Just had my windshield replaced...

[boone]

Well I have to say, given that I had a small chunk taken out of my OEM windshield within a week of bringing the truck home, I'm surprised it lasted this long.

It made it a whole 18 months!!!

I counted the small nicks this morning before it got replaced. 6 visible ones.

Anyway, about a month ago, I left to go to work and noticed a 5 inch crack coming from the bottom of the windshield, right about in the middle of the driver's side wiper. I was willing to live with the crack for as long as possible or until I hit 24k and needed to get a state inspection. This past Saturday, I washed my truck and the crack spread from top to bottom. I decided to have it replaced and filed a glass claim with my insurance company.

Idiot. I had renewed my insurance on Nov. 1st and knowing that I had a crack in my windshield, if I lowered my comprehensive deductible to $100, I would only have to drop a benjamin out of pocket. When I filed the claim, I put that the damage was noticed on Oct. 20th, which was true. D'oh! My coverage was a $500 deductible then. I called and pleaded my ignorance and the girl at the insurance company was very sympathetic but I was SOL.

Anyway back to my point. The quality of the Toyota glass was terrible or this glass is top of the line. I am very impressed with the quality at first glance. It doesn't have all those spots from being sandblasted when the sun shines on it. Let's see how long it holds up. Anyway, that's my plug for Safelite Auto Glass.

Pretty cool watching them change it out. Came right to my work and finished in about 30 minutes. I went out and inspected it and they only got one small speck of caulk on the paint. Wow. Customer service lives!

[06Sport]

On my prelude it had a 2 inch crack in it. Couldnt stand the damn thing. But they wouldnt replace it unless it was over like 4 inches or something. So i just knuckled the thing and it spiderd like crazy. They replaced it after that

it is cool they come to your work. They came out twice for me. (prelude) Winshield, then when someone shot my passenger window with a slingshot ball bearing or something while I was driving. (found it in the car)

you got all that orange tape on still? Sucked driving around with it on. Think it had to stay on for 24 hours? Cant remember.

[boone]

Originally Posted by 06Sport

you got all that orange tape on still? Sucked driving around with it on. Think it had to stay on for 24 hours? Cant remember.

Nope, no tape, it looks normal. I've got about 15 minutes before I'm supposed to drive it (plus I'm at work so it will sit for at least 3 more hours). It has to sit for an hour. Also, no pressure washing for 24 hours.

The top visor tint, down to the AS1 line, looks a little darker but it might just be my imagination.

[goldmember]

I had mine replaced not too long as well. They used a weird trim piece around the glass. But I haven't found any leaks, so, so far so good.

[Hans Moleman]

Originally Posted by boone

Anyway back to my point. The quality of the Toyota glass was terrible or this glass is top of the line. I am very impressed with the quality at first glance. It doesn't have all those spots from being sandblasted when the sun shines on it. Let's see how long it holds up. Anyway, that's my plug for Safelite Auto Glass.

Pretty cool watching them change it out. Came right to my work and finished in about 30 minutes. I went out and inspected it and they only got one small speck of caulk on the paint. Wow. Customer service lives!

Is your glass made by "SCG"? That is Safelites in-house brand and I heard horror stories about it how it's thin and distorted vision. My windshield also got cracked and Safelite replaced it. Safelite wanted to use their "SCG" glass. I insisted to my insurance and Safelite to use OEM Toyota glass. My insurace approved it. Regardless, my glass deductible is $100 so I made sure to get the proper glass instead of the generic one.

[goldmember]

Luckily glass in Massachusetts is free with no deductible. My replacement glass was Pilkington. No idea if it's good or bad. My guess is bad. But since it's free to replace, I really don't argue what they put in.

http://www.pilkington.com/Automotive...al/default.htm

[boone]

Originally Posted by Hans Moleman

Is your glass made by "SCG"? That is Safelites in-house brand and I heard horror stories about it how it's thin and distorted vision. My windshield also got cracked and Safelite replaced it. Safelite wanted to use their "SCG" glass. I insisted to my insurance and Safelite to use OEM Toyota glass. My insurace approved it. Regardless, my glass deductible is $100 so I made sure to get the proper glass instead of the generic one.

Not sure. I'll check in a little bit. Probably is.

As far as I'm concerned, the Toyota glass was thin and the quality was pretty poor, so either way. I figured I couldn't do much worse than the OEM. Maybe I was wrong. Only time will tell.

However, at first glance, this is an upgrade.

From here on out, my deductible is $100 and I can get it fixed wherever I want. If this glass lasts 18 months or longer, I'm happy.

