Fixing A Cracked Or Chipped Windshield
If you have a cracked or chipped spot on your windshield from a rock or tree branch hitting it, you will want to work quickly in having it repaired. Leaving a crack in auto glass will grow in size when you drive your vehicle. It can become very dangerous to continue driving if you do not take the time to fix it before it looks like a spiderweb of cracks. Here are some instructions for you to use to do a simple windshield repair fix on your own.
Assess The Windshield
Before starting the project yourself, determine if the crack is small enough to be fixed as a do-it-yourself project. If the crack is longer than the palm of your hand or if it is made of several smaller cracks, you should have a professional auto glass repair service like Cambridge Collision & Auto Center fix the area for you. It is risky to repair something that is very weak and would be safer to have them do the job.
If the crack is single and relatively small in size, you will be able to do the job yourself. If you have a small chipped area, you would use the same instructions for filling it in.
Clean The Glass
Use a pushpin or a needle to scrape out any embedded glass slivers that may be inside the crack you are going to be repairing. Afterwards, wash down the affected area with a mixture of a mild detergent and water.
Do not take your vehicle to a car wash to clean the windshield. This could cause the cracking to become worse from the impact of the water pressure. Rinse the soap off and use a small dab of rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth to get any streaks off the area around the chip or crack.
Make The Repair
Move your vehicle to an area in the shade so you will be able to see what you are doing without risk of sun glare. Use a windshield repair kit to fill in the crack. This can be bought at an auto parts store. It consists of a mechanism that you place over the cracked area of the windshield by pushing it into place so that suction cups adhere to the glass. The reservoir should be placed so that it is located directly over the middle of the crack.
Place the included resin inside the reservoir and use the small lever to pump up and down, in the same manner that you would do with a toilet plunger. This will push the resin into the crack. Remove the application mechanism and smoothe the resin over the glass using the enclosed resin finishing film. Place it over the resin and use a credit card to scrape it evenly over the glass. Move your vehicle to a sunny area to allow the area to dry and harden.
Share
