Cold weather repair

[JT2]

Had some questions regarding cold weather repair. I've spent some time researching and looking back at old threads and have answered some of my questions but I have some other questions that I hope some of you techs can answer.

I understand the temperature of the windshield has to be between 60-90 degrees before repairing and alot of techs use the vehicles interior heater to warm up glass to temperature. Now when performing the repair do you leave the car running with heater on the entire time to stabilize temperature?

When a vehicle has been sitting in a cold garage overnight will introducing the DEFROSTER with full heat on be dangerous to a chip (crack out)?

BTW i'm using Delta Kits equipment and resins.

Also do you think the Magnibond flows better for cold weather over the Premium Bond?

Any other tips or info on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[mrchip]

hi jt2 if you turn on defroster in the begining it will get warm gradually
less chance of cracking out also point glass toward sun you'd be surprised
at how warm the window will get on a cold day as far as chemical
sometimes i'll use a thinner chemical depends on the break but if window is warm just use what you would normaly use:)

[Delta Kits]

JT2,

When dealing with breaks, there are always risks.

A car sitting in the cold garage, heating with a torch is more risky than a lighter. A lighter is more risky than the defroster. The defroster is more risky than using the other vents in the car.

So, the slower the warm up, the least risk. Make sense? The defroster is certainly not a hugely risky option, but it can be done with slightly less risk (and more of your time) by using the other vents in the car.

Regarding the resin choice, in all my testing, I really can't tell a difference. We have people who swear Premium Bond is the resin to use in cold weather, and we have people who swear MagniBond is the resin to use in cold weather.

Personally, I only use MagniBond since it has less acrylic acid, with no drawbacks.

[JT2]

Thanks guys for your input!

So once the windshield is warmed up to temperature is it better to leave the car running with the heater on still at full fan speed/heat to ensure the temperature of the glass is stable or just shut the car off? I'm thinking to leave the car running with the heater on but not at full fan speed/heat just so there is no huge temperature change. Reason being is some customers might not like it too much if there car is running for 20 + minutes even though you have explained to them the reason for it.

Thanks

[kenb81]

You can leave the car running until ready to cure, but turn the fan down maybe leave it on heat instead of defrost. I live in Canada where today the temp was -8c with the windchill -15c so the warmer the windshield the better also try warming up your resin by putting it in your pocket also leave your bridge in the heat so it stays warm if everything is warm repairs turn out just like summer

[kenb81]

If the windshield is to cold the defroster could split the windshield its really better to use the heater or even heat/defroster. I'm talking Canada cold like today. 60f is not cold 20F is cold

[JT2]

Wow -15c! what part of Canada are you from kenb81? Thanks for the info and tips!

[kenb81]

London Ontario

[repare-brise]

Having lived close to London(Kitchener) it,s not the cold that gets ya, it's the humidity! I now live in Quebec where -30 is more comfortable than -5 in southern Ontario(the joy's of being surrounded by the Great Lakes).

If I may add a few things to the debate, first if there is any frost of snow on the WS remove it before you start the car, second if a kindly garage owner tells you to bring the car inside, "just say no". While heat may be tempting, bringing in a cold WS to a hot garage is a great way to introduce moisture into a break. If you feel it neccesary to bring the car inside to do the repair, warm up the WS with the cars defroster before entering the building(those of us who wear glasses know first hand what happens). When doing a customers car(as opposed to a dealer/fleet) I call ahead to get the customer to scrape and start the car with the controls set to heat the floor. The car is hot when I get there, the customer has participated in the repair(always makes them feel important), and I have saved 10-15 mins.

Another warning about bringing a repair into a hot garage, condensation also affects the injectors, be carefull.

Merci

[JT2]

Yes Ontario winters are terrible! Thanks guys for the tips/info.