windshield replaced

[Ron Bissett]

Got hit with gravel from truck on I 65 will have to have windshield put in Friday by mobile(comes to house) truck ins will pay . Has any one had this done and will the A pillar cover and gauges have to be removed or can they get it from the outside without removing any thing in side ? Ron in Louisville KY

 

[Ramboy]

I had mine replaced last year by a mobile unit. Most of the work was done outside. They had to get inside with a long blade to cut through the seal at the bottom of the glass. Did not have to remove A-pillars though. Whole job (one person) only took about an hour and haven't had a leak.

 

[MCummings]

had my windshield replaced too, I wasn't there for the install, but they didn't have to mess with the A-pillar to replace, I picked it up the same way I dropped it of,, albeit with a shiny new, CLEAR, seethrough window. no leaks so far, even though I did drive it in the rain right after picking it up.



MerrickNJr

 

[Ron Bissett]

Thanks for your in put.

Thanks for your quick response, its good to know that the piller cover and gauges don't have to come out. Again to all thanks million . Ron in Louisville KY

 

[JJW_ND]

How many miles on your windshield?

I am just short of 200K (250 miles) on the factory original. Finally got a crack in it. Many rock chips fixed. Getting hard to see through it in the morning sun.



This gass has survived three direct hits komokazi pheasents @ 70 mph. Pretty impressed.



Is the replacement glass as good as the old (factory)?



jjw

ND

 

[dewdo]

Had mine replaced about six months after taking delivery. It was at one of the national firms and I insisted on original equipment.



A few months after it was installed I had to get the VIN number for some reason and discovered I could not completely read the VIN through the glass although it was Mopar glass.



Here in Washington they don't require (or enforce) the gravel trucks to cover their loads nor to clean off gravel after being loaded and it really creates havoc on the roadways.



I use to be an outside salesman for an electronic firm and spent a lot of time on the gravel littered highways and byways of this great state and I went through at least two windshields a year on my car plus numerous repairs.



Dewdo in the other Washington

 

[DRR-24V]

Re: Thanks for your in put.

Hey Ron,

I have been watching your posts for the last 6 months, and I gotta tell you, you have some of the worst luck I have ever seen. ! I felt so bad for you when that truck was broke down in the driveway with the windows stuck down in the rain. ! Well hang in there.

 

[johnrv4]

I had a rock take out the original windshield at 2k. I took the truck in for a replacement because it was forcast to rain all week and I fiqured they would do a better job in-house. Well, I waited for the truck, and when I drove it home, I was having trouble focusing out the windshield. At first I thought there was maybe a film on the windshield (it was raining out), but when I got it home in the garage, I could see that the glass itself was distorted right in front of the driver's face. I had to take it back in for another windshield, and this one got a rock chip in it 2k later. Since that time, I have noticed that the windshield looks dirty in one spot. The only problem is that the dirt appears to be between the laminates of the glass. If this one gets taken-out(with my luck it probably will), I am going to request factory glass. I think some of this aftermarket glass is real garbage.

 

[illflem]

Last time I had my windshield replaced the installer told me the main cause of leaks was from slamming the doors with all the windows up in the first couple of days after installation. Makes sense to me to let the sealant dry before pressurizing the cab. Best crack a window open.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Ditto on the pressure. I have used one of those "on the spot" replacement companies with so so results. I was never happy with the trim after they were done. My present insurance company has a local shop they work with. I had two windshields replaced on one car by them. Each time they kept the vehicle all day so "the sealent would set up properly". Since I had no problems with the install, I could not argue with their policy.

 

[Deezul1]

Be carefulwhen getting a windshield, a lot of them are made in China and we know what that means. My last truck had a cheapy windshield replacement and if you looked through the glass at an angle you could see distortion but otherwise was fine. If insurance paying for it make sure you get the good one. The guy at the glass shop told me there are some numberes on them if they are made in USA and are made to good specs so ask your glass guy.

 

[X-10]

Nice post Ron, you just saved me from having to find a phone tomorrow to call the glass company for the exact same question. They're supposed to replace mine Friday and thought of that question this afternoon. Didn't want them messing with the gauges. Thanks, Doug

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by illflem

Last time I had my windshield replaced the installer told me the main cause of leaks was from slamming the doors with all the windows up in the first couple of days after installation. Makes sense to me to let the sealant dry before pressurizing the cab. Best crack a window open.

will sure to leave window cracked. (hope not) You are correct on that . Sure puts plenty of PSI, One" psi with that volume, windshield could be pushed out onto the hood . Thanks again to all . Ron in Louisville KY

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by dewdo

A few months after it was installed I had to get the VIN number for some reason and discovered I could not completely read the VIN through the glass although it was Mopar glass.

The glass company installed the wrong windshield. Dodge moved the VIN plate and the opening in the black-out around the edge of the glass. The shop probably had the older windshield in stock and so used it. If you want to push it, they're technically in violation of Federal law by obstructing observation of the VIN plate.

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by MCummings

no leaks so far, even though I did drive it in the rain right after picking it up. MerrickNJr

Actually, as long as the correct urethane adhesive is used, the best thing that can happen is for it to get wet. Urethane cures by absorbing moisture. Just don't use a high pressure spray (like in a car wash)!

 

[MidwestMotorman]

overnight policy

Keeping the windows down for a day is a good idea. The glass replacement shops keep them to help prevent the owner causing leaks. but more importantly, to prevent the owner getting killed. If you hit something, that glass will fly out upon impact or by you hitting it. The airbag will also blow them out if the urethane has not set up for a day. The sun helps cure the urethane too.



I have seen several accidents with the windshield laying on the hood of the car or the street. The insurance companies and lawyers WILL track down the last installer of the glass and sue them. Damages amount to millions, and charges of negligent homicide/involuntary manslaughter are leveled by prosecuting attourneys. IT HAPPENS!!!



It is nice for us to have the vehicle back, but the urethane takes a day to properly cure.

 

[FMcClaren]

I had mine replaced this summer ,took it in because I

figured they would have all the right stuff to do the

job in there shop. They did a good job on the windshield

but they walked all over my truck, foot prints on the

motor, seat, they rolled the window down and stood

on the window frame. No damage just dirt.

Bottom line-- don,t let anyone mess with your

truck unless your there to watch.



Good Luck



Frank

 

[Bill Lins]

Re: overnight policy

Originally posted by nathanbush

The sun helps cure the urethane too.

Who told you THAT? Sunlight (UV) DETERIORATES urethane adhesives! That is the reason for the blackout band around the edges of the glass- to protect the urethane from the sun!

 

[MidwestMotorman]

sunlight

I should have been more exact. The solar heat generated on the black part heats the urethane accelerating the cure. The black strip on the inside edge is actually for the special primer that the urethane bonds to. Urethane can peel quite easy off of bare glass.

The butyl adhesive was very sensitive to the UV rays. Urethane seems to fare much better. A lot of the newer glass is UV shielded, so the sunlight will not harm the adhesive anyway.

 

[cullyguy]

PPG, LOF, Safelite are all good brands of glass. STAY AWAY from Guardian! Thinner & Softer. (ie:chips easier) I'm on the road a bunch & average 1-2 windsheild per year. PPG seems to be the toughest of all, in my opinion.