Windshield Repair Forum

I just did an insurance job. A little spidery star.No point of impact really. After I had finished the repair, it didnt really look any better than when I started I even removed the injector and drilled a little deeper. The customer said " It just looks the same; I dont see any difference."
Since I had already called in the repair to ACT and it was approved, I said "OK; would you be happy if I refunded you $40?" I couldn't really say "no charge", since the insurance payment was already approved. The customer said OK.
Has anyone else had this kind of experience? How did you handle it. The customer lives near me and I didn't want any bad publicity.
Should I call in the repair after I finish?

I have never had this happen but I would have first drilled into it and popped a small bullseye to connect all the legs to the impact point. This works better for me and I know some don't drill but I do to speed things up as I can hide my small drill bur. All I can say is it may have been a old break that someone else had BOTCHED and closed all the legs with thier miracle resin.
I always call in for the approval BEFORE I start as all will not have full coverage insurance.
When you drilled did you attempt to pop a small bullseye? Stars (if the legs are really tight) can be tricky to fill otherwise.
Hope this helps. Did you apply to much pressure on the glass with your injector to close up the legs? Use to thick of a resin? Drill deep enough?

I had a repair like that a few years ago, After close inspection with a magnifing glass the star turned out to be on the inside glass, hence the no impact point. I also made such a star on my demonstration WS using a ball and elastic, no visable impact point, and no cracking to the surface, just a nice star on the inside glass. Who knows your's might be the same.

Merci

The customer said that he had tried to fix it using a repair kit that he got from Sears; but when I drilled it , the glass felt normal and I saw no sign of his repair attempt. I didn't pop a bullseye. Looking back on it, that now seems like a good idea. I guess a good rule of thumb is:
If someone else has tried to repair it then don't touch it.

I wouldn't have refunded if he had already tried to fix it.

I do redo's daily! With our wonderful $9.95 repairs around here I see a ton of them. I just charge them a little more for the hassle, really it's not hard at all after the first hundred or so LOL the cool thing is I will win a customer for life...

Happy Repairing
Brian

Did you dry the repair out before you started filling. I see no problem with redoing bad repairs it is accounts for about 25% of my income. The more you do the better you get.

I've been doing the redo thing too since we got back from our last training in eugene. My brother was so stoked up on repair we ended up in the shop doing some radical stuff with our gear and I tried some things I heard about here from some of the folks who are in this tread as a matter of fact and the results were astounding. We use some of the stuff that came out of the after training on a daily basis. If you make an effort to do the job and it dosn't work out look for the lesson and be benefited in that way at least!!
On the redo thing heat will release the attempted repair, (mini torch and pressure from a scribe in the pit.) When the resin releases you can repair as usual. You may find some delamination from the extreme temps and I know a lot of folks will tell you NOT to do this but I say a good tech will try anything to learn and better him/herself in the process!! Better luck on the next one. Scott :~)

Let's see ......... the customer got a repair and made $40 ????
I think you made this customer very happy.

My guess would be that the damage area was contaminated with "RainX"? If rainX has been applied AFTER the windshield was damaged the rainX contaminated the break and the only thing that you can do is get the air out and hope that it won't crack out! personally I would "Pass" on the work and go on to the next job and forget this one all together.