Chip in windshield, need info, pic

[Jimmy9190]

I recently got this starburst type chip in the windshield in my Dakota. I am considering trying to fix it with one of the DIY glass repair kits from Amazon. Does anyone have any experience with these DIY kits or know if the kits work or not? Here is a pic of the chip, sorry it is blurry but it was the best I could do. I would like to fix the chip before the summer heat causes it to run out and crack further across the glass. I still have my OEM windshield and do not want to break the seal if I don't have to. Thanks for any info on this.

 

[Leo99]

I have about 4 of those and took my car to the local windshield/auto glass shop in town and paid them to do their thing. It's been a few years and none of the chips have spread.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I've had it happen twice. My insurance paid both times. Call your insurance company and ask.

 

[AdRock]

If you have full coverage ins. then go to a shop and get it done. It won't cost you anything.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I have full coverage insurance which in Florida means a cracked windshield gets replaced for "free". I have no idea if they log it in as a claim and would rather not go through insurance if the kit works and I can DIY. I also do not know if my insurance covers these starburst type chips. I may call a few glass shops on Monday and compare their quotes to the cost of the kit. I could live with the chip but do not want it to split the windshield and require a new one.

 

[AdRock]

Almost every ins. I've ever looked into will pay for fixes and not put it as a claim. The ins. companies know that most people don't/won't pay out of pocket to fix a chip. They'll just let it go and when the windshield develops a crack they'll probably file a claim to keep from paying out of pocket. So in the end it benefits the ins. company to foot the cost of the chip fix without dinging you for a claim. Pull into a safelite location or something like that, tell them you need a chip fixed and have full coverage through X company. They'll fix it and you'll be on your way in probably less that 20 minutes. No money out of pocket, no claim on your ins., and have a warranty on the repair.

Take 5 minutes and call your ins. company.

I've had 9 or so chips fixed on my Mustang since 2003. With State farm full coverage I've never paid a dime out of pocket and never had it go on as a claim.

 

[UNC164]

get it fixed by a pro glass company - don;t mess with diy kit on glass

 

[raytseng]

don't do a DIY because if sounds like you care about the results, and the quality of results are a bit of artistry, and the real pros have better tools than DIY .
It's a bit like touchup paint or bodywork.

Even out of pocket it should be be less than $50 or so from the pros-maybe less if you're good at the haggling game and pay cash.
As mentioned before, many ins. companies have free windshield chip repair-but you may get stuck with a mediocre company
Use yelp search for windshield repair and call around.

 

[Noey]

So, you think you can repair better than a pro?

If you do it wrong, there's a chance it will spread, the weight of the glass will cause a stress fracture and then you'll have to replace the whole thing.

Your insurance company wont raise your rates for this.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: cashmoney
get it fixed by a pro glass company - don;t mess with diy kit on glass


I've used a DIY kit for very minor repairs, and it can be done. That one looks a bit larger and probably would be better dealt with professionally as recommended.

id find a competitive, reputable mobile glass repair business. Avoid safelite and the types of places that cater to insurance jobs, as their retail prices will be higher.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Bing search turned up 3 or 4 auto glass shops near my office. One is just a few blocks up the street. Safelite is not too far away either. I will try to find some trustworthy reviews and just get a glass guy to fix it the right way and let my insurance take care of it. From the sound of it this is one of those things that is best left up to a professional. Thanks for all your help.

 

[scurvy]

That tiny little thing? I'd give one of the DIY kits a go first. I've used the Permatex Bullseye kit before several times with good success.

 

[linksep]

I've got 100+ of those and 1,000+ smaller but still visible. Not one has turned into a crack (darn!). It's past time to drop full coverage and just pay retail for a new windshield (well under $300, IIRC well under $200) which is only a couple-few months worth of full coverage insurance including comprehensive [$0 deductible] glass coverage.

 

[asand1]

I have liability only and was told no by my ins company. I used a diy kit with great success.

I had another chip I neglected, and forgot to turn the defrost on right away and let it heat slowly one frozen morning. Turned on full heat and Hurd a crack less than a minute later. Clear across the bottom of the windshield.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Well it looks like I will DIY after all. I called my insurance today and talked to two different people and neither one would give me a straight answer about whether the windshield repair would be a claim against me and raise my rates. They just said it may or may not be a claim and it could or could not cause my rate to go up, they really don't know and I/they would not find out until December because my policy was just renewed for June. Double-speak and non-answers like this are why I did not want to pursue this through my insurance. It is aggravating to say the least, and I do not have some low budget insurance, it is through a very well known national company.

I will just handle this myself. I watched a few Youtube videos showing people using the kits and it really did not look that difficult. I know the repair will not completely remove the chip, and that is OK. My windshield is almost 15 years old now and is not in pristine condition so I am not worried about cosmetics. I just don't want it to crack further across the glass and I really want to avoid breaking the factory seal. I have some more research to do but believe I will use the Permatex DIY kit and see how it turns out.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: linksep
I've got 100+ of those and 1,000+ smaller but still visible. Not one has turned into a crack (darn!). It's past time to drop full coverage and just pay retail for a new windshield (well under $300, IIRC well under $200) which is only a couple-few months worth of full coverage insurance including comprehensive [$0 deductible] glass coverage.


It's not the cost of the windshield, it's breaking the factory seal that you want to avoid. At least that's what I've been told.

 

[CELICA_XX]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
It's not the cost of the windshield, it's breaking the factory seal that you want to avoid.


That goes for most things when it comes to cars, especially collision damage.

Once you start to remove and replace stuff, the car is never the same.

 

[raytseng]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Well it looks like I will DIY after all. I called my insurance today and talked to two different people and neither one would give me a straight answer about whether the windshield repair would be a claim against me and raise my rates. They just said it may or may not be a claim and it could or could not cause my rate to go up, they really don't know and I/they would not find out until December because my policy was just renewed for June. Double-speak and non-answers like this are why I did not want to pursue this through my insurance. It is aggravating to say the least, and I do not have some low budget insurance, it is through a very well known national company.

I will just handle this myself. I watched a few Youtube videos showing people using the kits and it really did not look that difficult. I know the repair will not completely remove the chip, and that is OK. My windshield is almost 15 years old now and is not in pristine condition so I am not worried about cosmetics. I just don't want it to crack further across the glass and I really want to avoid breaking the factory seal. I have some more research to do but believe I will use the Permatex DIY kit and see how it turns out.


If I were you, at least call the places first to see how much out of costs in cash before DIY