Primer is an important component of the windshield bonding system. It increases the bond strength between the car body and windshield. Primer increases polyurethane strength and keeps the windshield better hold with the car body.
Why a primer should be used before windshield replacement?
Windshield primer is necessary for old cars, as the paint layer gets distorted after a few years and to restore the paint layer primer should be applied. Primer not only increases the strength of the bond, but it also keeps the car body safe from rusting by filling any gap in the paint layer.
Even if your car is relatively new, you should use a primer to make a base of polyurethane. During removal of old urethane/adhesive, the paint layer got scratched. To avoid any kind of rusting in the body you should use a quality primer.
Features of windshield primer
Increase adhesive strength between windshield, car body, PVC parts, etc
Work as an anti-rusting agent for the car body.
Can cover up scratched or damages that may arise while removing old urethane
Protect from UV rays
Can be applied to all types of glasses
Follow these steps before applying the windshield primer:
Clean the windshield and body with a cleaner thoroughly before applying primer
Shake primer well before opening the bottle
Apply the primer properly and let it dry for 10 – 15 minutes.
Apply polyurethane on the primer carefully
Place the windshield carefully.
Precautions for applying Primer
Always check the date of primer, use only in the recommended period.
Store primer in 15 to 25 degree C
Always wear gloves, safety glass, and waterproof clothes while working with windshield primer
Windshield Store use Sika windshield primer and 3M primers for windshield replacement. These are industry-best products and follow all industry safety standards. For more details about windshield primer and any other question regarding windshield replacement please call +91-9278783578.
Selecting a car glass replacement company has many aspects. Different workshops have different costs of car glass replacement for the same car model. Now what’s are the key things that make Windshield Store unique, and why even you should think of visiting our workshop compared to a local car glass shop.
Toyota Windshield Replacement
1. Repair First Policy: Most local car glass shop doesn’t have a windscreen repair kit. They only replace car windshield even if the crack is small and repairable. So, even if you save some money vis-à-vis branded car glass replacement company, you may be losing money by replacing a repairable windshield. We follow a Repair first policy, and for cracks which are repairable, we never ask you to go for a replacement.
2. Genuine Car Glass: At Windshield Store we only use genuine products as replacement parts. Most of our car glass is procured either directly from the manufacturer or by their authorized dealers. In case genuine products are not sold in the aftermarket, we use similar products of the same manufacturer which supply to the car manufacturers.
Like Saint Gobain Sekurit supplies Original Honda car windshield for Amaze, but due to their contractual obligations, they can’t supply the same windshield in the aftermarket. So, Windshield Store use its OEE equivalent, which is supplied by Saint Gobain Sekurit but doesn’t have a Honda logo.
Likewise, if you have a Toyota Altis, the original Toyota windshield is supplied by AIS, with the Toyota logo. But it doesn’t supply the same windshield for aftermarket replacement. So, we use the AIS aftermarket windshield for Altis, which has the AIS logo, but not Toyota.
The OEE parts are identical to the Original parts supplied to car manufacturers but don’t have car manufacturers logo due to trademark laws. Yet, quality and standards are identical in all aspects.
3. Genuine Adhesive: Another crucial component in car glass replacement is Adhesive. Here is all the cost difference. Most local car glass dealers use substandard car glass polyurethane. The cost of such an adhesive can range somewhere between ₹ 90 – ₹ 120 for 1 bottle. These adhesives have low adhesive quality and hence are not certified for automotive use. Such adhesives can cause rusting in the car and hence can compromise its structural strength.
Windshield Store never compromises the quality of adhesives for a few bucks. All our replacement centers and mobile van teams use high-quality car glass adhesives. The most trusted brands that we use are Sika Titan by Sika, Norton by Saint Gobain & Beataseal by AIS. All these adhesives are best in class and are certified for use in the automotive industry. For any branded adhesive cost of 1 bottle may vary between ₹ 650 – ₹ 1250.
4. Specialized Tools and Expert Technicians: Technicians at our center use specialized tools for car glass replacement and windshield repair. All cars have different types of fittings and need special tools to open the windshield, door or sunroof. Even removing the broken windshield or sunroof requires specialized tools. Local car glass dealers lack such tools, they use brake clutch wire to remove the windshield which can cause damage to the car body. They don’t have long blade knives or L-shape or U-shape cold knife blades. Also, for the removal of rain sensors or cameras, they don’t have any kind of specialized tools, so sometimes they damage the sensor while removing it.
