Monday, April 9, 2012

Spring Car Care: Windshield Replacement Safety Tips

- Ron Tibert of Scotia Auto Glass

Discovering a cracked windshield or getting a windshield stone chip off the road from that speeding nameless driver passing us, is disturbing to most of us.

A cracked windshield is a safety risk. Besides seatbelts and air bags, most automobile safety experts rank the windshield as one of the top vital safety components in your vehicle today. The windshields key job other than keep bugs out of your teeth is to provide structural strength to the body during “roll over” and to assist in the proper deployment of vehicle airbags. The windshield replacement industry is technically unregulated and most shops use interpreted voluntary standards.

Consumers should ask at least these four questions before their next windshield replacement:

1. Will the sealant hold the windshield in during the deployment of the airbags? You should stay away from butyl tape or silicone products for windshield replacements. OEM Original manufactures seal or other top quality equivalent brands like Dow or Sika should be used.

2. How long does the urethane adhesive need for safe drive away time? Every urethane has a recommended drive away time based on temperature and humidity factors.

3. Will the technician wear nitrile gloves to keep from contaminating the glass? Hand oils and dust can contaminate the edges of the glass, compromising the urethane seal.

4. Will the old urethane seal be removed from the car glass frame? Taking the “short cut” method is not recommended according to the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Council. “Only the full cut method (removing all urethane) should be used for polyurethane retention systems.”

As a bonus, always ask about your warrantee. What if the glass breaks on its own? What if it leaks in a week, 6 months or a year?

These tips should help make the auto glass replacement a better experience.

- Ron Tibert of Scotia Auto Glass

For more information, visit www.scotiaauto.com

2 comments:

  1. Check your windshield wiper blades. Wiper blades are one of the most neglected components on our vehicles, and also one of the most important. If you’re blades are cracked, split, torn, brittle, worn or in obvious need of replacement, get yourself a new pair!


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  2. Gerber makes replacing your windshield easy by offering online windshield replacement quotes, mobile auto glass service, and a national lifetime guarantee. windshield replacement prices

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