Any of these stone chips can be repaired. Beyond looking for these types of common chips, it is important to take into consideration the size of the damage. If the damage cannot be covered by a half dollar, the chip is too large to be repaired. Another important piece of information to consider is the acute area. The acute area is the area of the automobile windshield chip repair directly in the drivers line of vision. It is the same size as a piece of paper being held horizontally in front of the driver. In this area, the National Glass Association does not recommend a repair being done unless it is no greater than .95 of an inch. An easier way to imagine this is that a quarter should be able to cover the entire area of damage in the acute area.
Also, flush your radiator and change your engine coolant every two years. The summer season can be very hard on a vehicle's cooling system so inspect your radiator for signs of leaking or corrosion. If you're not sure, have your mechanic check the radiator core to make sure it is not plugged or at risk of imminent failure. Check and fill other fluids necessary for your vehicle's performance, to recommended levels. These may include power steering, transmission, brake, radiator, and battery. Also, top off windshield wiper fluid. Don't wait until you need it, to do that!
If you do decide that fix auto glass is your best bet, you have a few choices. First of all, make sure you check to see if your insurance covers it. In a lot of instances it does. The problem is that many policies have a deductible that is higher than the cost of the replacement or repair job. If that is the case, you will have to pay for it yourself.
If your windshield is cracked or chipped you need to get windshield repair. Most times people think they will need to replace the whole windshield. However if you get the repair completed soon after the crack or chip occurred, it can easily be repaired. It really takes no time for a repair specialist to repair, and sometimes auto body shops offer a mobile service where they will come to you and repair your windshield. As for cost, it is affordable, and most times your car insurance provider will pay for most of or the entire repair.
Carefully read and understand the instruction manual that comes with your newly purchased windshield repair kit before performing the repair. Now, here's how to fix the cracks on your windshield. First, use an auto glass cleaner to remove dirt from the crack and the area around it. Then dry the crack using a clean rag or towel. Use a safety pin to take out any remaining debris on the crack. Next place the suction cup onto the windshield using the adhesive included in the kit. Then mount the injector on the suction cup. Next, inject the resin; this will remove the air between the windshield and the suction cup.
Windshield chips and cracks can usually be patched for under $90. You're going to pay hundreds to replace the whole thing. In this case, your best bet is to keep hunting for auto insurance quotes and pay the repairs out of pocket.