Nov 22, 2008 6:46:35 PM
- cookie monster
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- Loc: US , United States
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- Registered on: Dec 8, 2005
Nov 22, 2008 6:46:35 PM
Nov 22, 2008 7:33:05 PM
I would not replace the window unless a crack starts to develop from it, because my experience with the 997 is that replacement windows are much easier to crack thereafter.
You can also get the chip filled with a special glue in a shop so that it doens't develop into a crack and also makes it much more discrete.
Nov 23, 2008 11:14:37 AM
Nov 23, 2008 12:24:55 PM
Nov 23, 2008 4:14:09 PM
Alex_997TT:
GOOSE997:
There is a process offered by glass installers that can "repair" your chip.Cracks yes, chips no. If it's just an indentation then there is not much that can be done.
Can't agree there Alex - the time to repair is while it's still a chip, before cracks start to spread from it.
If the chip is in your eyeline, the repair won't help. Anywhere else it's the best option.
BTW - cover the chip with sticky tape as soon as you can. This will keep the chip clean and help prevent cracks developing while you arrange for the repair.
Nov 23, 2008 4:32:12 PM
John H:I got some deep chips from the Autobahn a couple of months back. I got the autoglass guys out and they said they couldn't do anything about chips unless they had started to crack.
Alex_997TT:
GOOSE997:
There is a process offered by glass installers that can "repair" your chip.Cracks yes, chips no. If it's just an indentation then there is not much that can be done.
Can't agree there Alex - the time to repair is while it's still a chip, before cracks start to spread from it.
If the chip is in your eyeline, the repair won't help. Anywhere else it's the best option.
BTW - cover the chip with sticky tape as soon as you can. This will keep the chip clean and help prevent cracks developing while you arrange for the repair.
Nov 23, 2008 4:46:04 PM
Sounds like the usual "Autoglass" response to me!
There are much better operators out there. Not much point in listing mine here because they don't cover your area. But if you search you'll find independent local guys who will do a much better job than the faceless national rip-off merchants.
Relevant post from the past....
http://www.rennteam.com/forum/thread/361268/Windscreen_replacement/index.html
Nov 23, 2008 5:01:29 PM
AFAIK its best to be done while its still a "spot" (a tiny hole or a star shaped crack), it can be filled-in and repaired, and as John says, its good to cover it up with tape after it happens so that it doesn't get dirty inside whilst you don't get it repaired for better results.
Once there is a chip or small crack, sudden changes in temperature or flexion of the chasis from normal driving may cause it to open into a split, and depending on were the chip is on the windshield it may be more likely to progress into a crack or not.
But once it develops into a "longitudinal" crack, its over, no repair posible anymore and most likely it will only get bigger and longer in time. You have to replace the windshield.
Nov 23, 2008 6:32:51 PM
Nov 23, 2008 6:56:13 PM
Hi Fritz, I definately have a few chips on this new one (third or fourth windshield? I lost track already) but none of them severe enough to crack so, so far so good, and its been over a year I believe now so its a good sign, car has now around 70,000km.
The other replacement windshields lasted me only a few months, sometimes weeks before they were cracking and spliting. This time is seems more resistant, but don't ask me why the use of the car has always been the same, same roads, same driver, same driving style, etc. And on my ex-996 with more miles I never had to even replace a windshield.
The only explanation I can come up with is if on this last replacement they did a better job at fitting it without knowing it, or maybe sat longer afterwards, if that matters any still doesn't seem as resistant as the original factory fitted windshield but definately more resistant that all the previous replacements.
Nov 23, 2008 8:59:23 PM
Carlos: Windshield installations are tricky. Temperature of installation and setting time. A new windshield should sit at least 24 h before the car is driven. Could it be that some of this was not done in your case?
Nov 23, 2008 10:23:43 PM
ADias:
Carlos: Windshield installations are tricky. Temperature of installation and setting time. A new windshield should sit at least 24 h before the car is driven. Could it be that some of this was not done in your case?
--
A. Dias Corvette C6 coupe (sold) 996 C4 (sold)
Each replacement sat 24hrs but the difference is that this last replacement sat for several days instead of one, since it took me that long to pick up the car this time. I don't know if more than 24hrs is overkill and doesn't help any, but that is the only difference that I could see. All the replacements were done by the same Porsche dealer.
Its still a mistery to me how the first replacements could crack so easily, I mean it was ridiculous, any little normal hit meant a crack, whereas in other cars I drive or previous ex-996 it was no problem. This last replacement is still no stanadard tough, but at least its lasting over a year without the glass splitting (though I have several small chips on it).