Need New Windshield - Is Safelite an Option?

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K

Kigiin

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This will be my the third windshield. The first time I had it replaced by Lexus but had $0 deductible insurance on glass at the time (believe it was close to $2K to replace). However I really wasn't happy with it as I believe it has a air leak - Lexus says it's my FR rack, which I put on around the same time. And recently it has started leaking at the top in heavy rain and car washes.

I had Safelite replace the back passenger window several years ago when some low life scum smashed it during a theft. The experience was very good, especially when at first they didn't match the tint so they installed what they had and then replaced it a few days later with the right match. Anyone uses them for a windshield?

Just checked prices and they are around $330-350. The difference is whether I choose green or bronze tint - what tint is OEM?
 
My OEM tint was bronze. I used Safelite and I was very happy with them.
 
Is that price installed? The moldings and rivets alone were over $300 on the one I recently had done. I think any glass shop is fine so long as they know when to throw away moldings and how to properly install rivets.
 
^^ Great point. That's why I say that I liked Safelite (Victoria, TX). The previous installer had really screwed up the riveting and moulding. The Safelite guys did a nice job of repairing the mess.
 
My tint is bronze as well. Safelite does fine. I had a similar leak situation. My foot was getting wet in our long seattle winter rainy period and it just felt drafty. When they ripped it out, it turns out there was a bit of rust at the top behind the glass and a poor seal between the glass and the roof. Much better now. The rack has nothing to do with it.
 
Safelite in Reno did the best windshield job of any...methinks I've had at least 4 installed. But it really depends on the tech. The tech I had, clearly in a league of his own, from Safelite had 17-yrs experience and had done numerous Land Cruisers. Get a lazy/uneducated (relative to riveted windshield frames) and there is a real good chance you'll get wind noise or worse.
 
My safelite install in Sacramento was/is terrible. Air leaks on drivers side. Water leaks on passenger side. Have yet to fix. Easy to put off when you live in the desert. Plus my truck is in Maui now. No safelite to help make it right. Lifetime warranty doesn't mean much when I can't get the truck back them.


...via IH8MUD app
 
Plus my truck is in Maui now.
Click to expand...

Now that is a long drive with some serious water to deal with!
 
TwiceWithHair said:
My safelite install in Sacramento was/is terrible. Air leaks on drivers side. Water leaks on passenger side. Have yet to fix. Easy to put off when you live in the desert. Plus my truck is in Maui now. No safelite to help make it right. Lifetime warranty doesn't mean much when I can't get the truck back them.


...via IH8MUD app
Click to expand...

Not to scare you too much, but we just had to pay an extra $700 to have "a little" rust cleaned up and painted from a botched windshield job.... Plus the cost of new a windshield and moldings. It be a big mess to have the a-pillars rust through.
 
Ask before you commit if they use silicone to seal/bond the windshield to the frame. If they do then run. Fast.

Silicone adhesive will induce rust in this application...

edit add: The technician explained most glass techs use silicone seal; cheap. He informed me, given I had some rust under the silicone the previous installer used, silicone in this application can induce rust. The material he used on mine, IIRC it was poly-urethane; sorry I can't remember the brand. He told me it cost him ~$75+ per tube which he said explains why most use silicone.

He did the install in my driveway and was 100% fine with me hanging out, watching, asking questions and learning. One of the dupes that previously installed one of my windshields used self tapping screws instead of the factory rivets, presumably because he was too cheap to buy the correct tool and rivets, and hogged a couple of the holes out to larger diameter than what a new rivet could grab. He was a wealth of information.

More information here supporting the above (and more 411): http://www.carwindshields.info/right-and-wrong-ways-to-replace-a-windshield
 
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Funny this thread should appear as I stopped by my local Satellite yesterday. I've had wind noise above 40 mph at the upper passenger side of my windshield since I got the rig 2 years ago and there's no obvious problem to blame it on. I'm finally getting to the point where I want it to go away and do have a glass addendum on my insurance. I stopped by Safelight and their tech was helpful and pointed out the side molding on the driver's side upright was missing and underneath I could see there was one screw and two rivets. Pretty sure someone botched the job in the past but he said they'll really have to pull the glass and take things apart to solve the problem, and it makes sense to just replace the glass at that point when it's all apart anyway.

I've had a mobile indy guy do lots of windshields on my other rigs and always been happy so wouldn't mind using him again rather than having to leave the rig with Safelight for a day and deal with that hassle.

So, my question is: What is the right way to do these windshields? If no silicone then what? Screws or rivets? When I do have someone do the job what do I need to make sure they do to do it right?
 
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spressomon said:
Safelite in Reno did the best windshield job of any...methinks I've had at least 4 installed. But it really depends on the tech. The tech I had, clearly in a league of his own, from Safelite had 17-yrs experience and had done numerous Land Cruisers. Get a lazy/uneducated (relative to riveted windshield frames) and there is a real good chance you'll get wind noise or worse.
Click to expand...
We had a 50/50 success rate with Safelite Reno. I think Spresso nailed it, the tech matters more than the company.
 
I had mixed experience with Safelite doing the replacements but their customer service was simply outstanding. They kept working on it until I was happy. On the last job they re-replaced the windshield AND bought new side moldings from Toyota and no cost or complaint to me. Great company.
 
rusty_tlc said:
We had a 50/50 success rate with Safelite Reno. I think Spresso nailed it, the tech matters more than the company.
Click to expand...

Dan, I can call Safelite to find out the name of the tech that last did my install...he, again, was in a league of his own. I think, but can't be 100% certain, his name was Geoff.
 
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