Tesla Model 3: Windshield (Remove and Install)

Windshield (Remove and Install)-Remove

Remove

1. Open all doors and lower all windows.
2. Open the hood.
3. Remove the rear underhood apron. See Underhood Apron - Rear (Remove and Replace).
4. Remove the cabin intake duct. See Duct - Cabin Intake (Remove and Replace).
5. Remove the hood latch cover. See Cover - Hood Latch (Remove and Replace).
6. Remove the underhood storage unit. See Underhood Storage Unit (Remove and Replace).
7. Remove the LH and RH wiper arms. See Wiper Arms (Remove and Replace).
8. Remove the LH and RH shock tower covers. See Cover - Shock Tower - LH (Remove and Replace).
9. Remove the cowl screen panel. See Panel - Cowl Screen (Remove and Replace).

10. Disconnect the electrical harness from the windshield heater connector.
11. Remove the LH and RH side rail trims. See Trim - Side Rail - LH (Remove and Install).
12. Remove the headliner. See Headliner (Remove and Install).

13. Disconnect the windshield electrical harness connectors (x3) from the RH vehicle harness, and pull windshield electrical harness up through the opening on the RH side of the instrument panel.

14. Release the clips (x6) that attach the windshield electrical harness to the RH A-pillar area.

15. Release the clips (x6) that attach the windshield electrical harness to the fastener track on the windshield, and then remove the harness from the windshield.

16. Remove the fastener track from the windshield with a clip pry tool.
17. Tape the windshield electrical harness to the inside of the windshield.

18. Apply masking tape to the exterior of the LH and RH A-pillars to protect the paint from damage.
19. Put a large towel over the instrument panel for protection.
20. Cut a suitable length of square wire to use with T-handles.

21. Secure the wire to the starter tool and push the tool through the urethane at the RH lower side of the windshield.
22. Attach the square wire and pull tool back through into the vehicle.
23. Remove the square wire from the starter tool and secure the square wire into one T-handle.

24. Make sure that there is adequate square wire and attach it to the second T-handle.
25. With an assistant, use the T-handles to cut the urethane that attaches the windshield to the body.

Caution:

Use care when cutting the urethane at the upper corners and around the VIN plate.

26. Cut the square wire with diagonal cutters, and then remove the T-handles from the vehicle.
27. Attach suction cups to the outer LH and RH sides of the windshield.
28. Partially close the hood for added clearance between the windshield and the body.

29. With an assistant, remove the windshield from the vehicle and put the windshield on support stand.

Note: Use care not to damage the windshield harness when removing the windshield from the vehicle.

30. Remove the suction cups from the windshield.

Windshield (Remove and Install)- Windshield Preparation

Windshield Preparation

1. Use a razor blade and a blade scraper to remove the old urethane from the windshield flange on the vehicle.

2. Install the GPS antenna into the windshield bracket, and then install the screw that attaches the GPS antenna to the bracket.   Torque 1 Nm

3. Install the windshield electrical harness to the windshield bracket, and then install the screw that attaches the harness to the bracket.  Torque 1 Nm

Note: Make sure the windshield electrical harness is routed inside of the bracket.

4. Connect the electrical connector to the GPS antenna.

5. Connect the windshield electrical connector to the humidity and temperature sensor.

6. Install the screws that attach the forward facing camera mount plate to the windshield. Torque 1 Nm

7. Install the fastener track on the windshield, and then connect the clips (x6) that attach the windshield electrical harness on the fastener track.

8. Temporarily secure the windshield electrical harness end towards the center of the windshield using tape.

Windshield (Remove and Install)- Install

Install

Note: Use soft materials to protect the windshield and to prevent scratching.

1. Attach suction cups to the LH and RH sides of the windshield on the outside side of the windshield.

2. With an assistant, position the windshield on the vehicle for a dry fit. Note any locations where the pads need to be adjusted.

Note: Add or remove to adjust the flush condition of the windshield, if needed.

3. With an assistant, remove the windshield and set it back on the stand.
4. Clean the urethane path on the vehicle with an Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) wipe. Allow the surface to dry before continuing to the next step.

5. Apply urethane primer to the vehicle body along the urethane path and in areas that were damaged during removal of the windshield

Note: Allow the primer to dry for at least 1 minute.

6. Prepare the caulking gun and urethane.

Note: Make sure that the urethane bead has a triangular cross-section of approximate 8 mm width and 13 mm height.

7. Apply urethane to the windshield following the primer path.
8. With an assistant, install the windshield on the vehicle.

Note: Make sure to align the locating pins at the top of the windshield.

9. Check the gap and flush of the windshield to the body before fully seating the windshield using a gap/flush measuring tool.
10. Fully seat the windshield; check the gap and flush and make adjustments, if necessary.

11. Apply masking tape to secure the windshield to the body while the urethane cures.
12. Remove the suction cups from the windshield.
13. Remove the large towel from the instrument panel.
14. Remove the masking tape holding the windshield electrical harness to the windshield.
15. Secure the clips (x6) that attach the windshield electrical harness to the RH A-pillar area.

16. Connect the windshield electrical harness (x3) to the RH vehicle harness connectors.
17. Install the headliner. See Headliner (Remove and Install)
18. Install the LH and RH side rail trims. See Trim - Side Rail - LH (Remove and Install).
19. Restore the driver and front passenger seats back to their original position.

20. Connect the electrical harness to the windshield heater connector.

21. Remove the windshield cowl protective strip.
22. Install the cowl screen panel. See Panel - Cowl Screen (Remove and Replace).
23. Install the LH and RH shock tower covers. See Cover - Shock Tower - LH (Remove and Replace).
24. Install the LH and RH wiper arms. See Wiper Arms (Remove and Replace).
25. Install the underhood storage unit. See Underhood Storage Unit (Remove and Replace).
26. Install the hood latch cover. See Cover - Hood Latch (Remove and Replace).
27. Install the cabin intake duct. See Duct - Cabin Intake (Remove and Replace).
28. Install the rear underhood apron. See Underhood Apron - Rear (Remove and Replace).
29. Perform the forward facing camera target calibration. See Camera - Forward Facing (Target Calibration).
30. Remove the masking tape from the vehicle after the urethane has cured.