Consequences of Improper

Windshield Installation 

Residents of Quartzsite, Wikieup, Wittmann and Yarnell: When you find yourself in the position of needing a windshield repaired or replaced, obtaining the knowledge of the important do’s and dont’s can become crucial to the safety of you, your family, and other potential occupants of your vehicle.

Many of us are familiar with the 20/20 report about the dangers of improperly installed windshields, which featured the story of Jeanne Fransway, a twenty five year old woman from Wisconsin, who lost her life when she was involved in a rollover accident and ejected from her vehicle. Her body was found seventy feet away, lying on top of her windshield that did not serve its intended purpose, which was to keep the occupants inside the vehicle, but instead it popped out. There are many other tragic stories of serious injuries and death as a direct result of being ejected from a vehicle, because of improperly installed windshields. 

Tracey Rhyne, of California, became a quadriplegic when she was involved in a rollover accident that buckled the roof on the passenger side of her car. Her windshield was replaced seven months earlier, but the auto glass company’s installers did not use an important primer in the windshield installation process that allowed the urethane to adhere to the windshield. Considering that windshields contribute to as much as seventy percent of the structural integrity of vehicles that are involved in rollover accidents, even a seemingly un-important step in the windshield replacement process may prevent proper adhesion. Ms. Rhyne ended up settling with the auto glass company that was responsible for the improperly installed windshield for two million dollars, and is now just one of a large group of victims.

Forty five percent of front-end collisions affect the structural integrity of the vehicle’s cabin, while rollover accidents affect the structural integrity of the cabin sixty percent of the time. Three out of one hundred accidents are rollovers, and are the cause of thirty-five out of every one hundred deaths. Years ago, most vehicles had steel A-pillars to support the roof. Today it is the windshield and the back window that provide most of the support, which prevents a roof from collapsing during a rollover accident. June of 1984, Ivars Arums of General Motors said, “One of the easiest ways to improve roof strength is by keeping the front windshield and the rear back-lit glass from breaking out or popping out.” With seventy percent of windshields improperly installed and approximately eleven million windshields replaced annually, the danger adds up.

 According to the U. S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were 6,159,000 accidents reported in 2005, which resulted in 2.7 million personal injuries and 43,443 fatalities. More than 10,000 of these fatalities were caused by the occupants being thrown from their vehicles. Approximately forty five percent of traffic accidents are caused by impaired drivers, while between twenty-five and thirty three percent are caused by driver error due to issues such as inexperience, eating, daydreaming, aggressive driving, sleeping, and talking on a cell phone. Three out of four accidents are caused by human factors. Mechanical failures account for twelve to thirteen percent of all accidents and they are attributed to normal wear and tear or the lack of proper vehicular maintenance. 

Another safety hazard of faulty windshield installation is that a windshield pops out during a head-on collision or rollover accident, the ability of the airbag to protect the occupants may become compromised as the airbag is positioned in such a way so it presses against the windshield and into the cabin upon release. In cases where the windshield pops out, the airbag follows the windshield rather than providing the intended cushioning within the confines of the passenger compartment. Windshields add additional cushioning, due to their composition. Windshields consist of a layer of polyvinyl sandwiched between two layers of glass. Upon impact the windshield may break, but because the polyvinyl is flexible and gives way, thereby acting as additional cushioning. 

Quartzsite, Wikieup, Wittmann, Yarnell residents; Some of the signs that point to improper windshield installation would be water leaking into the vehicle’s cabin, excessive wind noise, and windshield cracks that have no apparent cause. Due to the serious nature of this issue, it is wise to take the time necessary to shop around for a reputable windshield replacement company. Going with the windshield replacement company your auto insurance company may suggest, does not necessarily ensure quality. In an effort to save money, they may suggest an auto glass company that does not use original equipment glass or original equipment material equivalents. 

