After our last car died, my husband and I decided to do a little research before buying a new car. We bought the previous car without a lot of thought, and it showed. Instead of lasting the length of the loan, the car started having problems right around the time the warranty ran out. We decided that it would be smart to invest a little time into research, so that we could avoid making a similar mistake in the future. This blog is a collection of articles about cars and automotive accessories, so that you can do a lot of research without making a lot of effort.
While driving one day, a rock may have hit your windshield, causing the glass to crack. Since you do not believe the damage is too severe, you may decide that you could fix it yourself with a repair kit or by using information you found online. However, the following are some reasons why you should never attempt to fix your own cracked windshield.
Glass Remains Weak
No matter whether you use a kit or another do-it-yourself method of filling in the crack on your windshield, you may believe that doing so will keep the glass strong and intact. However, any of these methods serve primarily as a cosmetic solution.
When you simply fill in the cracked glass, the bonding agent does not restore the strength of the windshield. The glass will remain weak and prone to further damage if another rock hits the windshield.
Also, the windshield is an integral part of your airbag system, serving as the back brace for the bags when they employ. Since the repaired glass is still weak, however, it could shatter during an accident, ripping the bags and negating their effectiveness.
Patch Serves Only as a Temporary Solution
If you do manage to find a repair kit or method that has a strong enough bonding agent to strengthen the glass slightly, any method that you use will not be permanent. Within a few weeks or days, depending on how you make the repairs, the filler will eventually come out.
Even worse, if the filler contracts and expands during rapid temperature changes, it could cause more damage to the glass. As it expands, the filler can make the crack larger, leaving you with a bigger problem than before.
Warranty on Your Vehicle May Become Void
Another reason you should not attempt to repair your own windshield is that you may end up voiding your vehicle's warranty if it is still under a protection plan. Depending on your coverage, if you make your own repairs to the basic structure of the vehicle or alter any safety features, you would no longer be protected under its warranty.
Most warranties require that any damage is repaired by an approved, licensed professional. Doing so will keep your coverage intact.
When you have a crack in your windshield and try to fix it yourself, you may only make the situation worse. Instead, contact a professional who specializes in auto glass replacement to properly and permanently fix the problem.
Share18 August 2018
