When to Get a New Windshield

[Jonny Z]

I have a chip in the windshield which developed into a crack four years ago. It was patched when it was 3 inches long.
Today the windshield was iced. My wipers were wiping on solid ice when I was using the defroster full blast. It cracked all the way across, from the passenger side horizontally across. In my sight, it is a little above the hood line.
I looked up the Texas Inspection Code, it does not say anything about the windshield.

Quote:

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05.01 Inspect Every Passenger Car For: (Listed in suggested order of inspection)

* Check for evidence of Financial Responsibility

1. Horn
2. Windshield Wipers
3. Mirror
4. Steering
5. Seat Belts
6. Brakes (system) (Parking - beginning with 1960 models)
7. Tires
8. Wheel Assembly
9. Exhaust System
10. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
11. Beam Indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
12. Tail Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
13. Stop Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
14. License Plate Lamp (1)
15. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
16. Turn Signal Lamps (beginning with 1960 models)
17. Head Lamps (2)
18. Motor, Serial, or Vehicle Identification Number
19. 1988 & newer - inspect for window tinting or coating
20. Gas caps on vehicles 2-24 model years old.

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I guess you can pass w/o a windshield at all, but you need wipers.

A new windshield job would run $600+ (I have tinted band, dot matrix top, and wiring for the auto dimming mirror), my insurance deductable is $500.

Should I go for it?

 

[johnd]

I had an Texas ex-vehicle inspector that worked for me for a while. The judgement call is very liberal in this state. If it doesn't cut the wipers or obscure the drivers vision, you are ok. If the crack is below where you would normally be looking, you are probably ok.

 

[Jonny Z]

Can the crack leak water and compromise the overall integrity of the windshield? (It is end to end now, up from end of passenger side, all the way to the driver side, and dives into the inspection sticker, how ironic)

 

[alreadygone]

Check Around!!!!

If you look for them there will be a volume glass distributor/installer who will install nearly any windshield ever made for less than the deductable you're speaking of. In this area, it's a company approx 50 mi north, just in Missouri. They run trucks on regular routes daily. My S10 Blazer was $110.00 INSTALLED! Wife's Gran Marquis with tint,and dots was still less thatn $200.00

Glass has the highest markup of any automotive part and there's allways someone willing to discount. If you think those route drivers might be less than the best, consider they may very well install 15-20 glasses daily. Takes a biiig body shop to do more than a dozen each week.

Bob

 

[Jonny Z]

Bob,
You're right. I found a Safelite shop that would do it for $175, installed.
How are the after market glasses compare to OEM? As far as dimesioning and optical quality, etc?
I also got three stickers to replace now. Reg, Insp, Toll.

 

[Jonny Z]

PS
Is it wise to wait until the rains stops and warms up a bit before I get it installed? If for nothing else the glue might cure better and the installer will be more comfortable and would likely to do a better job?

 

[Jonny Z]

Just found a bunch of posts on Tundra Solutions against Safelite. I guess it's the Jiffy Lube of the auto glass industry?
I am going to call a couple of PPG certified independents.
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/tundra/64492-i-hate-#@$%!-service-dont-use/

 

[ChrisW]

PPG and Pilkington only for me, unless you need an OEM for german cars (siglasol comes to mind). I live 5 miles from a pilkington factory and have been satisfied with their glass so far. PPG i've never had a problem with. There is a difference in glass quality, consistency, thickness and strength.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I have been through 3 Safelite windshields now on my Civic, and I'm due for another one as it has cracked again. Perhaps I'll shop around.

 

[JHZR2]

yes, check prices...

My fiancee's integra needed new glass. One shop had some no-name, made in Mexico glass for $400, the shop we went with had a PPG windshield installed for $169. Both required that WE supply OEM gaskets.

JMH

 

[The_Jeff]

If you can't save your old stickers you can get new inspection stickers (and presumably registration too) from the TX DMV.

My sister went through this when she scraped the wrong one off. As TX inspections are online they knew she had passed.

Ask the glass company, am sure it's one of their FAQ.

 

[Earl Filter]

As long as your vision isn't downright obscured, every shop I know of will pass it. One guy told me, in effect, "If you can see through it well enough to get the car here, it will pass." If it doesn't bother you, it probably won't bother them.

 

[jimbeamalki]

You could move to Indiana. No inspection here.

 

[Earl Filter]

Quote:

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You could move to Indiana. No inspection here.

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No state income tax here.

I'll take a $39.50/yr state inspection on the car, thanks.

 

[Black_Thunder]

i don't replace mine until the cops tell me to

 

[kschachn]

I'll second the notion of checking around. When I needed a new windshield, the estimates from most of the ususal "glass shops" all came out around $400-600 which seemed kind of high. I happened to be near the dealer that day, so I stopped in. They turned out to be the cheapest at around $275 and did a great job. Another lady at work also found the dealer to be the least expensive (by a lot) for a rear window replacement.

FWIW, my last set of tires also were from the dealer. They were $30 less than Tires Plus and I got free lifetime rotation and road hazard warranty.