Stone chips in windshield

[tkranz]

Picked up a second stone chip in my windshield today. Small and no cracks radiating, but a good chip. I have always been skeptical of those mall salesmen asking, "any cracks or chips, Mr?"

Would be interested in any comments on the options for treating a windshield glass chip, beyond just living with it.

[timmac]

BobOB1775 wrote:
I had a windshield replaced in our Savana van last year. I asked the technician about those guys at the Malls who repair the rock chips. He said they don't do the best job and actually charge your insurance company. He said that most companies like his will repair chips for free for the life of the window that they installed. He said the glass installers use a much better repair product.

I will have to agree with this post, my wife had a chip repair done at a local car wash and the chip is more noticeable now then before the work was done, never again hire those fly by night glass repair people.

[brirene]

Actually, although Safelite is getting a lot of props for coming to the site, I got the same service from my local guy down the street. I think that's pretty much standard for a chip repair.

[spotrot]

After reading this post, I decided repairing a 2-year-old windshield chip was overdue.

I went to Safelite’s website and tried to get a quote, only to learn they wanted my contact info so they could call me. The salesperson called and needed the info all over again.

One thing she said was Safelite's resin was the best of 16 types tested by an independent lab. However, she couldn't provide a link, and there's no documentation about that on the website.

After more sales talk, I told her I only was interested in a quote. She told me $99 plus material and tools. What? The "material and tools" charge she said was for the resin and the tools they used. I guess the 1 cc of resin they used must be very pricey and that their 'tools' must wear out very often, right? Already I don't like the business practices of Safelite but their product is said to be good.

I called my insurance agent and she said windshield repairs were covered under FL law with no deductible and that State Farms uses a company, Link Services, to coordinate the repair with a repairer of my choosing.

I then used Link Services to schedule a repair with Safelite at my home.

Two items of interest:
The repair has to be done to the customer’s satisfaction.
Safelite guarantees the repair for life of the vehicle.

I'll repost how it works out.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Ditto Safelite. They come to you. Insurance covered our repair.

[Bea_PA]

We have had many chips repaired Alaska to CA and several in FL. We took the car into a place in Yuma and in Canada but all the MH chips, they came to us. No charge with GMAC, Geico, or National Interstate.

[mtrumpet]

mscamping wrote:
X2 for Safelite, that's who we would use.. Saw them fix one in Florida last winter, if you didn't know where it was you couldn't find it.. There was two spots one windshield.. Mike Mathews..

X3 For SafeLite. I used them twice (on two different windshields). They did a great job and my particular insurance covered 100%. They came right to my office and did the repair while I was in work. You couldn't see the repair unless I pointed it out to you, and even then it was barely visible.

[mscamping]

X2 for Safelite, that's who we would use.. Saw them fix one in Florida last winter, if you didn't know where it was you couldn't find it.. There was two spots one windshield.. Mike Mathews..

[doxiemom11]

Repairs turn out better if dirt and moisture are kept out of the glass. Cover the spot with some tape to seal it until you get the repair done.

[BUTCHPHI]

Have about 13 or so chips in my 14 year old Tropical motorhome with 130000+ miles. I have repaired them all with kits I have bought at part stores. None have spread into a crack and thankfully none are a problem to visibility (or screwing up the great view from a class a seat. Hate the thought of replacing winshields and so far have not had to.

[BobOB1775]

I had a windshield replaced in our Savana van last year. I asked the technician about those guys at the Malls who repair the rock chips. He said they don't do the best job and actually charge your insurance company. He said that most companies like his will repair chips for free for the life of the window that they installed. He said the glass installers use a much better repair product.

[ArchHoagland]

I've had several chips repaired before they had a chance to start cracking.

I was told it was best to get them done as soon as possible so I've gotten them fixed within a week.

I bought a repair kit and did one myself. It didn't come out too good so I let the experts do it.

[pigman1]

I picked up 2 pocks coming down from Alaska and Safelite repaired them in my driveway this morning. An excellent job. If I didn't have them marked, DW would have never found them after repair.

We've had about 8-10 of these repairs over the last 3 coaches and were pleased with them all. Never had a repaired chip crack or deteriorate further and we've had them repaired from Delaware to Alaska to Yuma.

[dbates]

Just had mine done. The local windshield shop came to my home and I watched him do it. They have a multi suction cup tool with a rubber pallet with a small hole in the center that is compressed down on the chip. They squeeze a small amount of sealant into the hole then force it into the chip with a screw. You could actually see the sealant fill the inside of the chip. They let it set for a little while, remove the tool and scrape and polish the excess sealant from the window. Yes, you can still see the chip but it’s much less noticeable and will not allow moisture to penetrate the chip.

I assumed that if I turned it into my insurance I’d loose my deductable reduction (which has been substantially reduced) so I paid the $65 for the repair.

My brother-in-law has used a similar retailed product to repair chips in his windshields in the past and it seemed to work A-OK.

Dave

[othertonka]

Repair it or be real careful about putting cold water on a hot windshield or the crack will grow all the way across the windshield. And do it sooner rather then later before it gets dirt in the chip, makes for a better repair.