Windshield Repair

Got a couple of bad, approx. 6-inch cracks in my 1991 Civic LX's lower dr.
side windshield tonight, emanating from a quarter size mash mark, presumably
from a rock hitting the car at relatively low speed. Sounded like a bullet.
Darn.

From many years ago, there are also two dime size mash marks from other
rocks.

An online, national windshield repair service gave a quote of a little under
$300 to replace the whole windshield.

I also see from googling auto newsgroups that repairs can often be made. I
don't think I want to go the DIY route here. But I do want to know with
which choices people have been happiest: Replace or repair.

This latest crack is depressing to look at, and I think $300 would take away
the pain, as long as it truly is an easy matter to replace the windshield; I
can expect no leaks or other related problems; etc. But if repair looks okay
and is way cheaper, then I'd like to consider it.

Gonna call my auto insurer to see if there's anyone in town they like for a
repair like this. I doubt my insurance covers this; I keep a very high
deductible.

Can't see giving up a car that gets 40+ mpg (I know: shaddup) and still
looks pretty good, windshield aside. Plus I know all its pecadilloes...

Also, what are they going to do to my baby to get the old windshield out and
the new one in? This car has not been touched by a shop in almost 2.5 years.
Don't want those guys messin' with my handiwork...

 

call around- you might get a bit lower than that. not much, though.
chances are, they arent going to use OEM honda glass, but one from an
equally reputable supplier. PPG and sekurit are 2 good brands.

replace. its due.

its farly simple, and if theyve been doing it for a while its ahrd to
mess up. gently pry the trim off, then take a special blade to get
between the glass and a-pillar/roof frame. saw all the old silicone goo
out, and pull the windshield. clean frame, apply new "goo" and set
windshield in place.

 

Probably have to be replaced if it is actually a running crack.

For future reference, if you carry comprehensive, most insurers will
cover the repair of the rock pecks without any charge to you. They
figure they will avoid the replacement cost by covering the less
expensive rock peck repair.

However, on a vehicle that old it normally doesn't make sense to carry
collusion or comprehensive. I don't on my 90 Accord.

 

I suggest you replace the windshield. It's not a matter of looks on
a repair. The safety of the windshield is compromised with a
running crack. I had a nickel-sized star right in my line of sight
and when I tried to have it repaired, the place said they weren't
allowed to do it when it was in that area due to safety. Of course
I went to my trusty mechanic and he got a shop he's friends with to
it. It looked perfect, but it's still wasn't "repaired." Of
course, shortly after that a truck threw a rock at me and did a
bigger number and I had to replace the whole thing, but it was
covered by my insurance.

 

That's how I lost my original windshield. In my case it was a low-speed
gravel road, a dump truck heading in the other direction kicked up a rock,
and CRACK.

With 6" cracks, yours can't be repaired. If they were an inch long, maybe.
Our Tercel acquired a stone chip that was juuust beginning to spread (maybe
1/4" or so). A glass place did the repair thing for $60. It has been
holding just for over a year. Actually, it is difficult to even find the
repair unless you know exactly where to look. Worked really well. I was
impressed.

In any case, a glass place will be happy to tell you--for free-=if it can
be fixed or not.

LOL (I ain't sayin' nothin!)

Two things to worry about:
1) Finding rust under the glass
2) They will nick the paint, and rust will eventually develop under the
glass.

If there's sufficient rust under the glass, the glass place may refuse to
do the work, or may refuse to warranty the new one against leaks.

The piano wire they use to saw the old adhesive will nick the paint unless
extreme care is taken. However, nicks can be touched up by you before the
new glass goes in. Find a shop that's willing to allow you to do that.

As far as installing the new glass yourself, it's doable, but it's also
VERY easy to install it less-than-perfectly (or crooked) so you get air
leaks, water leaks, or wind noise.

The glass is awkward to handle unless you use suction cups and two people.
One slip, one tiny chip out of the edge, and you'll eventually have a
running crack again. Once it's down, it's down. You cannot lift it back up
again and retry.

That windshield is a structural part of the car, so it is also possible for
it to begin to work loose if the bond is not perfect between the glass and
the remains of the old adhesive. The glass must be 100% perfectly clean for
the adhesive to bond properly.

This is not a job I'd be willing to tackle.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience Mike, Frank, and Brandy. Like you said,
Mike, it felt "due," so I went for it. Gonna keep this car until she drops.
I didn't want this ugly scar staring at me and the world for another ten...
uh, yes, five years.

After getting the online quote, I called my insurer just to double check
that it wasn't covered. Indeed, Frank, I do not carry much insurance on such
an old car, so it wasn't covered. But I also asked the insurance rep whom
they used when they did cover such problems. She gave me the name of a
24-hour (by phone) company, but cautioned me that, while this company was
competitive, it often pays to shop around a bit. I called the company
(Safelite Auto Glass) and got a quote of $220 for full replacement. IIRC
they asked me for a description of the damage and said they would only do a
full replacement yada. It sounded reasonable enough, based on what you all
say. They also said they could come to my house today (Saturday!) and do it.
So I went for it. Guy was here about 1 PM and gone by 1:45.

The two cracks were actually 10 inches long. The pecks, much smaller than
dimes but still annoying. But as you say, Brandy, there is also a safety
issue here.

Shucks, even the Safelite technician was adorable and courteous. A sparkling
new windshield plus 45 minutes of eye candy. (He complimented the
cleanliness of my Honda under the hood etc., too!) Ladies, Safelite is a
multiple-win. I'm happy.

Thanks again for weighing in, all.

 

Wheee! That's always a plus.

 

All the more reason to get Full Glass Replacement coverage.

--


Donald Rumsfeld: "If you're asking if there's a direct
link between 9/11 and Iraq, the answer is no."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4865948/

On May 01, 2003, President Bush declared that,
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George "Dubya" Bush

 

I doubt the numbers support this. What I might have paid for such coverage
over the 14 years of owning this car might very well have cost much more
than this, the car's second windshield.

What I think your statement does reflect is the American consumer mentality:
Insurance is no longer about "peace of mind." It's about getting back in
reimbursed repairs what one paid for premiums. With such a mindset, one's
premiums just go up... and up...

 

HEY! I live Noo Yawk City.

So far, I have replaced THREE drivers side and one Passenger side
front windows, one rear passenger side and one rear window thanks
to my fellow citizens.

I am HAPPY to pay for full glass.

But then, thats me.

Your mileage may vary!

--


Donald Rumsfeld: "If you're asking if there's a direct
link between 9/11 and Iraq, the answer is no."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4865948/

On May 01, 2003, President Bush declared that,
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George "Dubya" Bush

 

Yup. I was happy to have full glass here on my 94 when some asshole
lobbed a rock through my driver's side window in the course of
extracting a couple of bucks worth of change and smashing my cupholder
because he was too stupid to pop it up (I guess). NYC is full of real
winners. Now if I could only figure out how to give the SUV bastards
that back into my hood flat tires... I've got full coverage (only
$915/year) but I'm not about to have them replace my hood for a couple
of dents...

BTW, slim, don't leave shit in your car. Whenever they screw with mine
it's because I've been dumb or too tired and left something in view.

 

And by "shit", he means absolutely *nothing* in view - not even a
baseball cap, cigarettes, your kids's 2 year old winter coat, etc.

If you put stuff in the trunk to stow it out of sight, do it before you
park the car as well.

 

Precisely!