Windshield repair
 

We took a rock to the windshield of our car on the highway today, which resulted in a small chip (maybe dime sized or so). Anybody ever used a do-it-yourself repair kit? Is it worth it? And anybody have an idea of what the pros charge to repair something like that?

The pros here charge $25-45 for repairs and it works really well. I haven't tried the do-it-yourself approach, but as anything else that's what the specialists are for.

Antifreeze.

Now that that is out of the way, the local oil change place offers to fix windshield chips. I've never had it done, but I'd assume that the process isn't too hard or time consuming. Dime sized may be about the cutoff in size between a DIY and a trip to a glass shop.

I'm kind of leaning toward letting the pros take care of it as long as the price isn't too crazy. It's small, but it has a small crack coming out of the side, and from what I can tell from reading online the DIY kits are meant for chips without a crack. Everyplace is closed today, though, so I can't get a quote for the pros until Monday.

Yeah, the last one I had done for a customer was 30.00. I wouldnt try it yourself, if you mess it up it could cost a lot more than 30.00.

colorado is brutal on windshields.

Check with your insurance company. I got a chip in my windshield fixed, didn't have to pay a thing.

I did once while traveling in KS. It did hold. But when I got a chip in my Titan's windshield I went to the pros. My insurance pays for chip repair with no deductible. When I had it in the shop I told them about the van and they were really surprised that it held. They said the majority of the repairs with the do it yourself kits don't work.

For $35-$50 it isn't worth trying to fix yourself - especially when most shops have lifetime warranties on their work.

Can you put the car in the garage and leave it?

If not, don't run defrosters - the temp changes on the inside vs outside can make cracks grow fast. Try to keep both sides of the glass the same temp if possible. Also, make sure you keep it dry - one guy that came and fixed one of my windshields several years back recommended clear tape over the spot.

Depending on the crack, I don't think they can fix those.

Yeah, I'm hoping that's the case. I've e-mailed my agent, so we'll see.

Agreed. The first place I found online to do an "instant quote" gave me $130 to do it. I have no idea why it was that high, but I found another that gave me $50 instead. Based on the guesstimates you guys have said, I think the pros are the way to go. Hopefully insurance will cover it for free, but if not, $50 is doable.

The quote I just got was for a "star break", so I think they can do it.

As long as the crack isn't too long they can. I think most places it's something like 6" though the one in town boasts they can fix cracks up to something like 24" long.

The crack itself on mine is probably about a quarter inch long, so I'm not too worried about it. I just want to make sure I get it repaired before it spreads.

I think the rule of thumb is if a dollar bill can cover it, they can fix it.

As was stated, most insurance companies cover the cost of chip repair.

I'd check in the yellow pages or online for a smaller company to do it if you have to pay out of pocket. It's not a huge expense, but I've found the smaller guys try to undercut the larger companies a bit on price.

I bet it was an assassination attempt and you were saved by your bulletproof windshield.


I got a little crack fixed at a local car wash a while back. I gave them my insurance number and I don't want to know what they did with it, but it didn't cost me anything.

Many insurance companys will waive the deductible....and pay the $50-75 bucks to get the "chip" repaired by one of the specialty shops. If it cracks....replacing the windshield is more expensive for them, depending on your deductible.

EDIT: I should have read the thread....

I had mine repaired about 9 mos ago. It cost 40 bucks and I was out of the body shop in 25 mins. Hardly tell it was ever cracked.

I hope it isn't in the driver's vision field. They aren't supposed to fix those.

I just had mine done 2 days ago. All-Brite Glass in Bellevue, NE. $28.50 including tax.

While talking, he said "as long as it's smaller than a quarter, we can fix them".

They don't totally visably disappear, but they're filled under heat and pressure, and then it won't run into a crack across the windshield.

They fixed my truck's and it was just a few inches above and just about in the middle of the steering wheel .

I thought it was like 500 dollar bills.

I paid around 200 with my insurance when this happened. I had had the car only three weeks. The first two weeks I had flat tires. **** my life :)

Got it taken care of today for $45 - insurance didn't cover it. I probably could have found it cheaper, but they were able to fix it 2 hours after I called, and it only took 15 minutes, so that's good enough for me. Thanks to all for the advice.

My auto policy has a no deductible windshield replacement, with a maximum of one/year/car.

I'm sure they screw me somewhere else to pay for it, though.