Rock kicks up on freeway, cracks windshield

[Muse]

Sometimes in the year I don't use my car much, maybe for weeks. It's a 1997 Mazda 626LX 4 door sedan, 4 cylinder, 2.0L with less than 28,000 miles on it.

People have said it's a good idea to exercise it every two weeks, take a 20 mile non-stop jaunt on the highway. So, I've been doing that lately. I've been wondering just how fast I should go. Should I push 65-70? If I go just 55-60, it doesn't get above ~2300 RPM or so.

I was going to post this today anyway, but I have another issue now, because during my 20 mile drive today there was suddenly a sharp PING! It sounded like a stone had hit the windshield.

I figured a stone had popped up, probably kicked up by the semi cab (no load behind it), that was ahead of me in the adjacent lane, we were doing around 65 MPH, I guess. Hell, I don't know, maybe I'd just gone under an overpass and a kid had thrown a rock down on the car, I don't know. Anyway, I looked over the windshield as I drove and didn't see anything, but I had a stop after the 20 mile ride and noticed a crack running from the lower right corner (looking out from the driver's seat) that angled toward the upper left corner. It looked to be about 10" long. But by the time I'd gotten home (just normal city street driving), that crack had lengthened to about 18.5". Do I need to replace the windshield now?

 

[NutBucket]

Yes, I'd replace the windshield.

As for your highway cruise; speed doesn't really matter. The idea is to get everything up to normal operating temperature.

 

[ummduh]

Yes, I'd replace the windshield.

As for your highway cruise; speed doesn't really matter. The idea is to get everything up to normal operating temperature.

Yup, you need to get the oil hot for long enough to burn any condensation/moisture out of it. A good half hour drive should do it. Even if it's just around town.

 

[boomerang]

The problem with the windshield is that you might be subject to a ticket for impaired vision or however they term it where you live. That's assuming they write tickets for that where you live.

 

[Muse]

Yes, I'd replace the windshield.

As for your highway cruise; speed doesn't really matter. The idea is to get everything up to normal operating temperature.

I guess I'll call the repair shop where I had my air conditioning fixed this year, also got the 30k service done, although it's a bit below 28,000. Hopefully a replacement windshield won't be hard to find for the 1997 car.

 

[nedfunnell]

I guess I'll call the repair shop where I had my air conditioning fixed this year, also got the 30k service done, although it's a bit below 28,000. Hopefully a replacement windshield won't be hard to find for the 1997 car.

Try calling Safelite. They'll come and do it on site, and it's surprisingly less expensive than the dealership or most independent shops.

 

[WilliamM2]

Don't you have insurance for glass damage?

 

[Scarpozzi]

Don't you have insurance for glass damage?

My glass coverage is on my main plan. My deductible is $500. Most glass replacement is less than the deductible. I don't know if all plans are like that....it's just how mine is. My truck back glass got busted. I replaced it by a local shop. It wasn't that bad.

 

[jlee]

Don't you have insurance for glass damage?

I priced glass coverage in AZ and I could replace a windshield every ~18 months for what it cost.

 

[cabri]

Try calling Safelite. They'll come and do it on site, and it's surprisingly less expensive than the dealership or most independent shops.

Nice thing on Safelite is they honor warranty work Nationwide.
Many years ago, I had windshield replaced by a local shop (in my area) that offered a warranty. However, to honor the warranty out of state, I had to return the windshield to them, they would not accept a statement from a professional glass place.

My glass coverage is on my main plan. My deductible is $500. Most glass replacement is less than the deductible. I don't know if all plans are like that....it's just how mine is. My truck back glass got busted. I replaced it by a local shop. It wasn't that bad.

Some states require glass coverage to have no deductible. Safety issues.

 

[Tuanies]

My glass coverage is on my main plan. My deductible is $500. Most glass replacement is less than the deductible. I don't know if all plans are like that....it's just how mine is. My truck back glass got busted. I replaced it by a local shop. It wasn't that bad.

Some insurance companies have a separate deductible just for glass claims. My main deductible is $500 but glass is only $100.

