hatch open and still haven't experienced the phenomenon described. Ya sure you don't have an exhaust leak somewhere?!? :eek:

And if anything, the "aerodynamics" (or lack thereof) on a Jeep cause more turbulence, which if anything would lead to more of an opportunity to draw exhaust into the passenger compartment.

One of the reasons I shaved off my handlebar mustache was because the wind blew it around too much from the inside of the Jeep!

[thatbryanguy]

>.> an exhaust leak wouldn't lead to smelling the fumes only when the hatch were open...yea I was saying because the way the air flows around a jeep is so different and chaotic because of its lack of aerodynamics (being more off road adventure oriented) you can't compare it to a super curvy, streamlined for MPG Yaris ya know? We have 3 yarii (2 of them '07 2dr hb and one '09 4dr hb) in the family, and unless they all have an exhaust leak...they all lead to the same exhaust filling the cabin when you ride with that hatch open. We know this because of the lack of a larger vehicle to use to go to Home Depot in and have wood sticking out of the back lol. My fiancé bought her yaris used with a messed up back window and had to drive with it for 2 days not on the car until it was replaced with a bag then finally a new window and we definitely got enveloped with exhaust fumes in the cabin. Now it wasn't bad at all when you get to around 50+mph but at 30mph it was terrible.

The small side windows IMO would be a great idea if you can mount up some sort of hinges or something back there cleanly. I just wanted to forewarn of a possible turn off of a rear hatch glass project issue before a bunch of work goes into it. More power to you one way or another and let us know what works and what doesn't when it's done!

[vadr45]

<<But it's a Morris Minor, fur cryin' out loud, and they look like poached eggs at the best of times.>>
<<Easy now! The "Maddiemobile" was a white 1959 model Morris Minor!>>

Steady on, Old Boy, I'm only quoting Lord Nuffield: <<By 1945, a full scale static model close to the conventional production form was unveiled.
William Morris, by then Lord Nuffield, was furious when he saw the final model and nicknamed it “the poached egg”.>>