Autoglass chip repair - 2x failed
Discussion
Advice please!
Recent purchase sold with MOT advisory on subatantial glass chip onfront screen passenger side.
Called out Autoglass first time and almost invisible repair done.....
Few weeks later and mark returns, apparently whatever was used to fill the chip and fallen out.
Called out Autoglass again and Autoglass initiateded a Warranty Repair. Different guy calls out and tuts away, does another chip repair (Autoglass having told me that chips cannot be repaired a second time) but this time forms a slight hump on the glass and the cuip is still extremely visible.
Within weeks its broken down again and left with screen in original state.
Forum advice please
TIA
Pete
Recent purchase sold with MOT advisory on subatantial glass chip onfront screen passenger side.
Called out Autoglass first time and almost invisible repair done.....
Few weeks later and mark returns, apparently whatever was used to fill the chip and fallen out.
Called out Autoglass again and Autoglass initiateded a Warranty Repair. Different guy calls out and tuts away, does another chip repair (Autoglass having told me that chips cannot be repaired a second time) but this time forms a slight hump on the glass and the cuip is still extremely visible.
Within weeks its broken down again and left with screen in original state.
Forum advice please
TIA
Pete
Never had to use them yet, but when/if I do, this is the only company I'd use: http://www.glasstecauto.co.uk/
Martian O said:
Never had to use them yet, but when/if I do, this is the only company I'd use: http://www.glasstecauto.co.uk/
monthefish said:
Is Glassman anywhere near you?
If having a screen replaced, make sure it it done by someone who knows what they are doing with respect to 911's.
An echo ?If having a screen replaced, make sure it it done by someone who knows what they are doing with respect to 911's.
sinizter said:
Porsche glass or pattern glass with an insurance repair ?
Just had my screen replaced (997) by Autoglass due to a similar issue on a previous repair, the new screen came direct from Porsche. I can't fault the job they did (Autoglass Chelmsford)ETA Work was done at their workshop rather than a mobile job
Edited by rossc on Thursday 24th May 14:25
sinizter said:
Martian O said:
Never had to use them yet, but when/if I do, this is the only company I'd use: http://www.glasstecauto.co.uk/
monthefish said:
Is Glassman anywhere near you?
If having a screen replaced, make sure it it done by someone who knows what they are doing with respect to 911's.
An echo ?If having a screen replaced, make sure it it done by someone who knows what they are doing with respect to 911's.
New windscreen on the 964 by Auto Glass with insurance at the beginning of last week... new stone chip by the weekend! Bugger. I obviously then freaked out at the prospect of a second claim for a new windscreen within a week being rejected but fortunately no problem at all to be cleaned up and repaired buy Auto Glass once more.
Very happy with their service throughout. Took it in for windscreen replacement but the repair was done on the driveway. I was assured only genuine Porsche products used, all for £75, cheers!
Very happy with their service throughout. Took it in for windscreen replacement but the repair was done on the driveway. I was assured only genuine Porsche products used, all for £75, cheers!
mrdemon said:
rossc said:
Claim on your insurance for a new screen, the repair clearly isn't working ?
+ 10,0000There is a lot to be said about the repair system being used. From what the OP has told us, I would guess that the repairer used heat during the repair process; it would have looked lovely at the time but given sufficient time to cool down, it would have looked about as noticeable as a large pair of hairy testicles on a small snake. They would have presented the OP with the 'finished' job, OP looks and accepts/signs, they invoice insco; damage reappears.
This kind of thing has been happening for years. The repair system they use is designed for an idiot to use; it makes it easier for anyone to use, but what it does not do is allow for human intervention. In the hotter months, this kit will also break screens. Honestly, I've used it and in my opinion, the repair success rate of this kit is very low. Using a manual system (and the correct procedures and techniques) the repair success rate is 99.5%. Very rarely do you get a repair failure.
For a chip to reappear is a massive fail and the insco should not be coughing up for a screen. Get on to them now and explain how the repair has failed and what predicament their bloke has put you in.
As for re-repair. The Autoglass repair system will not allow it; impossible. However, a manual system and an experienced technician can do this but it does come at quite a heavy risk as you effectively have to 'open' up the core of the break. Not impossible, but fairly risky.
The chances are: the initial repair was not dried out and heat was used to make the repair look good.
It is not for me to suggest that the OP needs a new screen and TBH, why the feck should he need a new screen when all he needed was a proper repair! Besides, why play into the hands of a company who clearly does not have enough expertise in dealing with specialist jobs? They have a high turnover of staff; the majority of work they do is on mass-produced production cars (and some of their techs can't even get them right!).
Credit where credit due, Autoglass invest heavily into research and development and furnish their technical staff with equipment to make their job easier (so they're not out there wrecking customers' cars + to protect all parties with health and safety bureaucracy). But you can't teach someone experience - you can't teach them how to do a Porsche correctly based on two year fitting Mondeo and Vectra windscreens.
OP: give me a call if you would like to discuss the issue off-air. But I suspect they will sort this because they have eyes all over the internets and they will want to exercise some damage limitation here. Expect a call soon! They'll be all over you.
Firstly I must declare my interest to the Forum, I have worked in the field of Windscreen chip repair and glass polishing for over 20 years and was instrumental is establishing the concept in the UK from the inventors of the technology in the USA.
