Would you hesitate to buy a used Accord w/a windshield chip?

Chip is smaller than a dime. Right in the middle of the windshield. It is a
year old and has not spread at all. Interestingly, the chip is *inside* the
glass. If I touch the glass, it is completely smooth, interior and exterior.

I'm trying to prep a 2000 Accord EX for private sale. I've paid for new brakes,
did a major service on it, cleaned it quite well inside and out. No mechanical
problems. Typical minor dings and scratches for a car that age.

I've been reading that glass repairers will not repair a chip in the line of
sight of the driver. So, a whole windshield replacement is possibly necessary.
Also, this seems to be a problematic repair, since there is no pit to fill.

Like anyone else, I want to get as much money out of the sale as possible,
especially since I sank a decent chunk of money into the brakes and the service.
I could have just done an oil change and left it at that. Is it worth the
additional cost and hassle to get the windshield fixed?

Thx!

 

Why don't you bring it to a glass place, show it to them and ask? It will
cost you $0.00 to do that and might save you many $.

Let the glass place decide that. You obviously have never encountered this
before, so why are you making the decisions?

Why don't you bring it to a glass place, show it to them and ask? It will
cost you $0.00 to do that and might save you many $.

We could guess for you, but no one here can see or feel your windshield
chip, so we would very much be guessing.

 

Jeannie, call Safelite, a national auto glass
replacement/repair service, and get an estimate. They should
do it over the phone. They'll tell you whether it needs
replacement or not.

For the record, auto glass replacement runs from about $150
to $500. I had my 91 Civic's front windshield replaced last
year for $221.

Replace the glass and adjust the price. Or don't replace it,
and let the buyer know the estimate for repair.

If you do replace it, make sure the job's guarantee carries
over to the next owner.

 

If I were you I would not do a thing to that car besides clean it inside
and out and the engine compartment, do not do it while engine is running
or hot, and cover the distributor or other electrical stuff that could be
damaged, hondas will sell reguardless and dont let someone talk you down
becasue of it I guess you will have 3-5 offers by 3 days after the sale, I
would not even say anything to the buyers, its a private sale and the buyer
is the one who should ask questions or inspect it as well as a visual and
driving inspection can be, trust me it will sell quick unless you are
asking some ridiculous price.

 

Elle, thanks for the recommendation. How did your windshield installation turn
out? Did they get the seals done properly?

 

I had not cleaned the engine compartment. I'll make sure to do that, too.
Thanks for the advice.

 

Will do.

Guesses based on experience are still valuable to me.

 

Yes, the seals are fine. Looks great, though I should add
that I view my 91 Civic as an "econo marathon car" and
appearance, other than cleanliness and keeping dents and
rust to a minimum, is not too important to me. I called
Safelite's toll free number Friday night after 11 PM, and
Safelite had their young man there by 1 PM Saturday. He was
gone by 2 PM. Very professional, all told.

Also, maybe it's not a big deal, but my old windshield had
no top tinting. The new one did (might be a law where I
live; sun is severe). I like the top tint a lot.

I queried about getting more for what one pays for a
windshield, but there doesn't seem to be a consensus on the
point. Auto glass is auto glass, it seems.

I've read here some people getting a new windshield for
closer to $100, so it pays to shop around. My insurance
company suggested the same. (My deductible is too high for
insurance to cover it, but I called my company to get its
suggestions, because they have experience with this sort of
thing.)

I would imagine a replacement for your 2000 Accord EX
windshield maybe runs more, but I'd be interested in any
estimate you get. It will be good to have in this
newsgroup's archives, too.

 

Simple Green works great on the engine compartment gunk. That, a water
hose, and a toothbrush.

My technique is to wet down the engine bay, spray the SG right out of
the bottle, get going with the toothbrush, rinse it all down. Maybe
repeat depending on how dirty it started out.

Then wipe down the rubber hoses etc. with a rubber protectant such as
armorall. All this is virtually guaranteed to bring in a couple
hundred bucks more and really motivate a potential buyer.

 

Your insurance will probably cover the glass with no deductible and no
increase in premiums. Ask your agent.

 

be sure to check edmunds and kbb to see what a reasonable price would
be. there are 3 prices...

trade in value- what a dealership would give you (almost nothing!)
private party value- a midrange number, depends on condition and demand
resale value- what the dealership will turn around and sell your car for

my 98 CX has a tradein value of something like $4500, i think. since it
only has 51k miles, is clean, all records, many OEM accessories
(ashtray, center console), has A/C, and the helm manual, im sure i could
get closer to $6k, private party.

if i keep driving it at the rate i do, and take care of it like i am,
barring any unforseen problems, it has about 24 years life still in it