Windshield replacement problem

[allenlux]

Looks like another saga in the making:

Prius 2005 model bought in January. Warm feeling of new car ownership still strong.
Saturday: small stone hits windshield, makes hole. Crack spreads across windscreen.
Monday: call insurance, confirm coverage. Book car in to Toyota dealer for Thursday.
Wednesday: call garage to check that spare windshield has arrived.
Thursday am: take car to garage.
Thursday pm: garage calls to say that replacement windshield is scratched. Another one has been ordered.
Friday: pm: garage receives another spare windshield, installs it. I collect car. New windshield looks good (ie unbroken and clean) but the car seems noisier than usual. I can hear the ICE going on and off more clearly than usual.
Saturday am: examine windshield. It seems that on the lower right-hand side as seen from inside the car, there is a half-inch gap between the windshield and the liner on the pillar. No gap in the equivalent position on the left side. Along the lower edge of the windshield, the right hand part is positioned so that it leaves a gap above the dashboard area. It seems as if the engine sound is coming from this gap.

I decide, reluctantly, that the windshield has not been properly seated at the lower right-hand corner.

I guess I have to go back to the garage on Monday.

Has anyone else had their windshield replaced? I'm interested to know if you had any problems, or whether this installation was especially difficult for the garage?

I suppose it is possible to remove and refit the new windshield without too much trouble? Has anyone an idea of how much time this should take?

John

[popoff]

In this country, dealers usually sub out windshield replacements to auto glass companies. In any event, it appears that you got a technician who just wasn't paying attention to what he was doing.

I can only guess that removing and replacing the new windshield would take about as long as the original repair.

[allenlux]

I think next time (if there is a next time) I might take it to a specialist auto glass operation. The insurance people said it was up to me where I went, but that as the car was so new it might be better to go to the Toyota dealer.

Anyway, the dealer agreed today, without fuss, to take out and refit the windshield. However, they need to order yet another spare windshield as they are not sure they can refit it without damaging it. Assuming the spare arrives tomorrow, they will do this on Wednesday. Once again, the car has to spend all day at the garage (this will be the third full day).

No explanation was forthcoming for how this could have happened. As you say, it sounds like someone just wasn't paying attention, although the fault is quite obvious when you look at the car.