Repair or replace windshield
The owner of a car with a damaged windshield is faced with the question: try to repair it or immediately replace it with a new one.
You should not try to repair the windshield, but it is better to immediately replace it with a new one in the following cases:
- Long windshield crack.
- Multiple windshield cracks with branches.
- Chips and cracks with damage to the inner layer of the windshield.
- Old damage with visible dirt.
- Damage to the windshield within the driver's field of vision.
- Cracks extending to the edge of the windshield.
You can try to repair a damaged windshield if:
- There is a chip on the outer layer of the windshield without causing a crack.
- There is a single crack without branches; the length of the crack does not exceed 15-17 cm.
- The damage to the windshield occurred recently and did not have time to accumulate dirt inside it.
- The damage to the windshield is not in front of the driver's eyes.
To make the right decision about repairing or replacing a windshield, it is best to consult with an experienced technician who has been repairing windshields for a long time.
You can read more about windshield repair, the causes of its damage and their main types, as well as step-by-step instructions for repairing chips, cracks and scratches in our article: Windshield Repair
Replacing a windshield at a car service center
Most auto repair shops provide windshield replacement services. It is best to contact specialized car services involved in the replacement and repair of automobile glass, which have extensive experience in carrying out such work. The cost of replacing a windshield costs on average about 2,500 rubles. Auto repair shops that specialize in auto glass repair also stock windshields for most popular car models.
Bottom line
If it suddenly happens that the windshield of a motorist’s car was damaged in one way or another, he should not be upset and count the money that needs to be allocated for the services of car service specialists. All the work can really be done independently, and it does not require a lot of time and nerves, and does not require the motorist to have experience in such work. You just need to stock up on a couple of assistants, all the necessary materials and tools, and you can get to work. The main thing is to adhere to the plan and work rules, to show accuracy and some meticulousness. If you approach the work responsibly, the result will definitely be no worse than in even a very good car service center.
5/5 — (4 votes)
DIY windshield replacement
There is nothing particularly difficult about replacing a windshield on a car; this work can be done with your own hands, even if you have never done anything like this before. It is best to do this work together. Without experience, you should not try to change the windshield yourself on cars whose windshields are equipped with light and rain sensors, a built-in antenna or heating. It is better to entrust such work to professionals. Poor windshield replacement can lead to leaks, non-functional heating, fogging, and unexpected glass destruction during operation.
Apply sealant
This is the most important point in the whole process. For proper and convenient application of sealant, experts recommend using a pneumatic gun, since the composition has a high density. In addition, you can use a manual device. The glue must be applied in one strip, without breaks. The layer should be uniform. Now you can attach the windshield, aligning it with the marks. Next, they pass along the entire perimeter of the element and press it firmly so that the glue adheres well. This way we will ensure reliable contact between the groove and the glass. If the composition comes out in certain places, you should not remove it immediately. This can be done later. It will be easy to remove. Next, the windshield must be secured with tape. First, it is attached to the part being installed, and then to the car body.
Windshield selection
Windshield replacement begins with selecting and purchasing new glass. It is best to purchase an original windshield for replacement, which is installed by the car manufacturer on the assembly line. If you want to save money, search the Internet for information on your car and choose a good analogue. The leading manufacturers of auto glass are Pilkington, Guardian, Sekurit Saint-Gobain, FYG, AGC, Fuyao.
Avoid buying cheap fakes of unknown origin. Such windshields are often made of the cheapest glass and the cheapest PVB film, have poor transparency, optical defects, foreign inclusions, distort the view and put unnecessary strain on the eyes, increasing the risk of an accident. Cheap windshields have an uneven fit with waves and gaps, and often have glass delamination.
When choosing a windshield, pay attention to the end of the glass and evaluate whether the triplex layers are well aligned and whether the adhesive layer is coming out excessively. When choosing a windshield, you should also decide whether you need a strip at the top of the glass; for many tall drivers or those who prefer a high seating position, such a strip cuts the view in half, which is inconvenient and unsafe. Please note the presence of a fastening element for the interior mirror, mounts for sensors and the sensors themselves, cameras, rain sensors, and electrical heating terminals.
Tools and materials needed to replace your windshield
To dismantle the old windshield and install a new one, you will need the following tools and materials:
- string
for cutting out an old windshield. - A knife
for cleaning the glass seating area from remnants of old adhesive-sealant. - Activator-cleaner
for cleaning the glass seating area from old adhesive-sealant. - Primer-soil
for preparing the glass planting site. - Adhesive-sealant
for gluing car glass. - Mounting gun
for applying glue-sealant. - Masking tape
for protecting the interior trim and for fixing the windshield until the adhesive sealant has completely dried.
Many car owners purchase a kit for gluing car glass, which includes most of what is needed. The cost of such a good quality set is about 1000 rubles.
Windshield replacement procedure
Replacement of the windshield is carried out in the following order:
- We dismantle everything that prevents access to the windshield: windshield wipers (windshield wipers), moldings, decorative seals, from the inside of the car we remove the upholstery of the front pillars. If your car is equipped with curtain airbags, disconnect the battery in advance to eliminate the possibility of their accidental activation.
- We cover with masking tape or dismantle elements of the interior trim that may be damaged or stained with adhesive-sealant.
