So back in '05 when my TL was just 3 months old I was on the freeway and something hit the windshield. I ended with a silver dollar size chip that was on the shaded area in the passenger side and was talked by the Insurance CO. to have it fixed instead of replacing the glass as the TL was new.
The repair was good, I could not see the damage from the outside, only thru the inside and I was OK with that.
Now a few years later I can see the damage and the insurance will replace the windshield. The deal is that the company that is doing the replacement asked me if the windshield was "sound layered" as there was an option in their system so I called the dealer and it was first for them too so they do not know.
I asked the lady from the windshield repair co. if there was a difference and she said that physically there wasn't one but apparently it would be to my advantage to have the layered glass put in but I had a choice.
Has anyone come across this issue.
Thanks

Hek aka Hector...

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

 

Hector, this is from Hondanews.com:

Acoustically Tuned Glass Windshield

To reduce cabin noise, the TL windshield is made of 4.7 mm thick acoustic glass, which consists of two layers of safety glass, separated by a thin acoustic resin center. This represents the first time that acoustic glass with a shade band has been applied to a luxury vehicle in North America. The windshield reduces road noise on smooth asphalt significantly in the higher frequency ranges. To reduce noise intrusion through the side glass, the front and rear movable door glass is 5 mm thick.

My windshield is battle-damaged from the LIE and has been patched up a few times. The odd thing is that when a rock the size of a meteorite hits the glass it does nothing, but tiny pebbles are the ones that do all the damage.

 

Merci, arigato, gracias...I opted for the acoustical glass but was a little worried that it would not be OEM....again thanks for the peace of mind Narnia....

 

Make certain it's produced by a major manufacturer like PPG, etc. No off the wall company.

 

Any time you have a option to get an acqustical interlay do it. There are aftermarket parts with out it and you would be so upset with the noise trust me. Especially if somone else is paying for it (insurance) however they offer a non acqustic one for people who are trying to save a buck when paying cash.

Hope this makes sense

Larry Diesbach
15 Year NGA Auto Glass Repair Certified technician.

 

I just went through this. You will notice a difference in noise level.

I would insist on factory glass. I had some off brand acoustic glass installed and it had a waviness to it and distorted the light. I made the insurance replace it again with OEM glass and you really notice the quality difference.

 

Well OEM in not neccessary as so much is the brand. APtech is OEM on that car, and a APtech windshield not from Acura with the logo = the exact same windshield - the logo. What brand did they install? so that i know for my customer what is junk

Larry
Auto Glass Repair

 

I didn't mean to imply that Acura makes their own glass. I meant you're more likely to get a quality product if it has the Acura name on it.

I wish I could remember what brand it was. It has a flaw in the center of the windshield that made everything look wavy. They checked into the supply and it looked like the entire batch had the same flaw. I'll look around for the original receipt and see if I can find who made it.

 

thanks for the heads up on the waviness issue, the glass company says that both acoustical and non are OEM, some models have it and some don't ...

 

If you figure out how to differentiate between the two types, please let us know. I'm sure everyone here would like to know what type they have.

 

Again I called the dealer (Parts this time not Service) and asked for a part number, again I got the one p/n and no knowledge of an "acoustical" glass.
On Monday or maybe later on today if they're open I will call the glass company and ask again, but as is on Tuesday of next week they will come to my house and replace the glass in my garage...any waviness from the acoustical glass will be a reason to get another glass.
My TL sits most of the Winter so I'm in no hurry....

 

Update...on the third attempt by the glass company, finally the decision was not to place the accoustical glass as they were not able to locate one without any "wavynes"....so I get home last night to find the new glass, the rear view mirror loose, the center top seal not centered and multiple scratches on the roof all along the two rubber seals that run on both sides of the roof ...
So I got on the phone and the "TECH"...(right) will meet with me on Friday here at work to see the obvious....so kids beware ...but I was ssured that all will be covered and they will pay for anything that the technitian may have done ....will keep you posted....

 

Don't settle for the non-acoustiglass! You will notice a difference.

I went through the same thing but now that mine says "Acura" on it, no waviness. The first guy also didn't glue my rearview so it just flopped around and was useless.

 

man, so much trouble for a windshield! good luck with getting everything resolved!

 

Just had mine replaced with OEM windshield from my Acura dealer about two weeks ago and it still can be very stressful, espically if the car is new, I've only had it 4 months!!

 

Yes windshields are a headache. I had mine replaced July 08. APTech is for sure the OEM manufacture for the glass. It's identical to the Acura OEM glass without the work Acura and half the price at $485 before insurance. If you look in the corner of your original windshield, it says Honda or Acura and APTech right underneath that.

Basically I called my dealer and then they referred me to their windshield guy. They said people rarely ever order the one that says Acura on it as its $900