Fixing Windshield Chips

D

DWK2

Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
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We have a lot of problems in Left Angeles but windshield chips are relatively rare. Unfortunately, I just picked up a rare chip of less than half an inch. I'm wondering whether anyone can offer advice on the best way to repair such a chip?

Thanks for any guidance you can offer!

DancesWithKnives
 
A lot of car insurance companies cover the chip repair expense with a small copay...depends on the plan but doesn't hurt to ask them. Then you just look for a place that will do it. Takes about 5 minutes to repair then you have to sit for about 15 to allow the "glue" to set up.
 
I got a nasty chip from a gravel truck on my then new pickup. I had a windshield place come to my office and fix my truck while it was in the parking lot. Six years later, it still is holding (although you can see the chip since it was a very big one and the guy couldn't completely make it invisible).

My insurance company waived the deductible and paid the whole thing. If you don't want to submit it, some places will give you a good discount if you pay cash.
 
Yea, a lot of insurance companies will get it taken care of with no cost to you as they realize it will save them money in the long run (not having to replace the windshield down the line when the cracks grow).

I have GEICO and a few months ago had some chips repaired free. A glass repair service showed up at my place of work and took care of it in the parking lot. No cost and no wasted hours for me taking it into a shop.

Mine are also still visible, but that was the nature of them. If you got marks that are more like 'scuffs' or 'gouges' then they won't be able to make them invisible, they'll just make sure that the damage doesn't spread. If you just got some hairline cracks they'll be able to make them very hard to spot.

Theoretically this type of repair also shouldn't affect your insurance premiums with most companies, but I'm still skeptical whenever they make that claim. I can tell you that it didn't affect mine, but I don't know if the 'claim' flagged me on a list or anything like that.
 
Last year my week-old car got dinged by a pebble, leaving a small star in the windshield. It cost me $49.95 to have it fixed. I called my insurance company and they told me my deductible was $50. Go figure. :rolleyes:

Next time, if it's a small chip I'll try to fix it myself. There are a couple of repair kits out there for less than $20 and a couple of people told me they work reasonably well. One of them is made by Loctite.
 
Thanks very much for the advice. Some years ago I tried my carrier (21st Century) and they wouldn't cover chips. However, I have since switched to AAA so your reminder of this option is very much appreciated. They might handle it.

I've seen the loctite kits at Pep Boys/Kragen but haven't heard whether they work well or not.

DancesWithKnives
 
FYI for those who have AAA insurance in CA: AAA will not cover window chips unless the damage exceeds your comprehensive limit (and then only to that extent). But it was definitely worth the call to find out!

Thanks,

DancesWithKnives
 
I had a chip in my windshield, and it as winter set in it expanded. My insurance co told me where to take it for repairs (close to my house) and it didn't cost me anything.
 
I'll bet that's more common for insurers to do in places like Rochester, where chips are probably more common and more likely to rapidly develop into cracks.

DancesWithKnives
['76 Univ. of Rochester grad]
 
mycroftt said:
Last year my week-old car got dinged by a pebble, leaving a small star in the windshield. It cost me $49.95 to have it fixed. I called my insurance company and they told me my deductible was $50. Go figure. :rolleyes:

Next time, if it's a small chip I'll try to fix it myself. There are a couple of repair kits out there for less than $20 and a couple of people told me they work reasonably well. One of them is made by Loctite.
Click to expand...

They do work OK for certain chips, but there are a couple on my windshield I still can't get covered up.

I'm going to have to see if my insurance company covers windshields without a ridiculous deductible charge.

The kits are very easy to use. It's just a glue that you put on, tamp down with a plastic sheet, then scrape with a razor blade when the glue dries.


FYI, if you have a chip expanding into a crack, you can drill the ends of the crack with a diamond or other abrasive (not the helical kind) drill bit to keep it from spreading. You then have small holes in your windshield--but at least it keeps the crack in check until you can get around to getting it repaired.
 
There definately are kits, but if they work as well as the DIY windsheild mirror mounting kits I wouldn't waste my time. If nothing else, I'd call a couple auto glass places (Henderson Glass, for example) and see what they charge. At least then you'll know whether or n ot its even worth buying the DIY kit (the above mentioned mounts rear view mirrors for less than the cost of the kit!).
 
havent had good luck with fixing cracks once they crack they tend to keep cracking but i had a chip in my 'vette fixed back in '99 and its still fine, hasnt changed a bit.
 
