(T) Windscreen Replacement!

What a right shambles. I have to say as appealing as the heated screen is, the thing that put me off speccing was the 'what if it breaks' voice in my head. Something like a windscreen which gets cracked frequently should be kept stocked in the UK really. My mum is currently having a similar problem with ford over her Ka's screen where the left half of the elements have stopped working :banghead:

Fingers crossed it gets sorted for you :thumbup:

Yes thanks - it will get sorted, but it is frustrating. I suspect that a heated screen would be available in the UK, but add the laser to it, and that's a fairly unusual spec for a Panda.

Yes very true Charlie - at least it's not leaking!!

On the plus side, the customer service since I made the complaint has been excellent & they are taking it seriously. It will be interesting to see how they deal with this - everyone makes mistakes & how a company deals with it makes all the difference.

Okay so I have to ask what's the Laser in reference to the windscreen? I'm aware of the heated screen (Ford patent if I'm not mistaken) but not the laser?

The laser's for the city brake control. It's an anti collision thing for around town mainly. At (I think) under 30mph it will apply the brakes if it sees that you are about to drive into something. Very clever & works well apparently, but like the airbags you hope you don't need to test it! The laser shoots from the top of the screen over the bonnet

Thanks @Palio, I was aware of the city brake control, just hadn't realised it used a windscreen laser ;-)

Hadn't seen this until now (and didn't realize your mum's Panda was called Pippin, too...!) -- but am glad it's getting sorted....

I once had to have the driver's side window replaced on my Isuzu. Because it was an import, and with a weird tint, had to be ordered from Japan... -- so I feel for you....

@homeward Thanks. Yes its had several name changes, but I think Pippin has stuck. I suppose it should be Pippin Jnr really One of the name changes was after I said yours was also called Pippin (Mum hadn't realised), but I don't think there's anything in the rules to say they can't have the same name!

And blinds all oncoming driver is illegal HIDs fitted and front foglamps switched on........Damn, wishful thinking.

Just out of interest - are the Panda and Ford Ka screens the same?

I would have thought that KA if anything would be the same as the 500 as that's the car its based on.

I'd have thought the same but the Panda and Ka screens look more alike - hence the question.

Hi Palio

I was driving very slowly this morning after pulling out from a junction and a van went the other way (again not fast) and kicked up something which hit my windscreen right in the centre at the base (it wasn't even a particularly loud bang) but it has caused a localised chip with cracking coming away from it.

Gutted as I've had things hit previous car windscreens much worse than this and just had a tiny mark.

I do worry this heated screen is really weak :-(

Hopefully getting it repaired on Friday morning.

Phil

It'll be no weaker than any other screen. Also if cracked I'd be surprised if they can repair it, but fingers crossed.

Palio, did you ever get sorted?

Philboo, if it's cracked I'd say they won't repair it and new screen will be required unfortunately.

Sorry to heard yours has broken too Phil.

Ok update time at last!

The car was booked in again last week, correct glass arrived, and..... Then Autoglass phoned on the morning to say the fitter was ill & no one could fit it that day!

"Discussion" with the customer service lady who was very disappointed (nee furious) but couldn't find anyone to do it.....

Re-re-re-rebooked and was finally fitted successfully Friday!

Spoke to the very helpful & extremely apologetic customer service/complaints lady today, and she has offered a refund of the £75 excess I paid.

I wasn't out to be a pain (and this was offered before I said that's what I wanted), so this seems fair to me. As I give points to how a complaint is dealt with (everyone has off weeks/months and makes mistakes), the customer service dept gets full marks. Nothing personal but I don't want to have to sort out a windscreen again soon though.