Please help with advice on winshield replacement.

[Angel]

I’ll start out by saying I’m not a tech., I just need help with a windshield I need replaced. This is the second windshield I need to have replaced on this car (no I don’t tail gate) and I am very concerned with safety and installation quality. I’ve read on the shortcuts, insurance steering, and compromises in the integrity and safety of poorly installed windshield and I my newborn cant afford loosing Mommy or daddy because of a crappy windshield.
I will ask for OEM glass, new molding and I have a 2-car garage so I will probably have the installer do it there. I will even remove the wipers and cowl myself prior to the replacement. Does anyone here know for sure a good.... no and excellent windshield installer in the Annapolis MD area that can do this work for me? O and I will not use Safelite because last time they didn’t even let me see what they were doing so I’m guessing they cut corners.

Thanks in advance for any advice
Angel

[Angel]

..........

[streekyd]

Angel, try Banner Glass http://www.bannerglass.com/location.htm

Also check out this site:
http://www.agrss.com/index.htm
http://www.agrss.com/registered.php
These companies have agreed to follow ANSI Standards.
Banner is one of them

Other sites:
http://www.safewindshields.com/
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/


I hope this helps!

[streekyd]

Be sure your glass shop follows these 17 steps & uses 2 technicians to install. From the Carlite Glass School.
If only one technician installs, you have an increased possibility of having your paint scratched, windshield broken or not being set correctly in the pinchweld.



1. Inspect vehicle for any pre-existing damage

2. Protect all vulnerable areas of the vehicle prior to work

3. Remove moldings, wipers, cowl, & trim from the windshield

4. Cut broken windshield from the pinchweld and remove

5. Trim existing urethane bead to 1/16 inch thickness:
Full Cut Technique

6. Position windshield in dry opening

7. Apply pinchweld primer to pinchweld surface

8. Clean inside of replacement windshield

9. Apply glass prep to windshield perimeter

10. Apply primer to windshield perimeter

11. Select proper adhesive (urethane) *& apply to pinchweld
(*based on temperature, humidity, airbag, out of service time available)

12. Set windshield onto adhesive, level, and center the unit

13. Reset the trim molding

14. Reinstall wipers, cowl, and any other items detached during glass removal

15. Test for leaks

16. Inspect & clean vehicle

17. Keep vehicle out of service until safe drive away time is obtained


Related topics:
All auto glass is not alike -
be sure to request Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) glass!

There are approximately 100 companies manufacturing auto glass.
Only 6 are OEM glass producers.
How can you be sure you are getting the best product for the best value?

All automotive replacement glass parts are not alike.
Why parts made by Original Equipment Manufacturers (ex: PPG) are better:

Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) use the same manufacturing processes, tooling & quality control guidelines, that they use when manufacturing original equipment parts for new vehicles.
OEM replacement parts fit, look, & meet the same safety standards specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
OEM glass is easier to install. Part to part consistency of size, shape, & color - means less likelihood of stress & breakage during installation. Plus less chance of wind noise, water leakage, and appearance problems.
Not all aftermarket suppliers use the same specifications for vinyl thickness, and surface contour as the original manufacturers specifications. Vinyl thickness effects the strength of your windshield, and incorrect surface contour can even decrease the efficiency of your windshield wipers.
Many newer vehicles have windshields & windows with specialty solar or solar coated glass. Some aftermarket glass is nothing more than tinted glass.
Visual defects - optical distortion, bubbles, scratches are much more common in aftermarket glass.

In the most recent surveys by Automotive Industries Magazine, PPG Industries was voted #1 in "Best of the Best Among Glass Suppliers"

Add Windshield Check to Safety List in Spring;
Car Owners Urged to Inspect Their Windshields When They Set Clocks for Daylight Savings Time This Spring... SOURCE PPG Industries, Inc.

PITTSBURGH, March 2 -- The windshield is a critical component
of a car's safety system, but experts in the auto glass industry worry that
car owners don't understand its importance.

In an effort to keep drivers and their families safe, the Certified Auto
Glass Technicians at PPG PROSTARS suggest car owners check their windshields on April 1, a day when they will set clocks forward for daylight-saving time and test their home smoke alarms.

