The Most Common Auto Glass Repair Issues
Posted in Windshield Repair, on February 13, 2021 By Admin
When considering which repair issues to sort out first in your car, you’ll do well to give priority to any auto glass repair issues your vehicle may have. Regardless of how small they may be, auto glass problems can end up costing you a great deal if not dealt with quickly. For example, they can significantly impair your visibility and make you more susceptible to car accidents. They can also compromise the car’s structural integrity, resulting in more severe injuries to you and your passengers in the event of an accident. Also, if you hold off calling a professional to perform auto glass repair on your car when you notice these auto glass problems, you may end up having to do auto glass replacement, which will cost you much more than what you may have spent to do the repairs. Here are the most common auto glass problems that drivers encounter:
1) Chips
Chips are among the most common auto glass repair issues you’ll deal with as a car owner. These small impact points are often caused when the vehicle ahead of you on the road, e.g. a dump truck, kicks up small rocks or debris onto your windshield. Chips can also occur while the car is parked, e.g. when the wind flings debris and hard objects onto your vehicle in a storm. Chips rarely exceed 40mm in diameter but can quickly develop into large cracks, so they ought to be repaired as soon as possible. This is especially so when they occur in your direct line of sight or when they are close to the edges of windshield/windows. When chips exceed 40mm in diameter, auto glass replacement is recommended.
2) Cracks
When your auto glass is struck with even greater force, e.g. when tree branches break off and land on your car’s windshield in a storm, cracks can form. Cracks are deeper than chips; they appear as thin lines of damage on your car’s windshield or windows, and they may also have a few sub-surface breaks stemming from the impact point.
Because of their greater severity, cracks should be repaired even more urgently because they pose a greater risk to your safety. Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to repair auto glass cracks that are even up to 14 inches long; anything longer will require auto glass replacement.
3) Scratches
Old or worn-out windshield wipers can leave unsightly scratches on your car’s windshield. Parking close to thickets or under trees with low-lying branches can also result in auto glass scratches. While it is true that most scratches are not deep, they should not be ignored because they can significantly impair your visibility. You should also schedule auto glass repair for such issues without delay.
Reasons Why Your Repair didn’t work the First Time:
If, perhaps, you had tried to get the chips, cracks, or scratches on your auto glass surfaces repaired without success, here are a few reasons why that may have happened:
1) Dirty Windshield
Technicians may fail to remove all the dirt and grime from the damaged auto glass when preparing to do auto glass repair. In such cases, tiny dirt particles may mix with the resin meant to seal the chips or cracks; this may affect how the resin bonds with the severed auto glass, so it may cause the repair to fail.
2) Cold Weather
Auto glass repair can also go wrong when it is done in unfavourable weather. When it is cold, the resin takes longer to dry, and so you may end up driving the car before it sets well, resulting in a messed-up repair effort. There is also the fact that auto glass contracts when it is cold. When you apply resin on contracted auto glass, it is likely to come undone when the auto glass warms up and restores its original consistency.
3) When Auto Glass Repair is done on Complex Damages
Certain auto glass damages on your windshield or car windows cannot be repaired; some may require auto glass replacement. For example, when several long and deep cracks are stemming from the impact point, or when the cracks are close to the edges of the glass, you shouldn’t try to repair them because such repairs are likely to fail.
For all your auto glass repair needs, come to General Auto Glass. We have many years’ worth of experience in auto glass repair and replacement. Our rates are also quite reasonable. Call for an estimate today.