I found a small (about the size of a ball point pen)
looks like a stone chip in the very low point of my windshield. Is there anything that can be done to save it?
I hear say that these type of things will expand and crack the whole windshield if you do nothing. Maybe not today but sooner or later.

What can you experts tell me?

Thanks ...

 

Is there a small crack in th outside layer? If so there is an injection process that can stabilize it to keep it from spreading.Mine had a very tiny star in it when I bought it last January. Drove it through the winter and still fine. If just a surface blemish Eastwood and other places sell chip and scratch kits to polish them out!!

 

get it fixed...a new windshield is ~200 - 800 bucks!

 

No way, you dont need a new screen..


The injection molding fixes it good as new (only if small and hasnt spread). Insurance companies here pay for it without any question as is cheaper than a new screen. Takes about 20 minutes.

I just had it done on a 75 I'm looking after.

Also the replacement of the screen can result in bonding issues causing paint and adhesion issues if not done properly (leaks )

 

I've had stone chips repaired a few times. On one occasion it was like new and you couldn't tell it had been damaged. One time it showed badly.

Most Insurance Companies both here in England and in the US will cover a repair for free. They use a clear compund and harden it with UV light

If you leave it too long, particularly in extremes of heat or cold, it'll crack.

 

I got a repaired chip on the center of the passenger side. Aggervates the hell out of me to see it. Kinda scared to replace it tho. Worried that the install process will mess something else up. Murphys Law and all.

 

Any idea of cost?

Do most autoglass places do this process?

Are there different ways of doing this?
and if so, which way is the way to go?

Thanks!

 

You can buy a kit to repair the windowshield yourself. You can find them in auto parts stores or at a Wal-Mart. The one that has 4 suction cups to hold the fixture is the best (Wal-Mart). The kits cost about $10. The repair is easy to do. You want to take care of it as soon as possible as the damaged area will allow moisture and dirt to plug up the crack and the repair will not make it invisible. If you repair it soon after the damage you usually get great results and in many cases it will become invisible and look like there was never any damage. I've repaired several windowshields over the years and most times it was very successful. Good luck!

 

The kits work very well of you take your time. Have one right in front of the rear view and unless you know exactly where it was hit you can't find it.

 

I've had two windshield chips that I had filled with the resin injection by SafeLite Glass over the past year. Each repair cost $70 with tax here in NJ. They stopped any spread of the chip (there was no real cracking or spider web patterns), but you still can see the chip repairs.

I'm realistically going to need to replace the windshield soon... shouldn't too big of a deal though, since I don't have heads-up.

 

It's not too bad of a job on a C5. Chevy did design the system to be easily replaced. Basically, they remove the wipers, tray underneath, pop the two side trim pieces free, remove the mirror, take out a dozen or so screws and remove the weatherstrip. Then they cut the windshield free from the adhesive with a tool, and come inside with a giant spade like tool that finishes the cut from the adhesive and then lift the windshield out. Clean it up, install the adhesive and drop in the windshield.

Things to insist on per GM instructions, I forget the proper names but the side weatherstrip trim should be new because when they remove it, it has an adhesive backing and that is damaged and must be either cleaned of all material and new tape installed or replaced with a new part. It's fairly inexpensive less then $20. I think. It must have new weatherstrip.

If you have a HUD insist on a Shaded HUD Windshield.

As far as chips, best to get the glass companies to repair it because the stress can turn it into a crack. Most insurance companies prefer this before replacement if it is possible, and as with windshields these are covered under comprehension and should be zero deduct replacements/repairs.

 

Contact an auto glass shop and ask them about repairing the chip - and most of the time your insurance company will cover it fully under the comprehensive portion of your insurance.

While you may still see where the chip was if you look hard, it does turn out looking good.