Asking the right questions can assist you when looking for a qualified auto glass company that employs certified and experienced installers. Some questions you may want to ask are:

•  Are you a National Glass Association certified auto glass company and is the installer that will be doing the work currently certified?
•  Do you use original equipment or original equipment equivalent glass, parts, and moldings?
•  Do all the materials you use meet or exceed ANSI Z 26.1 and all other pertinent Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards?
•  Does my vehicles manufacturer recommend the urethane adhesive your installer will be using on my vehicle?
•  What type of written warranty can I expect?
•  How soon after my glass is replaced, will I be able to drive my vehicle?

There are also a few common issues to be aware of, such as noticing whether the auto glass installer is wearing gloves when he is handling the new windshield. Oil from the installer’s hands can compromise the adhesiveness, which in turn can cause a windshield to become vulnerable to popping out during a head-on collision or roll over accident. It would be advisable to watch for common money and timesaving shortcuts that many auto glass companies or their installers employ. Check to see whether the installer is using urethane adhesive rather than butyl, before they install the windshield. Butyl has the consistency of gooey bubble gum and is generally not strong enough to hold the windshield in place during a head-on collision or roll over accident. However, even though butyl is not strong enough, some auto glass companies may still use it to lower their costs. You may also want to keep in mind that some auto insurance companies may try to steer you to an auto glass company that cuts corners in order to cut costs.

Other commonly employed shortcuts used in order to quote cheap prices are:

• Pinchweld Primer: Auto glass companies that do not apply primer to the pinchweld in order to save them time and money put the very safety of you and your family at risk.
• Windshield Primer:  It is important to apply primer to ensure proper bonding. Auto glass companies that do not apply primer to the windshield do so to save ten minutes of dry time and a little money.
• Corrosion: When a windshield installer does not treat all existing corrosion before installing a windshield, the urethane adhesive may not properly bond where corroded areas exist. A primer and adhesive should be applied to the metal pinchweld since rust acts as a barrier and its presence may prevent proper adhesion. This creates weak spots in the structural integrity of the windshield and passing this step in the process saves the auto glass company time and money.
• Glass Pretreatment: When an auto glass installer does not clean the new windshield thoroughly, there is a chance that the adhesive will not adhere properly to the new windshield. Any oil or dirt can prevent bonding, affecting the structural integrity of the windshield. Auto Glass Replacement companies that disregard this important step do so to save time.
• Work Environment: Installing a windshield outside on cold, rainy days can affect the bonding process. In such an environment, the work should be done inside, in a well-ventilated dry area that has plenty of proper lighting.
• Windshield Removal: Removing the old windshield using the ‘plunge-cut’ can leave scratches in the paint that in turn may cause corrosion. Corrosion acts as a barrier between the metal pinchweld and the adhesive, thereby affecting the bonding between the windshield and the pinchweld. It may save time, but it is at the expense of receiving a proper windshield installation.
• Molding:  Reusing your vehicle’s existing molding or gasket for the new windshield installation can result in wind noise and leakage into the passenger cabin. Worn out moldings and gaskets can fail to bond. Auto glass companies that reuse moldings to save money could end up with an inferior and possibly even a dangerous windshield installation.

However, there will never be a total lack of risk in life; there are actions that may help reduce the risks related to vehicular accidents. Gaining a basic knowledge of what questions to ask when searching for a windshield repair or windshield replacement company can position you to make the best decision for you, and your family’s safety, just as gaining a basic knowledge of the windshield installation process can give you confidence that your vehicle will protect you from injury, and possibly even death. 

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SunTec Auto Glass is a family-owned business located in Arizona, serving most of Maricopa and Pinal counties. We are auto glass repair professionals and specialize in windshield replacement, auto glass repair, window tinting and glass etching. The installation team at SunTec Auto Glass maintains the highest level of certification available in the windshield repair and auto glass replacement industry. From headlights to taillights, from the east valley to west valley, whether you are looking to have a windshield replaced or even a side window replaced such as a door glass, quarter glass, or vent glass the team at SunTec Auto Glass can do it. If you live in Quartzsite, Wikieup, Wittmann or Yarnell, look no further. For professional help and premium quality automotive glass, parts and moldings. Contact us today.

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(480) 782-5489