 

[Muse]

Try calling Safelite. They'll come and do it on site, and it's surprisingly less expensive than the dealership or most independent shops.

I just called my agent, and I'm not covered. The guy suggested calling Allstar, said they'd come to my house and do the work. He said that insurance agents/companies work with them and that I should tell them I'm not insured and they will give me a better price than if I was covered.

How would Safelite compare with Allstar?

Can I get a better quote if I don't have the company come to my house? The car is driveable, I could get home by public transit.

 

[cabri]

I just called my agent, and I'm not covered. The guy suggested calling Allstar, said they'd come to my house and do the work. He said that insurance agents/companies work with them and that I should tell them I'm not insured and they will give me a better price than if I was covered.

How would Safelite compare with Allstar?

Can I get a better quote if I don't have the company come to my house? The car is driveable, I could get home by public transit.

Ask if home/work delivery is extra.

My replacement at work (by Safelite) took about 1 hr from arrival to completion. The technician did state that the vehicle should sit for another 3-4 hours to allow the adhesive to properly set.

Safelite(Huntsville, AL) was also willing to price match - save me $75-100 against their original quote

 

[Muse]

I've got two quotes now:

$269 - $100 coupon he said he was surprised I hadn't heard of, but he'd apply it. Didn't ask if there are extras, be he sounded on the up and up. Maybe there's tax, but I think he said they'd do it on site at my house for free, so $169.

Another place, I'm waiting for their quote by phone.

Another place said $329 is their rate for my insurance company, and they'd give me that. She said if I had a lower quote I should call and see what they can do. I assume that they wouldn't match $169, though!

Can I assume that the low bid is the one to go with? I told them I'd call them back in 1/2 hour.

 

[Midwayman]

As for your highway cruise; speed doesn't really matter.

Only works if you hit at least 88mph.

 

[cabri]

I've got two quotes now:

$269 - $100 coupon he said he was surprised I hadn't heard of, but he'd apply it. Didn't ask if there are extras, be he sounded on the up and up. Maybe there's tax, but I think he said they'd do it on site at my house for free, so $169.

Another place, I'm waiting for their quote by phone.

Another place said $329 is their rate for my insurance company, and they'd give me that. She said if I had a lower quote I should call and see what they can do. I assume that they wouldn't match $169, though!

Can I assume that the low bid is the one to go with? I told them I'd call them back in 1/2 hour.

Who is the low bid from - local or national chain?

 

[Muse]

Who is the low bid from - local or national chain?

http://www.changeautoglass.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAtZWkBRC9ibSfhoKEyLYBEiQA5fDxkVSe9C16QvcyRJa3mX1T9TRZEplF9fb3ecyDWmyeNbQaAlk_8P8HAQChange Auto Glass, I don't know if they are local or national. I called the second number on the top left, there's ~5 numbers on the page and I called the closest location, Alameda, CA. I found another number for "Change Auto Glass" -- it came up as an Ad when I did a Google search on "Allstar Glass":

Auto Glass Berkeley CA - ChangeAutoGlass.com‎
Ad www.changeautoglass.com/BerkeleyShop‎(510) 648-2708
Windshields, Doo Glass, Back Glass Free Mobile Service - Quality Glass

I called that number ~1/2 hour later and the same guy answered as the guy who answered the Alameda, CA number. I decided to just order then and there, he said $169 included everything. They said they can make it today, between 4-6PM, and it's 3:45PM now. I said "I'll be here!" I don't see them on Yelp, which makes me wonder, but they sounded pretty legit on the phone, so I said I'll do it. They said the tint is the same as the original. I'm color blind, so I don't know what I have, could be greenish at the top, I took a picture, will show it to my sister. They said it will be blue tint, I figure that doesn't matter if it's good quality.

 

[Muse]

The guy came when it was getting pretty dark. He had a headlamp. I went in the house and got my own headlamp and a hand flashlight and did my best to keep the work illuminated.

It's not a trivial job, there's a lot to it, and he had special tools including these real big suction cups to help orient the windshield, once shoved into the sealant.

