 |
 |
Advice
The Cranky Yankee takes on: Auto Glass--more than it's cracked up to be A crack in your windshield could mean more than a fine.  YOUR KNOWLEDGABLE NEIGHBOR  Don Fluckinger, the Cranky Yankee, is a freelance writer based in Nashua, N.H.
YOUR TURN Does the Cranky Yankee’s story sound familiar? Share your comments and suggestions with your neighbors. Auto experts & service pros Auto Auctions Auto Detailing Shops Auto Parts Auto Rental Auto Repair & Service Auto Towing & Wrecking Auto Transporting Car Stereo Gas Stations Motorcycles & Scooters RV Rental & Repair Trailer Hitches Trailers Fuel your passion for classic cars at AutoTraderClassics.com. By DON FLUCKINGER It's just a crack or a nick in your windshield, so what's the big deal? Why are there laws in place in many states that make even the shortest cracks an inspection-buster?Mainly, if an accident happens in which the vehicle roof needs support to keep from collapsing, an undamaged windshield will help do that. If a crack or chip is in the driver's line of sight, that can pose an entirely different--and perhaps more dangerous--hazard. But of course, you’ve waited until five days before the auto inspection deadline is due, and it's time to get the issue addressed before your ride fails and anyone who drives it risks getting pulled over. The question is, should you try and get your windshield (or any other pane that needs it) repaired, or replaced? Some shops will attempt to repair auto glass, but it's not a practice endorsed by everyone in the glass industry. Another aspect that's dicey is the seal: Replacing it can add $25-$50 to the total bill, but reusing a seal is another of those "gray-market" techniques. Furthermore, if you have glass coverage on your auto insurance, check with your agent, as their rules might call for glass replacement over repair in some situations. There are several different kinds of companies that offer auto glass: Local glass shops often have the most experience and are plugged in to suppliers who can acquire factory replacement windshields, aftermarket glass, and custom tinted glass if you live in areas like Arizona or Texas, where a few extra bucks invested in glass can help preserve a vehicle's interior. There's also, to me, something comforting about going to a shop that does only glass, all day, every day. Everyone's an expert in this field, but it just seems that these guys have seen it all, year after year, and know best. Mobile glass services offer the ultimate convenience: As one local service in my town puts it in their catchy commercial, "they come right to your car, wherever you are." So that means while you're parked at home or your car's at the office, you don't have to take time off to go to a glass shop and read six-month-old copies of Hot Rod and Country's Best Log Homes while you wait for them to drop in a new shield. A little extra dinero typically shows up in the invoice for these vendors. Auto dealers, of course, charge an arm and a leg. You get original factory glass, installed expertly. Sometimes, you have to wait a couple weeks for the privilege, too, as they have to order the part and then squeeze you in between all those more important customers. Whatever suits your situation, keep the following points in mind when replacing a windshield or window in your car, truck, or van:
Most of all, take glass seriously. It looks like a niggling cosmetic issue, like that dent from when you parked too close to the lamppost at the mall that all your pals rib you about. A cracked or badly chipped windshield isn't a badge of honor or joking matter. You'll want it intact if you get into a wreck. Related Articles  Would you like to comment on this article?Nobody has commented on this article yet. Be the first. Submit your comment using the form below. |
|
Recently Added Deals
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
