When it comes to caring and maintaining your vehicle, it is important to address problems as they arise, regardless how big or small the issue is. Sometimes, no matter how cautiously you drive or how safe you operate your vehicles, or no matter the preventative precautions we take, chips or cracks will occur. Regardless of if that crack comes from incidental debris or frequent torrential weather, you will at some point have to do some windshield maintenance.
Here’s what you can do:
Professional Care
If you are new to caring for your vehicle, or aren’t comfortable handling repairs on your own, don’t worry. You are not alone if car maintenance feels foreign to yourself. That is what professionals are for. The experts at http://www.autoglasscentersusa.com/ assured that trusting a professional to properly fix or replace your windshield can give you the peace of mind to know that you and your family are safe and that those fixes will last. They will take care of things like front and rear windshield, and side window replacements for shattered or broken windows, so you know you can feel safe and reassured when it comes to minor repairs like chips and cracks.
Self Repairs
If your windshield doesn’t require a replacement or that the chip damage is only minor, you can sometimes fix it yourself. It is important to take care of the damage immediately to prevent further cracking and damage due to the original crack.
What You Need
Once you’ve decided that you will be doing your own repairs, you’ll want to make sure you get everything you need to do the repairs on your vehicle’s windshield. The tools and equipment that you will need can usually be found at your local auto parts store, with the supplies usually being found in a repair kit. What you will need will include the following:
- Alcohol
- Cloths
- A small mirror
- A bridge and injector
- Resin for windshield repairs
- WIndshield pit filler
- Plastic Curb Tab
- Razor Blades
1. Clean the Chip or Crack
The first step will be to clean the chip and make sure the surrounding areas are clear of any debris or glass. You might want to take a small tool or even a pin to use to inspect the chip to make sure no extra glass is still in the damaged area when doing your repairs.
2. Mirror
Next, you will install the mirror on the inside of the windshield, making sure it is placed in the center of the chip so you can see the chip from another angle, being mindful of the progress and further damage as you proceed during the repair process.
3. Seal
Next, you will create a seal around the chip, using a bridge or pedestal. You will center it on the chip and cover the surrounding area. Doing this should create a seal over the area where the chip has occurred.
4. Resin
Once that seal is created, you are going to use the resin on it. Use about 4 to 8 drops in the injector, depending on the size of the chip and how much you need to fill.
5. Injector
Using the injector, push the resin slowly into the chip on the affected area of your windshield. As you do this, keep mindful as you should start to see the area fill in your mirror. As you are injecting the resin, release the air and re-inject when you see it necessary. Let this sit for about 5 to 10 minutes.
6. Pit Filler
After the 10 minutes or so are up, you’re going to remove the seal and examine the area. Now you’re going to use your pit filler and drop a bit of it onto the area that the chip occurred. Using the plastic curbing tab, place it over the area and then let it sit in the sun to begin to dry. If you are not in direct sunlight, it can take up to an hour to be ready.
7. Razor
Once the area has dried, you can use a clean straight razor blade to try and scrape off any of the excess pit filler. Do this carefully as you want to make sure you smooth out the area and don’t scratch your windshield in the process. If you want to take an extra step, you can lightly polish out the area to be assured the area is smooth.
Once this repair is done, your windshield should be as strong as it was before. You might still see the tiniest of imperfection from the initial chip but this repair should hold up and prevent any further damage or further chipping. Remember that in the event of any chip or windshield damage, you need to take care of that immediately. And if you are not fully confident in your ability to do these repairs, you should consult a professional.