The service or labor cost also depends upon the experience and expertise of technicians. Our technicians are trained well to handle all car models including premium luxury cars and have vast exposer of handling cars ranging from Maruti Suzuki to premium brands like Bentley and Lamborghini.
5. Cashless Insurance Claims: Local car glass shops don’t have a cashless insurance claims facility. It forces you either to go for a cash job or a non-cashless job, where first you need to pay out of your pocket and then the insurance company will refund their part in your account. At Windshield Store, you don’t need to wary about your claim settlement. We have cashless tie-ups with all major insurance companies and offer a total cashless facility. You just need to pay the clause or deductibles as per your policy.
6. Warranty: Local car glass shop may or may not gives you a warranty for the product and service. Also, they don’t provide a proper invoice and hence in absence of invoice, there is no guarantee that they will honor their words if there is some issue with the product quality or workmanship. At Windshield Store, we offer a written 1-year standard manufacturer warranty for all products and workmanship, which applies from the date of the invoice.
So, before deciding to go for car glass replacement at a local shop, you should consider the above points and check whether for a mere discount of a few bucks are you ready to compromise with your safety.
If you own a car, you have been to the workshop many times. Your workshop gives you tips for maintenance, a schedule that shows the life of different parts that need an overhaul or change from time to time.
But despite being a crucial component of cars’ safety structure, the car windshield got ignored easily. You only look for windshield care once it got broken, in some cases to the extent that it is not possible to drive with it. We have observed drivers driving cars with cracked windshields. They are aware that it can be dangerous, but since it’s laminated and will not fall like side glass, they keep on driving.
So, we
decide to cover an important topic. When should you go for a windshield
replacement and what are the chances that the crack can be repaired?
Firstly, as far as the repair is concerned only the front car glass is repairable. It’s because in most cars only the front car glass is laminated and doesn’t scatter. Other car glasses are tempered and hence scatter into pieces on deep impact.
Which crack is repairable?
Any crack in the front car glass a size smaller than a rupee coin is repairable. Provided that it is not directly in sight of the driver or near the edges.
Are
multiple cracks on the windshield repairable?
Not more than 2 cracks at a reasonable distance from each other and the edges are repairable. You should visit a car glass repair shop to get a clear idea.
Can I repair
a windshield crack on my own?
Yes, you can. There are many DIY kits available only which can be used to repair a windshield crack. But our advice is that you should visit an expert windshield repair company. Apart from the experience and expertise, the windscreen repair kits these companies use is far better than a DIY kit. Also, the cost of a repair at these workshops is almost the same as the cost of a DIY kit.
How much is
the cost of a windshield crack repair?
Ideally,
for a single crack based on the car model the cost of repair can vary between ₹
800 – ₹ 2500.
Why is such
a price range for repairing a crack? What is the difference?
The difference in repair cost is due to the complexities of the car windshield. Different cars have different kinds of windshields like heating wires, sensors, etc. So, the cost of repair depends upon the expertise required to repair and the time taken.
How much
time does it require to repair a windshield crack?
Most of the time it takes less than 30 minutes to repair a crack. But if your car has any special windshield time it takes to repair can increase.
My car windshield has a hairline crack, can it be repaired?
Unfortunately, No. At this point in time no car glass replacement company uses a hairline repair kit in India. Most of the companies not even repair the glass. Your authorized workshop only replaces the windshield and not even recommend a repair.
Which windscreen repair kit does Windshield Store use?
At Windshield Store we use Esprit windscreen repair kit. It is one of the most reputed windscreen repair kit manufacturers from Europe and supplies specialized crack repair kits worldwide. All our service centers are equipped with one such kit and our technicians are fully trained to use it.
Often car windshields got damaged or cracked due to stone or debris while driving. You need to get a replacement or repair based on the type of crack, but do you know why you are paying and what causes the windshield crack?
But sometimes,
there can a peculiar case that you parked your car with an intact windshield
and when you come back, you found it broken. You try to find the reason, but
there are no visible marks of anything hitting the windshield.
Sometimes even when you got a new windshield replaced, it got broken without even driving the car or within 2-3 days. Industry experts say that the breakage of the windshield has no warranty. So, you wonder what went wrong?
Let’s check different reasons for such a situation where a car windshield got crack without any visible sign of hitting with an external force. As per experts, there can be different environmental factors that can cause such cracks, where the source of a crack is not easy to trace.
