c5 est rear window

[john alexander]

Hi just bit the bullet and bought an 06 C5 1.6 HDI estate , The back window wont open , the handle has broken off and glued back on. The question is how do I get the window open to replace the handle and is it worth the hassel . My main dealer claims to always have them in stock, always breaking ? All help gratefully received , with pics if possible . Regards John.

[Paul-R]

When you say the back window, do you mean the tailgate glass?

If you do then it's usually a break in the electrical line printed onto the glass itself. If your dealer is selling loads of handles for this it's because he doesn't know what's really going on!

EDIT

No you can't mean that because you talk about a rear handle and there isn't one on the tailgate!

Sorry.

[wheeler]

Yes the circuit on the glass goes on them but so do the little microswitches which are part of the handle onto the glass, I would imagine these could be quite easy to break if you didnt know how to get them off. To get the glass open lift the tailgate & pop the top row of plastic pins of the trim, If you look in there you will see a solenoid with a rod on it attatched to the catch, just push this down the glass will pop open. There is also a good chance of breaking the rear wiper arm on removal when changing the handle as they are made of flimsy plastic & the metal insert siezes onto the spindle, they are quite cheap though if i remember right.

[john alexander]

Hi paul , yes i did mean the tailgate glass and I meant the handle at the wiper, Thanks also wheeler , I need to decide if I want to use it or not , it also looks like the element on the glass has a few breaks at the end but it only cost me £2900 with full service history, the down side being the 97k on the clock. regards john.

[wheeler]

I honestly cant see the point in the opening glass, I would just leave the soleniod disconected & forget the opening glass if it were mine.
If you want in the boot just open the tailgate