In Florida, Arizona, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Massachusetts, comprehensive auto insurance will cover the entire cost of repair or replacement. If you are in another state or country, or if your auto insurance isn’t comprehensive, you may need to pay some or all of it yourself. [2] X Research source
It is best to make repairs as quickly as possible once a chip or crack appears in your windshield. This will reduce the amount of damage that needs to be repaired and make the job much easier.
In this area, two points of damage within 4 inches (10 cm) of each other require replacement. This pattern of damage can create a blind spot for the driver, obscuring the line of sight from both eyes.
If there are two or more cracks, take the car in to an auto glass repair shop and ask if repair is possible. Three long cracks almost always require full replacement.
Circular or semicircular “bullseye” cracks must be less than 1 inch (2. 5 cm) in diameter. A “star break,” or point of impact with short cracks spreading outward, must have all cracks fit in a circle 3 inches (7. 5 cm) wide. Other shapes should fit within a 2 inch (5 cm) circle, not counting short cracks running outward.
Windshields damaged from the inside are rare, and even a professional may be unsure how to evaluate it. For safety reasons, it’s usually best to replace the windshield.
Almost all repair kits have similar components and work the same way. However, it’s a good idea to read the instructions that come with the kit, to check for special requirements.
If you’re parked in the sun, shade the windshield until you’re ready to cure. This will let you proceed at a relaxed pace.
Wear gloves while handling broken glass.
Identify the syringe or barrel where you load the resin, and the cap or O-ring to close it. Find the dial or bolt used to adjust pressure, moving the applicator into or away from the windshield. Check the instructions for how to operate the applicator. A syringe applicator has a simple piston, but some bridge applicators may have a unique mechanism. [11] X Research source
To tap the hole, place a bullseye tapper (or a sturdy needle) on the star crack or the end of a crack. Tap it gently with the suction cup removal tool (or any hard object) until a small hole pops out. [13] X Research source In some cases, you’ll need to drill into the hole before tapping. For home repairs, never drill more than ¼ of the way through the glass to maintain the integrity of the windshield. It may be wiser to hire a professional instead if you can’t tap the hole without a drill.
If your kit didn’t come with lubricant, try petroleum jelly (Vaseline). If you are using a syringe applicator with no suction cups, just hold it against the end of the crack.
If the resin won’t reach inside the crack, flex the glass gently with your thumb as you apply. This should only be necessary to get it started. Apply tape around the chipped area to contain any excess resin. While holding the syringe down with one hand, slowly pull the syringe out until the last tab on the syringe can be locked in place. This creates a vacuum that pulls the air out of the chipped area. Look at the chipped area from the inside and if the chip has not been completely filled, press a little more on the syringe plunger to add a bit more pressure to the resin to fill the gap. Do not press the plunger so hard that the resin leaks out of the spout, though.
Note that the crack will still be visible at this point.
Syringe applicator kits usually come with a separate suction cup to be placed over the dent, with a hole for the syringe to slot into. [16] X Research source Remember, star-shaped breaks with no glass missing need to have a bullseye crack tapped out first. Clean out the applicator first if it contains a different type of resin.
You may need a suction cup removal tool or a razor blade to remove the applicator. Never use plastic wrap or other substances not specifically meant for this purpose. Some of these block UV light, and therefore stall the curing process indefinitely. [17] X Research source
Driving or opening car doors before the resin is fully cured increases the chance of lengthening cracks.
Fit the razor blade in a sturdy razor blade holder to prevent injury.