Temperature effect on windshield
Ambient temperature is the most prominent reason that can cause a car windshield crack. If there is an extreme change in the temperature of the car windshield in a relatively short time it can cause thermal stress in the glass and hence can cause a crack.
Like, in the summer in north India it’s the main reason for windshield breakage. The temperature can rise to 44°C and if in such a situation you use cold water or ac directed to the windshield, it can cause a crack in the windscreen. Similarly, in some places like in Europe where the temperature drops to -40°C if someone uses warm water to clear ice from the windscreen. The stress due to sudden temperature changes can cause a crack in the windshield.
Pressure effect on Windshield Crack
As is the case with the temperature, a sudden change in pressure can also cause stress on the parts of the windshield which can crack. This can because due to strong wind or maybe by a sudden blast near your car. The shock waves can develop stress that will be enough to damage a windshield.
Effect of Sun
Sun is the main cause of thermal stress and can cause rapid temperature variation which can crack your car windscreen.
Imperfections in Windshield
Sometimes during manufacturing, some imperfections got developed in the windshield due to uneven cooling in the manufacturing process. If such an imperfection got developed near the edges, it can make the windshield vulnerable to cracks during high-speed driving or even due to a sudden jerk.
For all the above reasons, the damage in the windshield will not have any visible impact. So, it is not possible to verify the exact reason for the crack.
Precaution to
avoid stress cracks
You need to be conscious to avoid stress cracks developed due to temperature or Sun. In summer especially, don’t close the side window glass completely as it can cause pressure difference inside the car cabin and ambient. This can cause stress on the windshield and other glasses.
Is there any remedy if my windshield cracks due to any above reasons?
I am afraid, that the cause of the above cracks is not due to workmanship or manufacturing defects. There will be no warranty against such cracks. Even in the case of imperfections, it’s not easy to establish and hence no manufacturer gives replacement in cases where the windshield got cracks without any reason.
The warranty on windshields is limited to only defects related to visibility issues or any kind of imperfection that can be checked visibly, like a wave on the surface.
You can opt for an insurance claim if you have got any kind of crack in the windshield and there is no visible sign of damage. All kinds of cracks/damages are covered by the insurance company. You can call +91-9278783578 for more details regarding insurance claims for the windshield.
Windshield installation is a specialized job and hence needs to be done by experts with proper training and enough experience to handle such jobs. Not only it is technical due to the presence of many subsystems on the car windshield, but the windshield itself is fragile and can develop cracks due to a faulty windshield installation.
Though a factory setting is not possible once the car is out of the production line, a windshield replacement company has technicians that can do the job flawlessly. Still, even after all efforts there can be some issues.
Let’s check a few issues that can be detected if you inspect your car windshield closely. Timely detection can save any unwanted damage to an incorrectly installed windshield glass.
Water seepage/leakage in the cabin
Air noise or vibration at high speed
Blur in windshield
Rattle noise or friction in the windshield
The windshield isn’t flush correctly with car body
Water seepage/leakage
During car washing under pressure water jet, water seeps into the cabin through the edges of the windshield. There can be 2 reasons.
The adhesive used during windshield installation is not used properly. It can causes gaps between the windshield and car body.
The car body gets perforated with small holes due to rusting and water may be seeping through it.
Noise or
Vibration at high speed
Improper windshield installation can also cause noise inside the car cabin. You will experience wind flowing through some corner of the windshield into the cabin and making a whooshy sound. Intensity can vary from a slight whisper to a distinct knocking noise when driving at high speeds. It depends on the gap between the windshield glass and the car body. The worse the situation regarding faulty windshield installation the more will be the noise and the soon you should get it checked.
Blur in the
windshield
If you have a new windshield installation, the windshield glass should have perfect vision as per the manufacturer’s standards. But depending upon the source of the windshield and the brand you have selected, it can vary. If your new windshield has blur or wave while seeing through, it means there is some defect. Ideally, your windshield replacement company shouldn’t have used such a windshield glass. But sometimes small glass defects get ignored in normal check and it comes into light only after installation especially while driving at night.
Rattle noise/friction in the windshield
Sometimes if there is some gap or the windshield is not placed correctly, the windshield starts rubbing at the dashboard. Though the dashboard has trims and foam to avoid such a situation, sometimes during windshield replacement trims or foam gets tempered, and hence the gap between the dashboard and the windshield cause noise of friction which need to be filled to avoid any kind of crack due to unwanted stress on the windshield.
