How to Fix Chipped Windshield

If you've been driving for several years, chances are that you've driven a car with a chipped windshield. Although this isn't the most dangerous thing you can do, a chipped windshield can obscure your vision. In addition, leaving a chipped windshield to sit can result in the windshield cracking, which could warrant a replacement of your windshield. Fortunately, fixing a chipped windshield can be cheap and easy!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Windshield repair kit

1. Clean out the windshield. Remove all of the small shards of glass in the crack using the razor blade. Also, clean off the surface of the glass since you will need a clean section of windsheild to place the suction tool upon. Allow glass cleaner to completely dry in the cracked area.

2. Place the suction cup tool over the damaged area so that the damaged area is in the exact center of the suction cup tool. Adjust the aim of the tool by sliding the arms in and out as needed

3. If you have the suction cup tool centered, thread the repair tube into the suction cup tool. Screw it in as tight as you can get it without using tools. Remember "lefty loosey righty tighty"!

4. Get in your car and recheck the alignment of the tool. The alignment is that important to the repair process. The rubber end of the tube should be right on top of that nasty chip in your windshield. If it's not, take out the tube and reposition the suction cup tool.

5. Alright, now open the repair juice and put about 3 or 4 drops inside of the repair tool. Yes, the direction say 2, but you can't really have too much, especially if your crack is pretty big (pun intended).

6. You're halfway done, but now definitely isn't the time to take a break. Qucikly after you've added the drops insert the plunger and tighten it almost all the way down, really pushing the resin into the crack! If you're doing it right, it should get harder to tighten. After you've tightened it, loosen it a bit to let out air bubbles, then tighten it back up again! The last part seem a bit strange, but trust me, you really don't want to let in any air.

7. Untighten the plunger again to let out air bubbles, then retighten. Air bubbles will show up in your repair and make it look like it was a do-it-yourself fixer-upper (it was, but it doesn't have to look like it).

8. Give the resin a minute or two, completely remove the suction cup tool, then apply the finishing film. Use the razor blade to sort of press the resin toward the end of the film. Don't try to press it out completely. Just spread it as thin and evenly as you can get it under the film.

9. Now leave it alone for about 15 or more minutes. The time doesn't really matter. The longer the better. Just don't pull it off early.

Tips & Warnings

• If the wind is high where you are doing the repair, you can put a piece of tape on the finishing film to prevent it from drying out.
• If you just happen to take the finishing film off early or the repair isn't seamless, just apply another drop of resin and another piece of finishing film. you should not be abe to even find the crack once you are done with it.
• This works best if you perform the repair as soon as possible after the damage is done.
• This kit may be covered by your insurance policy since a cracked widshield is an obstruction to your vision. Contact your insurance company for more information.
• Don't do this repair in the hot sun. It'll cause the resin the dry out too quickly.
• If your crack is too deep or is more than 6 inches long, this kit may not work and you may have to replace the whole windshield.

[carmensjones]

on 7/2/2009 thanks for sharing

[cstanz]

on 3/14/2009 Thanks for the info!

[sonni57]

on 3/13/2009 I need to do this I have a chip in the windshield.

[williamskm]

on 3/12/2009 Right on time article to say that I just got a crack in my windshield a copy of days ago. Thanks! 5*

[carby]

on 3/11/2009 Very good info. Thanks. 5*