What a coincidence, this crack is in the windshield of my old '87 Vette!

DancesWithKnives
 
IIRC the gasket for the front windshield was more than the glass cost lol, and the glass wasnt cheap either, and i think yours and mine would be the same ('87 and '95).

i dont know why the seal or gasket would be so high?
 
I don't know the answer to that one. I hope you aren't running a ZR-1 or I'll be really jealous!!! [Mine packs fewer ponies than a new Honda Accord....]

DancesWithKnives
 
i want one of the new ZR1's for sure, was gonna get a year old ('94) ZR1 when i bought mine in '95 but due to the fact that chevy was disco'ing them and the fact that a lot of spare parts like waterpumps and almost any internal engine part was difficult or impossible to come by (merc marine made the engines and when chevy disco'd them they offered merc marine pennies on the dollar for spare parts and merc marine supposedly crushed the parts vs selling them to chevy for nothing, so i have heard anyway) made me look hyarder at an LT1, i drove a couple of ZR's and to be honest i wasnt that impressed they are more for top speed vs in town driving, i couldnt tell much difference 0-60 at all, now get that thing turning up past 100 and different story lol, but anyway i found a '94 ZR with ~3K miles for $37K which was about what my '95 LT1 cost & after pondering it for a while went with the LT, it woulda been my luck the waterpump woulda gone out within a week lol, but now i wish i woulda gone with the ZR, sice my '95 is probably worth $20K or so and the ZR would still be worth ~$35K - i asked the guy who owned the ZR "how come ya bought it and only put 3K miles on it" and he said "it was an investment" i wanted to tell him "wow ya paid ~$70,000 for it it was a piss poor investment lol".

but no mines just an LT1 with some head mods, computer mods and 3.45 gears, has really been a great car though, no probs at all (knock on wood).

i want a lightly used ZR1 or even a Z06 though and am gonna try and get one this spring, if we(the economy) dont go into a depression anyway lol.
 
Yes, that new ZR1 is impressive. I've read a few reviews that said not only is it faster than the aught six, its road manners and handling characteristics are a major improvement. I'm working part-time lately so I won't be getting one unless I hit the lottery (unlikely since even my limited math background prevents me from playing) or someone leaves me a lot of money (unlikely since my relatives aren't well off).

My former employer just ordered a new Porsche with the all-wheel drive. Not as fast as a ZR1 but very nicely made and good looking.

I hope you score the top ride!

DancesWithKnives
 
FWIW i still prefer the old C4 body style to any of the older ones or newer for that matter, but with the 500 or 600+ HP i could live with it lol, but ya knoww what, i could keep my old '95 and be perfectly happy with it from now on, maybe do a mod or 2, but i really like the thing, my girlfriend keeps telling me i'm nutz to want to spend that much, when i already have the '95, of course when we 1st started dating she hated vettes, now when she's at my house and wants to run to her house (she only lives 5 mins away) to get something its always the vette she takes lol, go figure lol, i'm nutz to let her drive the thing she wrecked one of her old boyfriends vettes back in '78 or so a '69 red 4 spd 427 tri power (be worth a lotta $$ nowadays) & it irks her to be reminded of that lol so i do every chance i get, but it was kinda a fluke she wrecked it she was going around a curve and hit some water in the road and lost control and t-boned a telephone pole, she was only 17 and had never driven a car like that before, hopefully she's alittle more carefull now & a better driver, hopefully anyway..

i have never been a big fan of porsche to get a fast one get ready to spend $100K or so, but a friends sister has a cayenne i rode in a few wks ago and it was pretty darned nice, ran good too, wasnt cheap though.
 
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Letting a 17 year-old high school girl who was inexperienced with muscle cars drive a 427 tri power was a mistake on the part of the owner. I'd give him a lot more of the blame than her. Years ago a CA woman bought a turbo carrera and the dealer didn't tell her about the unique handling/power issues with that kind of Porsche. She wrecked it and seriously injured herself. The lawsuit yielded millions. Glad your girlfriend came out better.

I like the style of my '87's body fine but I just don't want to put money into a non-collectible car of that vintage. I'm using it as a cruiser and grocery getter more than anything else.

My former employers did very well on the sale of their company. With that kind of cash, I would have bought something even hotter than this Porsche but I'm sure it will be fun.

I hope you eventually get the big fella!

DancesWithKnives
 
oh i know it was mostly the boyfriends fault, he shouldnt have let her drive the thing, of course i'll never tell her that though lol.
 
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