The windshield isn’t Flush Correctly
If there is a visible gap between the car pillars and the windshield which was not there in the old windshield, it means the technicians haven’t flushed the new windshield properly into its position. This kind of poor installation can cause a rattling sound effect and vibration during the high-speed drive.
Reason for poor windshield installation
The first obvious reason can be poorly trained technicians, which don’t have the correct training or enough experience.
It can be due to a single-man installation. Ideally, a proper windshield installation required a pair of technicians.
The use of sub-standard adhesive can also cause faulty windshield installation. Due to the quality of the adhesive, the windshield and car body don’t bind well and hence there can be gaps that as a result can cause water seepage or unwanted noise.
Poor application of windshield adhesive is another reason. Sometimes technicians don’t apply adhesive in proper quantity and thus the windshield is not even as per the car frame. Uneven application of urethane can cause gaps and can result in noise due to wind.
Sometimes sheer lack of attention can be the reason. Even a perfect technician can be careless during windshield fitting which may result in the improper placing of the windshield. This type of installation can cause unwanted stress on the edges of the windshield and hence cracks may start at such point without any visible reason.
What should you do if you find a faulty windshield installation in your car?
As discussed, a poor windshield installation can create unwanted stress due to wind at high speed. It can cause cracks in the new windshield glass. To avoid any such situation you should visit your windshield replacement company asap to get it checked if you observe any of the above signs.
Heated car windshield has thin wires to heat up the windshield up to a temperature so that it can defrost. Like rear defogger, it has tungsten wires embedded between the two layers to keep the windshield warm enough that it won’t allow condensation on itself.
Heated Windshield
Technology
Embedding
tungsten wires in the front car glass is much more complicated than in rear
defogger. It is natural that you can’t have such thick wires in front of the
drive as the rear heated defoggers have. So, to heat up the windshield the most
important aspect is to keep the visibility intact.
The most common heated windshields have tungsten wire mesh at the bottom and in the corners, which heat up the wipers and windshield in low temperatures. These elements don’t hamper the vision area as they are in the ceramic area which is a border area where the windshield is fixed with the car body. These windshields are common in Hyundai, Toyota, Lexus, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz models like Bentley Continental GT, Mercedes E-Class, Mercedes S-Class, Toyota Landcruiser Prado, etc.
But some premium brands like Jaguar & Land Rover, have fully heated Pilkington windshields specially manufactured for JLR. These windshields have very fine tungsten wire embedded from top of the windshield to the bottom. These wires are so thin that it doesn’t affect vision yet provide the best heating experience by defrosting the windshield even in sub-zero temperatures. You can check Jaguar XF, XJL, Discovery, and Discovery Sports models for these types of heated car windshields.
Another type of heated car windshield is available, which has 1 or 2 tungsten wires embedded in the whole windshield in the vision area. These are also very thin but heat the windshield enough to stop condensation. Porsche Carrera, and Porsche Cayman are the best examples of such heated windshields.
Advantage
of Heated windshield
A heated car windshield is important as they eliminate the use of heated or AC to keep the windshield clean. If your car has a heated windshield, you can just switch on the defogger rather than using AC or Blower, it also helps to save fuel and hence increase the fuel economy of the car. Also, as you don’t need a blower to divert air to the windshield, it reduces cabin noise.
Cost of Heated car windshield
Heated car windshields are not general in India and are mostly used by luxury car manufacturers. Some of the premium brands that use heated front windshields are Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Lexus, Porsche, Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover. The cost of the OEM windshield for these brands is a bit costly than others.
Mercedes E-Class (W212)
₹ 79864
Mercedes S-Class (W222)
₹ 149568
Porsche Carrera 991
₹ 109123
Jaguar XF
₹ 64289
Jaguar XJL
₹ 106474
Range Rover Sports
₹ 96359
Toyota Prado
₹ 47026
Repairing a
Heated windshield
If your heated car windshield is cracked or chipped, you should contact a windshield repair expert. Repairing a heated windshield is tricky as the tungsten wire mesh is very thin. It may get tempered while making a hole for the resign. The experience of the technician is crucial for such a repair. Most workshops don’t recommend repairing a windshield with the wire mesh. You can visit Auto Glass Masters workshop for more details.
Replacing a
Heated Windshield
Windshields with heating elements need special precautions while replacing them. The primer used at the car body and the adhesive/PU sealant used need to be compatible. Ordinary PU sealant may lose grip over the windshield during heating, it can be fatal in case of a mishap. Auto Glass Masters use special Sika polyurethane for luxury car windshields that are suitable for heated windscreens.
