Windshield replacement (should I get OEM glass?, how to determine a good shop)

A good indication of whether all patches are unapproved is whether there are
Novus dealers listed in the "glass replacement or repair" section of the
local phone book; they won't thrive if what they do is illegal. Apparently
the technique has also changed recently, because the last time I had a star
crack repaired they said the maximum size was one that could be covered by a
quarter. Now I'm told they can repair it if the crack can be covered by a
dollar bill. Maybe the next time it will be if they can be covered by a $100
bill ;-)

Our last crack was too big, and we got a good price and good service on
replacement from Safelite. YMMV.

Mike

Mike

 

A good indication of whether all patches are unapproved is whether there are
Novus dealers listed in the "glass replacement or repair" section of the
local phone book; they won't thrive if what they do is illegal. Apparently
the technique has also changed recently, because the last time I had a star
crack repaired they said the maximum size was one that could be covered by a
quarter. Now I'm told they can repair it if the crack can be covered by a
dollar bill. Maybe the next time it will be if they can be covered by a $100
bill ;-)

Our last crack was too big, and we got a good price and good service on
replacement from Safelite. YMMV.

Mike

Mike

 

I think blind luck has a lot to do with it. A Dodge we had went through 4
windshields in barely half a year. The original was smashed by a vandal.
Maybe a month later a big rock terminated the new one. Not a week later a
storm broke a big limb from a tree and smashed #3. Within a couple months #4
picked up a couple of star cracks that grew into each other (that could be
related to windshield quality). The next windshield lasted until we got rid
of the car... maybe a year or two.

I recall many years ago there was a car commercial (Buick?) that featured
two cars running into a steel ball or similar suspended by a string. The
Brand X car had a smashed windshield while Wonder Car didn't. They were
touting a "specially toughened area in front of the driver" - which made me
wonder if there was a reason the rest of the windshield was more vulnerable.
Since then I learned that tempering makes glass much more resistant to
impact but much more vulnerable to temperature changes. So... there may well
be differences, but I couldn't tell you what is best..

Mike

 

I think blind luck has a lot to do with it. A Dodge we had went through 4
windshields in barely half a year. The original was smashed by a vandal.
Maybe a month later a big rock terminated the new one. Not a week later a
storm broke a big limb from a tree and smashed #3. Within a couple months #4
picked up a couple of star cracks that grew into each other (that could be
related to windshield quality). The next windshield lasted until we got rid
of the car... maybe a year or two.

I recall many years ago there was a car commercial (Buick?) that featured
two cars running into a steel ball or similar suspended by a string. The
Brand X car had a smashed windshield while Wonder Car didn't. They were
touting a "specially toughened area in front of the driver" - which made me
wonder if there was a reason the rest of the windshield was more vulnerable.
Since then I learned that tempering makes glass much more resistant to
impact but much more vulnerable to temperature changes. So... there may well
be differences, but I couldn't tell you what is best..

Mike

 

My experience with non-OEM glass is that it is as tough (or breakable)
as OEM glass. There can be differences in quality however. I have
seen non-OEM glass with a not well formed outer surface. As a
consequence the windshield wiper misses one or more low spots in the
glass. If it were me I would insist on OEM glass from the dealer.

 

My experience with non-OEM glass is that it is as tough (or breakable)
as OEM glass. There can be differences in quality however. I have
seen non-OEM glass with a not well formed outer surface. As a
consequence the windshield wiper misses one or more low spots in the
glass. If it were me I would insist on OEM glass from the dealer.

 

Well, this makes me feel better. ;-)

Googling doesn't have much that leaps out on the subject. Thanks to the
other posters (HLS et al.) who say their understanding the resistance to
cracks etc. is no better than OEM.

I did try one of those $10 crack repair kits on the latest crack. The
improvement was slight, worth ten bucks I suppose, plus I managed to extend
the crack another inch during the process.

I guess I'll shop around casually in the next few months.

Maybe there's a little too much construction in my area and I should wait at
least six months until things settle down. The construction just seems to
never end, wherever one is.

 

Well, this makes me feel better. ;-)

Googling doesn't have much that leaps out on the subject. Thanks to the
other posters (HLS et al.) who say their understanding the resistance to
cracks etc. is no better than OEM.

I did try one of those $10 crack repair kits on the latest crack. The
improvement was slight, worth ten bucks I suppose, plus I managed to extend
the crack another inch during the process.

I guess I'll shop around casually in the next few months.

Maybe there's a little too much construction in my area and I should wait at
least six months until things settle down. The construction just seems to
never end, wherever one is.

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, the dealers in this little country town
outsource all the glasswork. A dealer windshield IS an aftermarket piece.
Never any problems, according to the Buick shop foreman.

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, the dealers in this little country town
outsource all the glasswork. A dealer windshield IS an aftermarket piece.
Never any problems, according to the Buick shop foreman.

 

Thanks, Mike. I'd still like to know where it is the CA code, though.

 

Thanks, Mike. I'd still like to know where it is the CA code, though.

 

I have had very good luck with aftermarket glass installed by local
shops. No reason to pay Honda $$$$$ prices for it.

John

 

I have had very good luck with aftermarket glass installed by local
shops. No reason to pay Honda $$$$$ prices for it.

John

 

Current safety laws require all new US vehicles to have adhesive bonded
windshields. They don't pop out in accidents like the gasket mounted types.

John

 

Current safety laws require all new US vehicles to have adhesive bonded
windshields. They don't pop out in accidents like the gasket mounted types.

John

 

AFAIK, its a citeable offense, good for a $10 "fix it ticket".

that is...

IF you get pulled over
IF you get cited
THEN you have to fix it

prolly something in the code about having an obstructed view, or
something. im not the OP, so i dont know or really care, but im sure
theres something in the code about not obstructing your windshield.

 

AFAIK, its a citeable offense, good for a $10 "fix it ticket".

that is...

IF you get pulled over
IF you get cited
THEN you have to fix it

prolly something in the code about having an obstructed view, or
something. im not the OP, so i dont know or really care, but im sure
theres something in the code about not obstructing your windshield.

 

Had a brand new VW once...got a star break on the way home....too big
for repair...so new windshield. Original was OEM (obvisously);
replacement not.

Had a new Toyota with scratches in the driver's side of the windshield
at time of purchase....finally got the dealer to accept the defect and
they replaced it. (Actually dealer had some local glass outfit do the
replacement - not OEM by the way; replacement job was done right there
in the dealer's service bay!).

Had more than couple of replacements on Honda Accord in 5 years....none
were OEM and, per others on this group, less $.

Moral of this story.....auto glass has to meet Federal safety
standards, and any reputable glass outfit knows that....save the $ and
believe other posts on this group about non-OEM windshields. (Even my
original Honda windshield had some distortions...)

 

Had a brand new VW once...got a star break on the way home....too big
for repair...so new windshield. Original was OEM (obvisously);
replacement not.

Had a new Toyota with scratches in the driver's side of the windshield
at time of purchase....finally got the dealer to accept the defect and
they replaced it. (Actually dealer had some local glass outfit do the
replacement - not OEM by the way; replacement job was done right there
in the dealer's service bay!).

Had more than couple of replacements on Honda Accord in 5 years....none
were OEM and, per others on this group, less $.

Moral of this story.....auto glass has to meet Federal safety
standards, and any reputable glass outfit knows that....save the $ and
believe other posts on this group about non-OEM windshields. (Even my
original Honda windshield had some distortions...)