- We disconnect the wires going to the windshield (wires of the rain sensor, heated glass, heated wiper parking area).
- Using a special needle, we pierce the layer of adhesive-sealant under the windshield and pass a string through the resulting hole to cut off the windshield.
- Use a sawing motion to cut off the old windshield. It is better to perform this procedure together with an assistant. Two small wrenches can be attached to the ends of the string as handles. When cutting out an old windshield with a string, craftsmen cannot accurately regulate the force applied to the string and control the angle at which the string cuts the sealant; the string always walks a little along the seam, without understanding what it is cutting, so you need to be very careful and try not to damage the frame bodywork, dashboard, interior trim elements.
- Together with an assistant, we carefully remove the old windshield from the body frame. It is convenient to use special suction cups for this.
- Using a special knife or sharpened chisel, remove the remnants of the old adhesive-sealant from the surface of the body frame, being careful not to damage the paintwork. Damage to the paintwork of the windshield frame will subsequently lead to corrosion and subsequent leaks. In case of minor damage to the paintwork and small pockets of corrosion, they can be stopped by protecting the surface with a primer. If there is extensive rust, before installing a new windshield, you should contact a body repair shop, where they will first remove the rust, then restore the paintwork, after which you can install a new windshield.
- Before installing the windshield, you should make sure that it completely fits your car; to do this, try the glass to the opening of the windshield frame and put marks on the body so that during installation the glass fits as accurately as possible. If, as a result of fitting, it turns out that the glass does not quite fit your car, you should not try to squeeze it in by force or try to fit it into place using improvised materials, all this is too risky and can further lead to leaks or destruction of the glass in the process installation or subsequent operation. An unsuitable windshield must be replaced by contacting the dealer who sold it to you.
- Degrease the perimeter of the windshield with acetone.
- Apply primer to the edge of the windshield and to the place where the adhesive-sealant will be applied. The primer is necessary for additional protection of the adhesive-sealant from UV rays from the sun. The primer must dry for 15 minutes at an ambient temperature of +23 degrees.
- We treat the opening of the windshield frame with primer to improve adhesion and protect against corrosion.
- We install special suction cup handles on the front side of the windshield so that after applying the adhesive-sealant it is convenient to install it on the car.
- If the installation of the windshield requires the presence of a rubber molding, then before applying the adhesive-sealant, clean the molding from dirt and dust, degrease it, install it in place and fix it with tape so that the adhesive-sealant does not squeeze the molding out when installing the windshield.
- If you are using a two-component adhesive-sealant, apply the activator around the perimeter of the windshield in the place where the adhesive-sealant was applied, after a minute, remove the remaining activator with a dry cloth.
- Using a gun, apply adhesive sealant around the perimeter of the windshield. A tube of adhesive-sealant can be preheated to 35-40 degrees. The adhesive-sealant must be applied without breaks, with a uniform ridge height. Adhesive-sealant applied with a gap in the adhesive seam and with an uneven height of the adhesive ridge can lead to leaks.
- Using suction cup handles, carefully, without pushing or moving, install the windshield into the frame opening. Together with an assistant, you can do without suction cup handles by carefully pressing the windshield with your hands to the opening and preventing it from sliding. If the installation of the windshield requires the presence of a rubber molding, simultaneously with the installation of the windshield, install the rubber molding.
- Using light pressure, press the windshield along the perimeter of the frame opening and secure it with tape. We first glue the tape to the windshield, then pull it up and glue the remaining ends of the tape onto the roof. We remove the adhesive sealant that has come out from under the glass only after it has completely hardened. We lower the side windows of the doors to avoid an air strike when closing them.
- We wait for the glue-sealant to dry, this usually takes 7-10 hours. The drying time of the adhesive sealant is indicated in the instructions. Increased temperature and humidity accelerate the polymerization process. While the adhesive-sealant dries, do not touch the windshield or slam the doors.
- When the adhesive-sealant dries, remove the tape and pour plenty of water onto the windshield to check for leaks.
- We install the rear view mirror, connect the wires of the rain and light sensors, install windshield wipers and moldings.
For several hours after replacing the windshield, you need to handle the car very carefully. Do not push or press the windshield, place passes or other objects between the glass and adjacent trim. You should not use a car wash during the day. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to a significant slowdown in the polymerization process of the adhesive-sealant and a decrease in the strength of the windshield.
Chip repair
In a repair shop, a thin drill with a cutter at the end goes through the chipped area, trying not to go deep into the film between the triplex glasses. The hole makes it easier for glue to fill cavities. Using an injector, pressure and vacuum are created for high-quality flow of the polymer. Then polymerization or drying occurs under the lamp. The remaining glue is cut off with a special soft blade so as not to scratch the glass.
The glass being repaired dries for as long as it takes for each type of damage. If the chip is small, then ten minutes is enough, but for complex repairs, the glue drying time can take up to half an hour.
Glass repair will be of high quality and fast, if you do not delay visiting the workshop. Water and washer fluid getting inside the damage will bring in dirt and leave their mark forever.
It is necessary to seal the damaged area with transparent tape on the outside. This will not give dirt access, and will slightly delay the visit to the master. And if the chip is closer than 15 centimeters from the edge, then you need to look for the nearest repair service. Otherwise, it will develop into a crack due to the stresses of the glued glass resulting from the torsion of the body.
