I was driving to the hospital today when somethign came up and hit my windshield. I know this is a common problem with Acura cars (or at least a lot of people complain about chips)

Does anybody know if I have to replace the windshield or if it can be fixed? It is small - probably the size of a dime.

 

A lot of chips can be "filled" and will hold the crack from growing. If it is not filled and sealed the crack will grow across the window overtime. I have had other cars with chips filled and they were just fine afterward. It is about a $35 repair. If it is bad then you need a new windshield.

 

Yep small cracks and chips are fixable, if small enough. Many insurance companies will fix them for free. There is no charge to fill small cracks/chips with my insurance policy. They do not want to replace a windshield.

 

I've had a couple of windshield chip repairs done in the past with mixed success. They push liquid acrylic into the chip/crack under pressure and then harden the acrylic with UV light. The success of the repair is a function of the ability to get the acrylic material into the crack properly which I believe is a function of the experience of the operator performing the repair. Try to get the glass shops most experienced guy to do your repair if you can because the 14 year old apprentice won't have nearly the same success.

 

Sorry to hear that. I have a couple of small chips, the size of less than a pea. They are superficial, so I decided not to do anything. Does any one think that small superficial chips should be repaired?

 

You should get it fixed ASAP. When it gets cold, the chip will spread and you will have to replace the whole windshield.

 

Someone else said that too. I am wondering how deep/big the chip has to be for it to be a problem. I should just have someone from the insurance company to come out and look at it just to be safe. Thanks.

vp911: I believe yours definitively needed fixing. Keep us posted. Goodluck.

 

I believe it's more a function of temperature than the size and type of crack. When it gets cold enough, the chip will start spreading.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I am going to call my insurance company today and check into this.

 

A dump truck threw up a rock and hit my windshield on a business trip about a month after getting my RL. It chipped the windshield on the passenger side about half way up next to the outside trim. It was only a small chip about 1/4" in diameter. Well, that was on a Friday and over the weekend the temps rose and the car sitting in the sun in the parking lot on Monday...I came out of work and the windshield spit half way to the center.

I called my insurance and told me to call Glass Doctor. GD took all my info and they called a few days later to come out to my work to install. I went out to meet the guy and he said the windshield that he had did not match my RL just perfectly. The shading at the top didn't come down as far and the black dots around the edges and by the rearview mirror and the cutoff of them by the light sensor didn't match. I told him no way and he agreed.

Come to find out, no one has a replacement windshield yet and we had to order one from the dealer's parts dept. It took several weeks to come in.

TAKE NOTE ---- If you have to have a new windshield, make sure that they order the top trim piece at the same time as well as new clips for the bottom cowl panel. (if not, will take weeks to get this stuff)

I have had to go back and forth getting these done as they can't be reused and look proper. And if you reuse the cowl clips, it won't hold it tight against the windshield.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the info. I will keep this in mind; however, hopefully it can just be repaired. I don't want to pay a deductible. I talked to the ins company and they said the repair would be free (no deductible) but a replacement would have a 400 deductible.

 

In Ketucky windshield replacements have no deductible by law. My car is for work and registered in KY.

 

I have heard this with a couple states as well. Too bad it isn't in michigan

 

kph3....... My RL just had the same problem of a chip then a crack caused by a gravel truck.... Do you mind saying how much the replaced windshield cost and are you happy with the repair.... Thanks.... RAB

 

At glass doctor with the trim pieces and clips, it was @$789. They did it in the shop, not on site like they first thought. I would recommend this as they did a quality job in the shop.

 

Cracked my '05RL windshield yesterday...barely heard the rock from dump truck heading the opposite direction...hit on left edge of windshield at the moulding...2" crack developed, which immediately began growing into a 18-20" crack by the time I got home 3 hours later...cloudy day with no sun...crack looks to be heading all the way across the windshield...in the middle...from left to right.

Insurance company is using Novus. I insisted on a windshield that says "Honda" or "Acura"...Novus initially tried to get me to go with PPG or LOF...they wanted me to pay the difference...but they later called back and said that for '05 and '06 RL's, they have to use part from dealer! So that's one good thing about having a low production automobile!

I called back with info from this site about clips and moulding, and Novus has already ordered.

Installation scheduled for later in the week or first of next week...keeping my fingers crossed that this will go OK.

Fred

 

When I bought my '06 in September I purchased the addition protection package or $400 that covers wheel/tire/windshield damage. Peace of mind for me. Have aleady had to replace wheel/replace tire due to huge pothole. A smooth transaction via dealer.

 

When I had the Windshield on my 06TL replaced, I told the Glass Company I wanted a HONDA Windshield, identical to the one on my car now. They ordered one from the dealer and installed it.

 

With my insurance company (USAA) they do offer TOTAL glass coverage, however, it does cost more. Otherwise, your standard deductible applies.

About $25 more per year if memory serves = about $2/month, and that includes two vehicles.

They prefer to do repairs (obviously), but will replace the windshield if you are not completely satisfied. I had one chip repaired in the lower portion of the passenger window (for free), then a few weeks ago I got a fresh one right in the dead center of my view out the drivers side. I told them up front I didn't want another repair, and they handled a full replacement for free - no other questions asked. I'm not sure if it's an "Acura" windshield, but it sure looks like a spot-on replacement.

Contact your insurance carrier about additional glass coverage. It's well worth it.

 

I've had five windshields replaced "free of charge" thru my comprehensive coverage over my 44 years of driving. For some reason my RL and my former '04 TL both seem to attract rocks to the windshield. When I traded in the TL it had about a dozen small chips on the windshield and several chips on the hood. Must be the aerodynamics.

 

If you're in Chicago, call car medics (www.carmedics.com). Although they don't due windshield repairs, they can refer you to a place that my buddy went to...I forgot the name though. it will probably be under $200.

 

Windshield replacement went OK. Novus sent a couple of guys out to the country where I live...they worked in the front pasture and as far as I can tell, did a good job. I've been through a couple of storms with no obvious leaking problems. The only thing...they don't see any RL's here, so had to readjust the blade arms after I cranked up and tried them out. Also, I'm missing one of the little screw down grommets in the plastic fairing below the windshield under the hood.

The windshield is an original Honda replacement...they couldn't order aftermarket. It cost me $100.00 out of pocket, and insurance covered the rest.