After he left I saw that the windshield is a bit shifted to starboard, it could have been ~1/8"-1/4", maybe more to port. I don't know that it's an issue, the seal might be OK anyway, and there's sealant in there. I don't know what the issues are. It sure was dark for most of the work. He was obviously quite experienced.

The $169 didn't include tax, so it was ~$189 total, and I payed by credit card.

The receipt has some instructions:

Please do not drive through an automatic car wash for 72 hours. Leave the windows rolled down slightly for 24 hours. PEEL OFF BLUE TAPE NO LATER THAN 36 HOURS.

I never go to car washes, but there is going to be a super strong rain storm moving in around 64 hours from now.

I wonder what that blue tape is for, there are two strips of it on either side at the top going onto the roof of the car. Can I take that off after 24 hours? What's its purpose?

Edit: Some searching reveals that the blue tape is to keep the windshield from shifting while the sealant sets. I could remove it and try to align the windshield correctly, but I don't have those suction cups and figure I better just leave well enough alone and hope it's a good seal and not worry about how it looks.

 

[Muse]

After he left I saw that the windshield is a bit shifted to starboard, it could have been ~1/8"-1/4", maybe more to port. I don't know that it's an issue, the seal might be OK anyway, and there's sealant in there. I don't know what the issues are. It sure was dark for most of the work.

I'm wondering how concerned I should be that the windshield is definitely not centered. I suppose that the issue is whether or not water will seep in and if the port side's stripping will deteriorate over time, since the outer edge is pretty severely bent. Sun and general exposure to the weather could weaken the weather stripping prematurely, it seems to me. I could take it to another shop and ask them if they think I should press for a reapplication. Comments?

 

[jlee]

I'm wondering how concerned I should be that the windshield is definitely not centered. I suppose that the issue is whether or not water will seep in and if the port side's stripping will deteriorate over time, since the outer edge is pretty severely bent. Sun and general exposure to the weather could weaken the weather stripping prematurely, it seems to me. I could take it to another shop and ask them if they think I should press for a reapplication. Comments?

Make them fix it. It should be perfectly aligned and look like it did before it was replaced.

 

[Muse]

Make them fix it. It should be perfectly aligned and look like it did before it was replaced.

It's not going to look the same, by virtue of the fact that they didn't have the same weather stripping that was on there. The guy was Spanish speaking and not too good with English, he just showed me the stripping he was thinking of using, wanting my approval. I thought it was maybe a color thing (it was a very dark grey, I think, I'm color blind...) and I just said "OK." It's just a rubber-like stripping he cut off of a roll. Looks to be OK stuff, but his attempts to get the window aligned, while it looked like he definitely went for it, it was obvious to me that it is shifted toward the passenger seat side of the car. I only noticed that 5-10 minutes after he left. I thought of calling his boss and asking for him to return, at that point he could have shifted it, but I didn't. It was after 6PM, I'm sure he was dieing to go home to his family.

 

[Muse]

I went to a local mechanic and asked his opinion. He said the strip around the top and sides (one continuous piece) is basically cosmetic and that what matters is the seal formed by the sealant. I have no reason at all to think the seal is bad -- I saw him lay down the sealant, every inch of it, there wasn't a place where it was less than 1/2" thick, maybe not less than 5/8" thick. I saw him position the glass on the sealant, looked like he didn't boo boo.

The job doesn't look perfect but I think it'll be OK and I won't stress about it.

 

[cabri]

Run it through a car wash a few times.

If desired, take a pressure washer and hit it along the joints; using just above the car wash pressure settings.

 

[Muse]

Run it through a car wash a few times.

If desired, take a pressure washer and hit it along the joints; using just above the car wash pressure settings.

How can I tell if the seal's not good, where would I look for leakage? Under the dash? Along the top and sides of the glass?

I could do one of those things. I have no pressure washer. I don't think I've ever gone to a car wash in my life. I could just blast it with a nozzeled hose. :\ In any case I think I should wait at least 72 hours before doing any of those things. A big rainstorm is due here in 24-36 hours, the car sits outside in my driveway.

 

[Muse]

I don't doubt the seal, although only a test will confirm it's good. I was wondering if being off center is a real issue, I guess it's actually not an issue.