Do Novus crack repairs really work?

[begreen]

Bummer. Our windshield just developed a mystery crack on the passenger side. This seems to have happened overnight. I have no idea why, there is no sign of impact there. It's about 3" long. I am thinking Novus. Do these repairs really work or do they inevitably fail after a short while.

 

[Retired Guy]

Had a stone ding (1/2") repaired about 10 years ago and is still holding fine. Forgot about it until I read your post.

 

[greg13]

Try Safelite, they come to you and do the repair, plus glass coverage (if you don't have it, get it. It's cheap) on your auto policy covers it.

 

[nate379]

I end up just putting new glass in every year or two, paid with cash.

Had a stone chip fixed, told it would be free since insurance would pay. Sure it was "free"... and then the insurance marked it as an "at fault" incident.
The glass cracked like 2 weeks later from another rock.

I wouldn't bother unless the repair is cheap and the glass is expensive. Most windshields are in the 200-300 area. I'm on #4 in my Jetta and that one is cracked all the way across.

BTW I could have just done the chip repair myself. I did a chip repair on the $1800 windshield of my Lotus and it came out better than Safelite did on my Jetta. Used one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/windshield-repair-kit-94372.html

 

[greg13]

According to my agent, Glass coverage SHOULD fall under the comprehensive part of the policy. Same as if a Deere runs into you.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

+1 on the safelite recomnendation. The township was grating the roads in prep for paving. Truck in front of me kicked up rocks and sprayed my wind shield (I drive a mini cooper so its low to the ground). A big chunk dinged my wind shield but they came out the next day, fixed it right in my driveway. My insurance covered it but nothing was against me for claiming it. A few yesrs later, you can barely see its there. Check them out.

 

[Retired Guy]

Had a co. replace the windshield in my driveway. When finished i looked at the job and noticed about a 3/4 inch gap at the pillar on the drivers side. The installer told me that it was mis-measured because it was 3/4 inch too long at the passenger side. They replaced it the next day.

Tye patch was done on the advice of the ins co. they warranted the job and would replace the glass upon request if I were unhappy. No change in rate because we paid $25 for full glass coverage. Lost 3 windshields in one year traveling the NY thruway.

 

[firefighterjake]

According to my agent, Glass coverage SHOULD fall under the comprehensive part of the policy. Same as if a Deere runs into you.

HehHeh . . . if a Deere runs into my car I think getting the glass replaced will be the least of my concerns.

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah comprehensive coverage takes care of glass. Usually no deductible. They sent a guy out to replace the Suburban windshield right in my driveway.

 

[nate379]

I didn't say anything about my rates going up, just it got logged as an "at fault".


If the crack is more than a few inches, it likely won't be fixable.

 

[begreen]

I'll have to check tomorrow. We have comprehensive but I see $500 deductible with no exception listed. Typical insurance, useless unless it's a catastrophe.

 

[TheMightyMoe]

I have 100$ comp just because we live in Alaska where they pour rocks all over the roads endlessly... Never had a problem getting the windshield(s) replaced.

 

[TMonter]

Bummer. Our windshield just developed a mystery crack on the passenger side. This seems to have happened overnight. I have no idea why, there is no sign of impact there. It's about 3" long. I am thinking Novus. Do these repairs really work or do they inevitably fail after a short while.

Is it on the edge or the middle of the glass? If it's on the edge of the glass 90+% of the time it's not repairable in my experience.

In the meantime don't use any window treatments like Rain-x until the chip repair company inspects and tells you whether they think they can fix it. The solution can soak into the crack and cause the bonding agents on the resin not to work.

 

[nate379]

I have $1000. Figure if the damage is under a grand it's better to not get the insurance involved anyhow. If I can't afford a grand to get my junk fixed, I shouldn't be driving.

I have 100$ comp just because we live in Alaska where they pour rocks all over the roads endlessly... Never had a problem getting the windshield(s) replaced.

 

[Retired Guy]

For me, full glass coverage was a very cheap addition to the $1000 deductible comprehensive policy.

 

[TMonter]

I'll have to check tomorrow. We have comprehensive but I see $500 deductible with no exception listed. Typical insurance, useless unless it's a catastrophe.

That is what insurance is for unless you pay for additional coverage. You can add glass coverage to almost any auto policy for a small amount of money.

 

[TheMightyMoe]

I have $1000. Figure if the damage is under a grand it's better to not get the insurance involved anyhow. If I can't afford a grand to get my junk fixed, I shouldn't be driving.

A comp claim shouldn't affect your rates, and they only cost me like 70$ annually for 3 cars for a 100$ deductible, I know I will use. (70 compared to 1000$ deductible)

 

[begreen]

That is what insurance is for unless you pay for additional coverage. You can add glass coverage to almost any auto policy for a small amount of money.

I think I will self-insure. It's the first glass problem I've had after 50 years of driving. I still don't know what did this.

 

[TMonter]

I think I will self-insure. It's the first glass problem I've had after 50 years of driving. I still don't know what did this.

Is the crack in the center or along the edge of the windshield?

 

[begreen]

passenger edge.

 

[TMonter]

passenger edge.

I'm betting a rock struck the very edge of the windshield. If you look closely you would likely be able to see the rock strike point if it's visible.

 

[begreen]

I think you are right. I looked again and found a very tiny point of impact at the start of the crack.

The question still stands, do these repairs really work or am I looking at a failure in the same location in a year or two?

Edit: Never mind. I spoke with a Safelite rep, then went out and measured the crack. It does not fit under a dollar bill. They want to replace the friggin windshield.

 

[TMonter]

I think you are right. I looked again and found a very tiny point of impact at the start of the crack.

The question still stands, do these repairs really work or am I looking at a failure in the same location in a year or two?

Edit: Never mind. I spoke with a Safelite rep, then went out and measured the crack. It does not fit under a dollar bill. They want to replace the friggin windshield.

They are right, generally the larger a crack is the less reliable any repair will be. I had a jeep with a small crack and a repair was done and it worked fine. A few years ago when we owned our Subaru we had a larger crack repaired and it didn't take. There's so much stress on a modern windshield because it actually makes up part of the structure in modern unibody designs.

Do some shopping on windshields, we have a local shop we've used before that charges typically 20-30% less than the big boys and they stand behind their work.

Part number for your Prius Windshield (OEM) is 56101-47905 and should be ~$375 + installation

 

[Gary_602z]

Ouch! I just had a windshield replaced in a Ford van for 198.00 including labor!

Gary

 

[begreen]

Safelite wants $350 for replacement, Novus wants $306. So far I don't know if either provide OEM which is what I want.