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Did you see the 20/20 report on windshield safety that aired on February 25, 2000?
It is shocking at how some auto glass installers are willing to risk your life - only to save a few minutes of their time.
Your replacement windshield could be a risk, and you may not even know it.
Even if you wear your seatbelt and have a properly functioning airbag, without a windshield firmly bonded to your car, any safety
precautions are worthless. Your factory-installed windshield prevents the car's roof from caving in and deflects your airbag. An
improperly installed windshield is likely to come out during an accident - just when you need its protection most.
Jeanne Fransway, featured on 20/20, ran off a Wisconsin road late one night. She was later found seventy feet away from
her car on top of her windshield. A properly installed windshield could have saved Ms. Fransway's life.
Experts say that millions of replacement windshields are not installed properly - as many as seven out of ten.
What can you do to ensure a safe windshield installation? Choose an auto glass company that values your safety, not cutting a few
more dollars of their bottom line. Educate yourself and ask questions. Pick a shop that is well established and stands behind their
work.
Fatal mistakes in the 20/20 program that no auto glass service company should make:
Not wearing disposable rubber gloves when handling a windshield. Oils and dirt from the installers' hands
can contaminate the bonding service of the windshield, causing it not to adhere properly.
We recommend that anyone installing a windshield wear a new pair of gloves with every job so that your new windshield does not become contaminated.
Not properly preparing the pinch weld, causing it not to bond fully.
We recommend that your technician inspect the pinch weld and make sure that it is clean and free of scratches. If scratches are present the technician should eliminate exposed metal with a primer. We also recommend that the technician prepare the surface on the windshield with a primer or use an adhesive that does not require this. One example would be Essex U418 primer less urethane. Proper preparation avoids the typical rust problems that arise from replacement windshields.
Not cleaning the windshield properly - wiping it down with a dirty rag. Again, this dirt can contaminate the windshield's bonding surface.
All installers should clean your glass with new paper towels and glass cleaner.
Installer doesn't warn the customer that the car is not safe to drive until the adhesive has had sufficient time to bond the windshield to the automobile.
Your technician should discuss with you the adhesive used and the time it takes for it to properly bond the windshield to your vehicle. This lets you make an informed decision as to when you feel the car is safe to
drive.
Using butyl tape instead of urethane. Butyl tape is an inferior adhesive, only holding to 60lbs per square inch. Urethane, by contrast,
holds to 600lbs per square inch.
It is not recommended that Butyl tape be used in modern automobiles for adhering the windshield to the automobile.
Your safety is of primary importance. If you have any safety questions, do not hesitate to ask one of our customer service representatives or your auto glass installation technician when setting your
appointment
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