[goldmember]

Exactly...living in the northeast does hell on your windshield. They look sandblasted after one winter storm of highway driving.

[cabletaco]

I know what u mean, here in N.Y. you got to watch out for tiny rocks kick up by cars and trucks
I got a small chip about a year ago(2 weeks after I got my truck)had no problem, until 3 weeks ago a tiny rock bouncing right towards the drivers side of the windshield. It started as a tiny chip but when I got home it turn into a 8 inch crack from the point of impact to the bottom of the windshield
Lucky for me I have full glass coveaged with no deductible
I going to wait until my inspection is up then I'll have the windshield replace..
TOYOTA OEM WINDSHIELD SUCKS!/////////////// SORRY ABOUT THE LONG STORY....

[robstaco]

Dealer replaced mine after I only had 500 miles on it due to a chip. They used the window seal excuse to replace the glass. (Gotta give the service guy credit for keeping me happy)

Anyhow the OEM glass replaced at the dealer would have been almost $500. The OEM glass was like $330, new window seal $120, and an hour of labor. Glad that didn't come out of my wallet! He did say the new windshields are much softer so chips are unavoidable if you drive the highways. The 91fwy in LA is like a rock shooting gallery with all the construction going on.

[TacoMSU]

I got a chip on my windshield that I couldn't see from the inside of the truck and didn't notice it until the first "cold" day when I had to use my heater. The hot air was blowing onto the windshield and caused it to crack completely accross from the passenger side all the way to the driver's side seal within a mater of a few seconds. My dealership wants $389 for the windshield and they outsource their installation to a glass shop 30 min away. Total cost(including the gas to drive all over the place) is about $550. How much more cost effective is it to get non-OEM glass installed?

[TL1]

Originally Posted by 05TRDOffRoad

I got a chip on my windshield that I couldn't see from the inside of the truck and didn't notice it until the first "cold" day when I had to use my heater. The hot air was blowing onto the windshield and caused it to crack completely accross from the passenger side all the way to the driver's side seal within a mater of a few seconds. My dealership wants $389 for the windshield and they outsource their installation to a glass shop 30 min away. Total cost(including the gas to drive all over the place) is about $550. How much more cost effective is it to get non-OEM glass installed?

Go through your insurance company the only thing you will have to pay is your deductible. A windshield claim will not raise your rates either.

[boone]

Originally Posted by 05TRDOffRoad

I got a chip on my windshield that I couldn't see from the inside of the truck and didn't notice it until the first "cold" day when I had to use my heater. The hot air was blowing onto the windshield and caused it to crack completely accross from the passenger side all the way to the driver's side seal within a mater of a few seconds. My dealership wants $389 for the windshield and they outsource their installation to a glass shop 30 min away. Total cost(including the gas to drive all over the place) is about $550. How much more cost effective is it to get non-OEM glass installed?

Like TL1 said explore your insurance company policy. With my current policy, I would just have to pay my comprehensive deductible, which is $100. I can get it fixed anywhere and the insurance company will pay the remaining balance.

Since I screwed up this time, I had to pay out of my pocket. Safelite is all over the country. They come to your home or work and fix it in about 30 minutes. With glass, new moldings and tax my total came to $284. I didn't have to drive anywhere, waste my time, miss work which are all just as valuable to me as money. To drive 30 minutes out of your way, spend 30-45 minutes there and then drive back is a huge waste since there are a ton of mobile services that will come to you for free.

Hans said there may be an issue with Safelite glass (SGC). I personally, think it's better quality than what came on the truck. Call Safelite and see what they quote you with their "generic" glass and if they can get the Toyota glass and what that price would be. Do this all after you check with your insurance company. You may be surprised.

[TacoMSU]

Originally Posted by TL1

Go through your insurance company the only thing you will have to pay is your deductible. A windshield claim will not raise your rates either.

My deductible is $500. I'm 17 and that's the only way to keep my insurance under $300 per month. All costs to replace it will be out-of-pocket.

[boone]

Originally Posted by 05TRDOffRoad

My deductible is $500. I'm 17 and that's the only way to keep my insurance under $300 per month. All costs to replace it will be out-of-pocket.

Is your collision deductible or your comprehensive deductible $500?

Glass claims come from your comprehensive coverage. Typically, full comp covereage is not expensive. I went from a $500 deductible to a $100 deductible and the premium increase for 6 months was like $25.

I would look into what your premium increase would be if you have your comp deductible lowered to $100.