Rear Window 1988 Ford Ranger XLT

It's been broken for a while, the latch is missing and broke off completely, so even when it's "closed" all the way, there is a gap.. letting in air


I want to replace it, probably going to have it done professionally once I leave for an international trip at the beginning of summer, but I am having a hard time picking a design.


I think the basics are:
solid glass
4 panel design (what i currently have)
3 panel design (how do these work?)
power (not sure I want to get into that.. or the price either, and also I don't have power windows in the truck in the first place, so it'd be out of place)

You can buy a new latch for $6 at Autozone. Otherwise, your best bet is to keep your glass and update the latch, ala here: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Feb04/tech.htm

I'm not 100% positive, but if you need new glass you could get the 3 panel from a 95-97 and it should fit. I believe the 98's used a different size window.

locovaca said:

You can buy a new latch for $6 at Autozone. Otherwise, your best bet is to keep your glass and update the latch, ala here: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Feb04/tech.htm

I'm not 100% positive, but if you need new glass you could get the 3 panel from a 95-97 and it should fit. I believe the 98's used a different size window.

Click to expand...

mine is an 1988... doesn't matter?


anyway, i want something that will be pretty secure... I have a shell on the back right now (as seen in my picture), but was going to take it off once I got the rear window fixed.


I don't want anybody breaking into the truck, as I plan to sub/amp the system eventually...


Obviously a solid pane is the most secure, but I really like the airflow you can get...

If someone wants to break into your truck, and they'd be willing to break the back latch to get in, I wouldn't put it past them to just fish open the door lock. In other words, I wouldn't go through the trouble of changing out my glass for security reasons... but that's just me.

locovaca said:

If someone wants to break into your truck, and they'd be willing to break the back latch to get in, I wouldn't put it past them to just fish open the door lock. In other words, I wouldn't go through the trouble of changing out my glass for security reasons... but that's just me.

Click to expand...

ya i suppose...

so i SHOULD upgrade to a better latch though?
and use the website that you posted, even though it doesn't say it covers my year of truck?

I don't know what the 88 latches are like, but if they're like the 89-94 then yes you can upgrade them ala the tech article.

locovaca said:

I don't know what the 88 latches are like, but if they're like the 89-94 then yes you can upgrade them ala the tech article.

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idk how to tell lol... but basically the latch is all the way off.. so i've just got two pieces of glass sliding....

can i put any latch I want on there?

Sure, if you don't mind drilling then I don't see why you couldn't put any latch on there. Here's the 93 latch, looks like it was used all the way back to 83.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Ford-Ranger-Rear-Sliding-Glass-Window-Latch-83-93_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6781QQihZ011QQitemZ320357012301QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

locovaca said:

Sure, if you don't mind drilling then I don't see why you couldn't put any latch on there. Here's the 93 latch, looks like it was used all the way back to 83.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Ford-Ranger-Rear-Sliding-Glass-Window-Latch-83-93_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6781QQihZ011QQitemZ320357012301QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Click to expand...

it's possible.. i haven't seen any drill holes though, but i can look.






====EDIT==== I don't have any drill holes because it's only the glass.. in the picture on that auction there are black, plastic i assume, pieces... I don't have those... am I screwed?







i remember something being on there with like adhesive or somethin like that
maybe that's why it broke


i will call a few places locally and see if they have anything.. if not, probably ebay here I come...


any thoughts on one of the nicest latches I could get? safe and secure gives an A+

picture time










i suppose i could just take the latch off of the topper... but I would like to be able to sell the topper once i get this window fixed, even if it's only like $20...


in the first picture you can definitely see the residue from something adhesive-y on the left panel.... and there are no holes drilled.. the tiny black strips that you see are either plastic or metal.. not sure, but they aren't like foam or anything.

bump... any help?

...? there has to be somebody who can give me a suggestion.

Yeah, you are missing parts. There should be trim peices that seal the windows, they have the latch part on them.

You might try to see if you can get some from a bodyshop or junkyard... dunno how easy it would be to get them off intact.

You can get small dowels or something similar and drop in the tracks to lock the windows shut, put a peice of tape on them with the end doubled over so you can remove them quickly (without digging them out with a screwdriver)

Here is what my '85 has:


My latch is broken too, it was a cheap plastic one... but there are two holes per side, so does that mean the later one will screw right on?

85_Ranger4x4 said:

Yeah, you are missing parts. There should be trim peices that seal the windows, they have the latch part on them.

You might try to see if you can get some from a bodyshop or junkyard... dunno how easy it would be to get them off intact.

You can get small dowels or something similar and drop in the tracks to lock the windows shut, put a peice of tape on them with the end doubled over so you can remove them quickly (without digging them out with a screwdriver)

Here is what my '85 has:


My latch is broken too, it was a cheap plastic one... but there are two holes per side, so does that mean the later one will screw right on?

Click to expand...

how would i attach the trim back on there even if i possibly found some?


i'm thinking i will just get a new rear window....


does anybody have opinions on if 3 panel, 4 panel, or solid is the best?

i will have 1 or 2 ten inch subs eventually, MAYBE a 12... i don't want rattle obviously. getting a full electronic rear window would be awesome (to roll the whole thing down) but probably expensive, and would require fab work.

baxtej44 said:

how would i attach the trim back on there even if i possibly found some?

Click to expand...

One of mine fell off, I just used some weatherstripping silicone to glue it back on.