In our last blog, we showed some of the serious damage that can happen from having the wrong company, install your auto glass. In this one, we will show additional ways things can go wrong, and why installer experience is critical.
The windshield is a crucial factor in the deployment of many passenger air bags. The air bag actually bounces off the windshield and towards the passenger. If the urethane is not fully cured, or bonded, the windshield may not be able to handle the 2000 pounds per 1/30th of a second impact and can cause the air bag to malfunction. This could be a major problem.
The windshield became a designed safety feature of the vehicle in the late 80’s when flush mount glass became popular. As technology quickly changed, corresponding regulations emerged. Department of Transportation regulations 212 and 216 set standards for the windshield retention and roof crush during rollover. With the windshield being a designed safety feature, it’s replacement is now also a critical safety feature. According to the Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC) in a front end collision, the windshield provides up to 45 percent of the structural integrity of the cabin of the vehicle and in a rollover, up to 60 percent.
First let’s discuss curing issues:
If we assume the installer properly cleaned and prepped you car and the glass, there can still be a curing issue. What urethane was used? They have “drive away” times anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours, and on average cures fully in 72 hours. So the obvious question for me is…why do I see some mobile guys using 6 hour drive away? Do you think they ask every customer how long the car will sit before they start the install? What about those people who drive into the shop and get a 2 hour drive away time urethane? Does that shop make the customer sit for 2 hours after they are done? What happens when that customer pulls out onto Dixie Highway and gets T-boned?
Now we can talk about bonding issues:
A lack of bonding is when the dried urethane doesn’t “stick” to the car or the glass or both. Not all urethane is created equal. The cost of cleaner, primer and “glue” can range from as little as $8 per vehicle up to around $20. Each product has different procedure, different workable times and different temperature limitations. If everyone of these aren’t followed, you are not safe.
A well trained technician will use different products at different times of the year. Our summer product work time goes down, as the temperature does. This means in the cold we would only have around 3 minutes from when we start shooting the urethane onto your car, to when we had to have the glass in. That’s just not realistic. So in the winter we use a product with a 12 min working time. Also there are times that must be held between priming and putting urethane on top of it. Because this all changed with temperature and humidity, we make sure all of our techs are factory certified in the chemicals we use.
The other issue is moisture. If a drop of water hits the urethane bead, it can contaminate it for as much as 16 inches. So did it start sprinkling while your windshield was being put in? What did that installer do for your safety? The sad part is we see multiple cars a month that we can push on and the windshield moves. This just isn’t safe. If your windshield is leaking…that also likely isn’t safe.
This doesn’t even get into the hidden killer where an installer damaged your car and hid it beneath the glass. A misplaced wire tool can easily cut the pinch weld in your car. This is what your glass adhere’s to. I would be willing to bet when the installer glues it back together with urethane it’s not the same in an emergency situation.
Everyone shops the lowest price, but is $20 bucks worth your families safety?