"Semi-annual windshield inspections take only a few minutes, but they are
an important part of assessing your car's safety," says Russ Corsi, manager oftechnical services, PPG Industries, Inc. "In an accident, the windshield helps support your car's roof so that cave-in potential is minimized, and allows your airbag to function properly."Corsi and the Certified Auto Glass Technicians at PPG PROSTARS offer the following windshield safety tips for spring:

-- Keep your glass clean. Make sure you have enough washer fluid at all
times. Keep extra fluid, de-icer, glass cleaner, and a squeegee or
cloth handy for when you need them. A clean windshield provides better
vision for the driver.

-- Prevent scratching your windshield by replacing wiper blades at the
first sign of wear. Never run them over dry glass, because worn wipers
can damage the glass and impair vision.

-- Apply a long-lasting rain repellent treatment to your windshield for
improved vision on rainy days.

-- While cleaning your auto glass, also clean your headlights. Often car
owners do not notice that dirty headlights can decrease night vision.

Any windshield damage should be fixed right away, especially if it
obscures your vision. That's why it's important to choose a professional auto
glass shop that offers replacement glass made by an original equipment
manufacturer such as PPG, LOF or Carlite. Auto glass needs to fit precisely
in the window frame to perform its safety functions.

"Minor windshield damage that only affects the outer layer of the
laminated safety glass can be repaired before it spreads and requires
additional time and money to fix. Chips smaller than the size of a quarter
and not in the driver's direct line of sight can be repaired in about 30
minutes," says Corsi.

If damage appears in the driver's line of vision, state law requires that
the windshield be replaced. Installation time depends on the adhesive used,
weather conditions, and the thoroughness of the auto glass technician. Corsi
advises car owners to ask glass shops for an estimate, including the amount of time the car needs to sit before its safe and legal to drive again.
One source for quality workmanship is PPG PROSTARS Certified Auto Glass
Technicians. Their technicians have a minimum of three years' glass
installation experience or National Glass Association (NGA) certification.
They also have special certification from the manufacturers of adhesives used
in windshield replacement. PPG PROSTARS shops offer a national warranty and glass made by original equipment manufacturers. And they provide quality in-shop as well as convenient mobile service. To locate the PPG PROSTARS near you, call 1-800-PPG-7011 or visit http://www.ppgprostars.com.

[Angel]

Ahh, thank you very much. I will contact Banner indeed. I have a 2 car garage, do you think it would be better to have them install it there? Are there pro's and con's to having a mobil unit do the service vs having the replacement done at their shop? Again thanks for your help.
Angel

[streekyd]

With out opening a can of worms here. If the technician that come to replace your windshield is trained with current credentials, has integrity, is not taking any short cuts and follows the urethane Mfg procedures, than replacing the part in your garage or his garage does not matter.
You, must let the vehicle sit until the urethane adhesive has fully cured. That will depend on heat and humidity. Each urethane has its own cure rate.

The key is not to contaminate the bonding surfaces, using adhesive that have not expired, wearing proper protective gear and addressing any scratches or rust that may be in the area of bonding the windshield.

Basically mobile techs are unsupervised. I will leave it at that.

Ask all these questions when you make the appointment. When I used to be a "road warrior" I always let the customer watch.

[Angel]

What would be nesessary if there is rust? (the prior replacement may have been poor)

Originally Posted by streekyd

........
The key is not to contaminate the bonding surfaces, using adhesive that have not expired, wearing proper protective gear and addressing any scratches or rust that may be in the area of bonding the windshield.

Basically mobile techs are unsupervised. I will leave it at that.

Ask all these questions when you make the appointment. When I used to be a "road warrior" I always let the customer watch.

Originally Posted by streekyd

........
Basically mobile techs are unsupervised. I will leave it at that.

So should I offer a tip up front for them to do a good job?

Originally Posted by streekyd

........
Ask all these questions when you make the appointment. When I used to be a "road warrior" I always let the customer watch.

Yea what's up with that? I had mi first windshield replaced at Safelite and the bastards didn't even let me see what they were doing from a crack through a door back in the waiting area!?

[streekyd]

Dow, Sika, Efftech urethanes all have there own rust procedures. classified as level 1,2,3,4. 1 being lightly scratched and 4 having flacking and holes, needing a body shop
Ask the tech when he gets there what will he do.

As far as a tip, if you tip up front and the job is not to your expectations then what?

If the Windshield has been replace before by the company you mentioned then take it to the shop you choose and leave it. It may require more extensive repairs than can be done on the road. That's the differance. On the road with no problems is fine, when problems arise haveing the car at the shop allows them to coorinate repairs with other tradesmen if needed, body shop for example