Technical CRACKED WINDSCREEN - REPAIRABLE?

[JAMLAX]

Yesterday my Panda windscreen cracked, about 9 inches (a horizontal crack line ... below line of sight so not an immediate roadworthy issue). Advice being sought on how to go about getting it repaired without going down the insurance route. (I don't want my insurance to be bumped up if possible!)

 

[koalar]

Few options

Not easy, but It's doable as a DIY replacement, not many breakers will allow you to take a windscreen out nowadays, I am after an alto one myself at the moment

It's repairable, you have to purposely crack the ends to stop it spreading (bullseye) inject with a resin and cure with UV lamp, best left to someone who's done it before, will always visible,.an expert will tint the resin slghtly

Or replace

Panda windscreen price! | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

You have to grind partway through the windscreen top laminated sheet if glass Then gently hit with a center punch to create a bulls eye, the crack will stop here Then you drop some very thin UV resin in and press from the inside to spread the crack move along and compillary action will draw...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[Zardo]

Yesterday my Panda windscreen cracked, about 9 inches (a horizontal crack line ... below line of sight so not an immediate roadworthy issue). Advice being sought on how to go about getting it repaired without going down the insurance route. (I don't want my insurance to be bumped up if possible!)

It will crack and grow with every day/night cycle (temperature gradient if parked outside).
9 inches is already a really long crack line, so hurry to contain it or (better) replace the whole windscreen.

 

[AnthonyH]

Yesterday my Panda windscreen cracked, about 9 inches (a horizontal crack line ... below line of sight so not an immediate roadworthy issue). Advice being sought on how to go about getting it repaired without going down the insurance route. (I don't want my insurance to be bumped up if possible!)

While the crack isn't blocking your vision in any way its still an MOT fail and not a roadworthy car.

Its not a repair in my opinion, while its technically possible to repair you'll find it so much bother finding someone to do it that you will need a replacement. Cost £350-£400.

 

[MrMagoo]

Do you have windscreen cover on your insurance?

 

[jrkitching]

I doubt it's worth trying to repair it once it's this badly cracked, but you can certainly fit one yourself, and if you shop around, can probably get one for not much more than the typical insurance excess.

I wouldn't bother with a secondhand screen. It won't save you much money and you've no idea what hidden chips, microcracks and stresses it may have acquired.

You could maybe watch a youtube video, and get a fitting kit online. An assistant, and a couple of those suction handles that clamp to glass (I found a pair in a charity shop for £2 each), would both prove useful.

If an autoglass fitter can do it single handed at the side of the road, a couple of folks with basic handyman skills ought to be able to do this in a garage.

Here's one I found from a quick search online, though it's the sort of thing that's probably best sourced locally from a factor and collected.

 

[Mike1alike]

I advise the same, replace it. With a new one.

 

[JAMLAX]

Thanks all - I guess I'll just have to find a replacement windscreen. I'll check my insurance W/S cover details and take it from there.

 

[koalar]

Thanks all - I guess I'll just have to find a replacement windscreen. I'll check my insurance W/S cover details and take it from there.

 

[AnthonyH]

Its a good video. The experts make it look really easy, but its only easy if you do them every day.

 

[koalar]

Its a good video. The experts make it look really easy, but its only easy if you do them every day.

Correct

Which is why I said it not really a DIY repair

I have changed windscreens with piano wire not easy but doable, to re shell a car

But it takes experience to.know how deep to drill and how hard to hit, you will find that that repair even in a clear windscreen will be slightly tinted

Not something you want to mess up on your own windscreen

 

[AnthonyH]

Correct

Which is why I said it not really a DIY repair

I have changed windscreens with piano wire not easy but doable, to re shell a car

But it takes experience to.know how deep to drill and how hard to hit, you will find that that repair even in a clear windscreen will be slightly tinted

Not something you want to mess up on your own windscreen

I was interested to watch, for the same reason i've discounted trying to repair dents, i imagine i'd spend what felt like a lifetime to make things look slightly less bad!

Do you do much bodywork or is it mostly mechanical?

 

[jalopear]

En mi opinión diría que lo cambies, la reparación es posible con alguien que tenga experiencia en ello, pero no te garantizo el resultado, lo ideal es cambiarlo.

 

[JAMLAX]

The encouragement to check my Insurance windscreen cover has been the helpful nudge I was needing. Now I'm booked with Autoglass for them to replace the windscreen tomorrow afternoon (Friday 14th November). The actual cost would have been greater than £469 ... but with the help of my W/S insurance assistance I have now a more manageable £164 total bill which includes new wipers as recommended by Autoglass.

Thanks everyone for the good advice.

 

[koalar]

I was interested to watch, for the same reason i've discounted trying to repair dents, i imagine i'd spend what felt like a lifetime to make things look slightly less bad!

Do you do much bodywork or is it mostly mechanical?

I don't do any car body work any more, don't have the space really and it can be very time consuming if things are worse than expected

I use to gas weld at work, feeding a filler rod into a molten pool, it's a skill that needs practicing or you loose it, but very satisfying

Have put a few written off cars back in the road, but places like car transplants now sell their written of cars, plus parts for more than you can just drive one away so now pointless, unless you own a body shop and go one stage further and get cars that need jigging it's in my opinion now a pointless exercise

 

[AnthonyH]

I've discovered the pointlessness of doing bodywork, it's a time sink with unsatisfying results. I overpaid for my written off car, it's a lot of bother, I keep telling myself it'll be worth it...

 

[Mike1alike]

lo ideal es cambiarlo.

Cámbialo y vete a Ibiza.
Woo-hoo!!! Par-teeey!!!

 

[koalar]

I've discovered the pointlessness of doing bodywork, it's a time sink with unsatisfying results. I overpaid for my written off car, it's a lot of bother, I keep telling myself it'll be worth it...

I tend to buy cheap cars with known fault than most people would touch, and I know I can fix
airbag light, gear shift, gearbox, electric power steering, abs

Thack the gearbox, to pay someone to repair it, is at least £500

So by passing it on they save 500 for the repair and get 300 for the sale oF the car, thats £800 goes towards on upgrade. Their happy, am happy

 

[AnthonyH]

I tend to buy cheap cars with known fault than most people would touch, and I know I can fix
airbag light, gear shift, gearbox, electric power steering, abs

Thack the gearbox, to pay someone to repair it, is at least £500

So by passing it on they save 500 for the repair and get 300 for the sale oF the car, thats £800 goes towards on upgrade. Their happy, am happy

Do they tell you about the fault in the advert or do you deduce it? That does sound a good way of doing things and i may follow suit.

My son will be taking his driving test next March so we'll then need another car (assuming he passes). We'll have to have 3 on the road and 4 in total with the 4th up on stands.

 

[koalar]

Do they tell you about the fault in the advert or do you deduce it? That does sound a good way of doing things and i may follow suit.

My son will be taking his driving text next March so we'll then need another car (assuming he passes). We'll have to have 3 on the road and 4 in total with the 4th up on stands.

Yes

Look at the cheapest in under 10 years old within a reasonable distance

Read the description

Look at the MOT history

Be patient and pick one you know you can fix