There are many reasons why pit finish ( the bit on the surface of the glass that fills the impact crater) may fail, in the case of Autoglass they do not allow their fitters to have a drill, (I am sure everone has see the you tube video of a monkey with an AK47) hence they are unable to abrade the surface sufficiently to allow the resin to key to the glass so it naturally follows that it will fall out if the glass is smooth. As the previous poster says it may be possible to re repair it but that will depend on the job that has been done.
Whenever I have visited insurance companies to introduce my companies service to them they always say that they are quite happy with their present supplier and they "never get any complaints" so I would urge you to bring this matter to the attention of your insurer firstly as they are jointly and severally liable for the performance of their supplier if they have chosen them for you. I would further argue that Autoglass have caused you actual loss by performing a substandard repair, potentially by the immediate prospect of having to pay an excess for a new screen due to their poor workmanship and furthermore that they have exposed your claims record to an unnecessary claim due to their incompetence. ( there is currently a hot debate raging in the trade about how policyholders premiums are increased by claiming for screens) You may not directly pay for the screen but your future premium may be affected.
I would suggest that you refuse to pay any excess and insist on a second opinion on the damage ( post a picture and I would be happy to comment )If it is not repairable then ask for an O.E. Porsche screen to be fitted by an independat company of your choice and insist that your insurer pay that bill and pass it to Autoglass for reimbursement as this would put you back to the original state of affairs that existed before they did the bad job.
Autoglass are part of a multi BILLION dollar international company and they have become the worlds dominant force in this market by selling lots of screens, the management of the company are very good at ensuring that all roads lead to a new screen sooner or later and if they are able to maximise their revenue by repairing your screen and then replacing it as well then they just get two bites of the cherry dont they? If I were more cynical I would think that this was the intended outcome all along
Oh yes and expect a call from the 1984 thought police department as well, they are well aware that people will trawl the net to see what other informed buyers think of a company before deciding to deal with them and they know they have a PR disaster on their hands with many of the comments from posters like yourself all over the net. Good luck an keep us informed
There are many reasons why pit finish ( the bit on the surface of the glass that fills the impact crater) may fail, in the case of Autoglass they do not allow their fitters to have a drill, (I am sure everone has see the you tube video of a monkey with an AK47) hence they are unable to abrade the surface sufficiently to allow the resin to key to the glass so it naturally follows that it will fall out if the glass is smooth. As the previous poster says it may be possible to re repair it but that will depend on the job that has been done.
Whenever I have visited insurance companies to introduce my companies service to them they always say that they are quite happy with their present supplier and they "never get any complaints" so I would urge you to bring this matter to the attention of your insurer firstly as they are jointly and severally liable for the performance of their supplier if they have chosen them for you. I would further argue that Autoglass have caused you actual loss by performing a substandard repair, potentially by the immediate prospect of having to pay an excess for a new screen due to their poor workmanship and furthermore that they have exposed your claims record to an unnecessary claim due to their incompetence. ( there is currently a hot debate raging in the trade about how policyholders premiums are increased by claiming for screens) You may not directly pay for the screen but your future premium may be affected.
I would suggest that you refuse to pay any excess and insist on a second opinion on the damage ( post a picture and I would be happy to comment )If it is not repairable then ask for an O.E. Porsche screen to be fitted by an independat company of your choice and insist that your insurer pay that bill and pass it to Autoglass for reimbursement as this would put you back to the original state of affairs that existed before they did the bad job.
Autoglass are part of a multi BILLION dollar international company and they have become the worlds dominant force in this market by selling lots of screens, the management of the company are very good at ensuring that all roads lead to a new screen sooner or later and if they are able to maximise their revenue by repairing your screen and then replacing it as well then they just get two bites of the cherry dont they? If I were more cynical I would think that this was the intended outcome all along
Oh yes and expect a call from the 1984 thought police department as well, they are well aware that people will trawl the net to see what other informed buyers think of a company before deciding to deal with them and they know they have a PR disaster on their hands with many of the comments from posters like yourself all over the net. Good luck an keep us informed
On a side note, I picked up a chip/bullet on my 360 a few weeks back and my insurer, Chubb, have arranged for a repair next week by East Anglia Windscreens. The guy who called me said that they would drill a tiny hole, and this action may crack the screen. Can I trust these guys to do a good repair without the hassle the OP has had?
Martian O said:
On a side note, I picked up a chip/bullet on my 360 a few weeks back and my insurer, Chubb, have arranged for a repair next week by East Anglia Windscreens. The guy who called me said that they would drill a tiny hole, and this action may crack the screen. Can I trust these guys to do a good repair without the hassle the OP has had?
Dear MartianIn general i would say that simply drilling the screen itself would not cause it to crack, it is the stress you put on it afterwards that may do that. Maybe you have misconstrued their warning, it is always a consideration but on average you might break about one or two screens a year if you are competent. My drilling advice is this, use a drill bit no larger than 1.2mm and drill only to a depth of 1-2mm ( which is normally the depth of the head of the drill anyway so easy to judge even for a layman) NEVER NEVER NEVER drill into the plastic layer in the middle of the screen, if you do you have effectively scrapped the screen as any impact in that area is likely to cause the plastic layer to tear from the weak spot you have just made which means you may be ejected through the screen in the event of an accident or if a breeze block or similar is tossed from a motorway bridge and hits that spot it will come through the screen rather than staying on the outside. Hope that helps
blade7 said:
One of my screens has a lot of tiny chips that are only really visible in bright sunlight, would it be possible to have this polished out ?.
sounds like wear and tear which is not normally doable, the pits are much deeper than you would ever realise and when you try and polish then they can go like orange peel because you are polishing the surface around the pit, sorry.Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff