Are Winshield Repairs acceptable alternative to replacement?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ May 21 2007, 06:46 PM) [snapback]447105[/snapback]</div>

If you get it done right away and the repair is not right where you look out to see the road in front of you as you drive, you probably will not notice the repair. I waited, once and the repair WAS visible. I think the difference was made because some moisture had worked its way into the crack.

Some repair places won't do a repair if it is in your line of sight just because they have had bad results with unhappy customers.

 

I had damage just as you describe, but somewhat larger than a quarter and in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield. I had the repair performed in the parking lot where I work. The guy said that it was larger than he'd usually consider fixing, but, since it was so far away from the normal field-of-vision, he'd give it a go. He had to drill some extra holes for the resin, but, all in all, it's absolutely un-noticeable. I can find it because I know it's there, but it's really all but invisible. The damage occurred last August, so it hasn't even been a year yet, but so far it has not cracked any further. Time will tell... after another 100 degree plus summer and another 0 degree minus winter we'll see how it holds up. As of today, I'm completely happy.

 

I've had a windshield repair before and was amazed by how they could make the crack just disappear! The trick is to get it fixed early, however, because the more time you wait, the more the crack has time to settle and grow (and an unrepaired crack will indeed spread).

On my old windshield, I also had a crack that I think someone tried to repair before I bought the car, but didn't do a very good job on (you could still see a 1/4 inch crack). A few years into ownership, a hot day caused the crack expanded about 3 feet across the windshield!

Out of curiosity, though, did you find out how much it costs to replace the massive windshield on the Prius? I've always kind of wondered that.

 

Prius windshield is around $240. Same price as the windshield on the anti-Prius (2001 Pathfinder). I checked when I had it replaced last year. I was amazed is was so little, given the size.

The anti-Prius had three of those "off the visible windshield damage" things before I replaced it. They all grew cracks (but I didn't get any of them repaired). The first one was like yours. The crack grew across about 6" then went up to the top and stopped. The second one was under the drivers wiper blade. The crack moved up 3" then across to the centre and back down. The third and final one was on the drivers side and the crack proceeded across the windshield. Time to replace. I don't get glass insurance. I don't think it's worth it. I pay when necessary. Funny too, all three happened in two years, after 5 years of just minor chips - and most of those minor chips occured in the first two weeks of the vehicles use.

Do ask the insurance co. how long they guarantee the fix - if a crack grows from the original damage in a year will they cover it?

 

I had a star crack repaired about 6 yrs ago and it has not spread. Apparently such repairs do not all last that long. Another windshield fixer told me that cracks within 5 inches of any edge are not good candidates.

 

Something else to consider: Insurance companies will often pay the full price of a repair, whereas your deductible applies to replacements.

 

Here's another 'windshield crack' story...

Driving my 2004 Prius home from taking delivery, a truck too a pot shot at my windshield with at least one small rock. This resulted in a 'twin' crack, apparently hit in two places about ¼" apart. The damage was directly below my line of sight. the glass company to whom my area dealer sent me would not use the repair procedure with the 'double hit.' The windshield company man said they would only repair a crack that was no larger than a quarter overall.

New OEM (Toyota brand) windshield was installed in about 30 minutes, good clean job, never any leaks or rattles. I was instructed to keep the front doors windows open about ½" for a day until the cement set up.

With a Prius as new as yours, I would insist on Toyota brand complete replacement. Taking the repair only benefits your insurance company unless you have a deductable. I haven't found that Texas insurance carriers are all that generous - you benefit them $200 or $300, and your rates remain the same or go up next term. In my situation, State Farm has two cars, our home, fine art, liability, etc. - they did not question my requirement on windshield replacement.

 

I've always found repairs to be completely unnoticeable.

Here in Colorado you can often have the insurance pay for the entire repair. They consider it a preventative measure to avoid replacement. We have roadside stands that do professional repairs with no out-of-pocket.

If are planning on getting a repair but can't get to it right away, let the car sit in the sun a while to bake all the moisture out of the crack and then completely cover it with tape...clear packaging tape if you need the extra width. Moisture getting in the crack is one of the key driving forces of spreading the crack. I've had a crack covered with tape on the work van for over a year now--it hasn't spread a bit!

Eric

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ May 22 2007, 09:53 AM) [snapback]447273[/snapback]</div>

Where did you find a windshield at that price?! I got my windows tinted and on the way home a rock hit my windshield and cracked it. 2 days after I bought it. I took it to toyota and they said its going to cost around $900 just for the glass. Probably around $1000 to get it in. I was like "pfft, right, cya later." I called every single windshield repair place in my area. They said "oh it'll be around $320, but I cant seem to find any windshields in stock anywhere." They all said that. Then I figure out that its a toyota only made item, so you have to pay the $900 to get it.

 

a window repair wont be totally invisible, but it will prevent future damage (the crack spreading out
like a spider web)

 

Glad to hear you got it fixed.

For future reference, I've yet to own a car (6 or 7) that didn't take a rock to the windshield and every time I've just had it repaired. Only on 1 of them could I ever find the repair point once I had forgotten exactly where it was.

Plus, like JimboK said, the repair is usually fully covered where as the replacement kicks in a deductible for some. BUT, in my case, if the repair isn't good enough or fails then the replacement is fully covered. So it can't hurt to try a repair based on my past experiences.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ May 22 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]447311[/snapback]</div>

Allwest glass here in Edmonton. I watched them look it up. At the time I was getting the anti-Prius (2001 Pathfinder) windshield replaced and was worried that the less expensive unit wouldn't be as good as the original. The dealer quoted me $900 for that one too. Once Allwest installed the new windshield I noticed it was exactly the same one the vehicle came with, at 1/4 the dealer price. A Nissan Glass windshield.

Note that the windshield is part of the structure of modern vehicles. They wouldn't let me drive the anti-Prius until the glue set up (30 min). Said I could be killed if I got in an accident, due to the vehicle being much weaker without the glue set up.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ May 23 2007, 05:35 PM) [snapback]448539[/snapback]</div>

This is correct. the windshield adds rigidity to the frt structure, and more importantly helps guide the passenger air bag. If the air bags deploy and the urethane is not set, it could blow the windshield out of the vehicle, exposing your face to whatever is out in front of you (flying debris), and not letting the SRS system protect you properly. Not an ideal situation