Sunday, August 1, 2010

Auto repair tips that won't break the bank

You know it will happen eventually — your windshield will develop cracks. If you do nothing over it, those cracks can eventually cause the windshield to shatter. This is, of course, a serious safety issue, as an airbag won’t protect you from flying glass if the windshield breaks while you are driving (for instance during a collision). You certainly can’t go without a windshield, for reasons of safety and garnering the attention of authorities. Thus, knowing a couple of auto glass repair tips can come in handy.

Certain standards are essential for auto glass repair

Auto glass repair is a job that is worth doing right, rather than easily and cheaply. According to Automotive Troubleshooting Secrets , it is highly inadvisable to compromise your safety in the interest of saving cash. For one thing, you want for making certain the safety glass being installed is certified by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The urethane adhesive they use should also be certified by the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS). That adhesive can have an expiration date, as will any adhesive used in auto glass repair. Quite possibly expiration of a single day is too long, and hence unsafe. It should also be compliant with your automaker’s factory rating and by airbag-rated if your car has airbags. Priming materials should pass comparable standards from the AGRSS.

What makes a certified installer worth their salt?

If a repair tech is working on your windshield, you’ll want them to be National Glass Association (NGA)-certified so that your answers to the following questions will be answered in the affirmative:

  • Make sure the windshield is centered perfectly
  • Does the molding fit perfectly and sit flat around the windshield circumference?
  • Is the windshield flush to the frame?
  • Does the windshield wiper motor nevertheless work?

Don’t forget that FMVSS certification

Know that there are many auto glass repair shop options available, but not all of them will carry the all-important FMVSS credentials. When work is completed by FMVSS-certified technicians, they should affix an FMVSS label to the windshield. Think of it as a badge of quality. Accepting cheap imitations is an unwise course.

Further reading

automotivetroubleshootingsecrets.com/auto%20glass%20repair.htm



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