by Brian Chapman | Jan 26, 2022 | Windshield Repair Albuquerque
Car owners often forget the windshield when preparing their rides for winter. However, cold weather can put a lot of stress on your windshield, making it essential to find effective ways of protecting it to maintain your visibility, safety, and the structural integrity of your vehicle. At Chapman Auto Glass, we offer quality mobile windshield replacement in the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho areas to ensure your windshield is in good condition.
Here is how winter affects this part of your car and the measures you should take.
The effects of sudden temperature changes
Apart from rock chips and debris, the weather can also cause cracks. Because glass is sensitive to temperature, it will contract and expand when exposed to rapid temperature changes. As such, extreme temperatures can be hard on your windshield and cause it to crack. When your windshield is covered with ice, pouring hot water or hitting it with hot air can damage it severely.
Clearing icy windshields can cause damage
You will need to remove the ice that forms on the surface of your windshield. However, it would be best to use the proper ice removal tools such as ice scrapers instead of a knife or a shovel. To avoid damaging the glass, avoid stabbing into the ice buildup because this can result in cracks, chips, and scratches. The best technique is to scrape horizontally along the glass.
by Steve | Oct 15, 2020 | Windshield Repair Albuquerque
Simply put: yes, you can. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from replacing your windshield without insurance. But you have to take into account that you are going to have to put money down for it.
So, now you know, you can replace your windshield even if you don’t have insurance – but you’ll have to answer another question next: How much is that going to cost you? Before you decide to do this, you need to see whether you can fit a brand-new windshield in your budget. You should also learn the difference between replacing and repairing a windshield.
It’s important to remember that chips and cracks are rather common in windshields. Most car owners are bound to experience one of them at least once in their lifetime – but don’t worry! Fixing it is not as expensive as you might think.
How much money does it cost to replace my windshield?
No one can answer this question right away. The cost of replacing your windshield is entirely dependent on your vehicle and the options installed.
Do not panic! Even though no one can give you an exact answer without the make and model of your vehicle, you can get to know the possible price range. Most likely, getting your windshield replaced will cost $200 at best and $500 at worst. If you own a luxury car or happen to have a big windshield, you will face bigger costs.
You also have to consider something else: your windshield’s features will also drive the price up. Whether it’s tinting, rain sensors or visual displays – they all cost money. If you are on a budget, you might want to consider what to keep and what to drop.
Keep in mind safety measures will help you drive better – and in exchange, you might save some money in the future by having no car accidents down the line. It might be worth it to keep the safety-related features in your windshield no matter the cost.
To get an accurate quote, keep your VIN available – that may/will cover all features you currently have in your windshield.
A windshield replacement isn’t as expensive as you think – and it’s nowhere near what replacing something else in your car might cost. For example, a new transmission might cost up to $4000 without insurance. A $200-$500 range doesn’t seem that much in comparison.
Sometimes, this information might come in handy even if you have insurance. Some policies do not cover windshield repair – they’ll deal with replacement claims only, which they’ll fight tooth and nail to deny anyways
Are you in that situation? Contact Chapman Auto Glass for a consultation and a quote.
Time is money – everyone knows that. With Chapman Auto Glass there’s no need to miss work or anything else in your schedule. To avoid any time constraint issues, we offer FREE mobile service – that’s right, no additional cost to you! We will set an appointment, our technician will meet you at your home or work – and repair any windshield damage right on the spot!
by Steve | Oct 15, 2020 | Windshield Repair Albuquerque
At first glance, a simple crack on your windshield may seem like a minor thing, because, what can that little chip cause, right? The truth is, though it looks minor, it could have a huge impact on your vehicle’s performance and your safety too. Below, we’ll discuss over the details and see why it’s crucial to fix any kind of windshield damage and why you wanted to make sure that you get it replaced immediately.
Structural Integrity
Did you know that even the tiniest chip in your windshield endangers the driver and all the passengers inside the vehicle? The structural integrity of the vehicle has already been compromised once there is a small crack. In an accident, windshields play a crucial role in providing structural support that helps keep the vehicle in one piece. With a damaged windshield, there’s a possibility that the roof may collapse during an accident.
Protection
Simply said, these windshields aren’t called windshields for no reason at all. They serve as a protective barrier for the driver and the passengers alike. It stops debris from entering your vehicle and people from being thrown out of the vehicle just in case a rollover happens.
If a collision takes place, a cracked windshield could also cause more damage, and the passenger may get hit by debris. A damaged windshield may not be able to protect you from flying glass, metal or any other object that’ll come crashing through your front window. Fatal injuries or even death may occur when this happens. Do not take for granted a broken windshield – it plays a huge role in keeping you safe.
Protection (Newer Vehicles)
The majority of can manufacturers these days now make use of thinner automotive frames that will go with the modern and sleek look of these new vehicles. The thing with this kind of frame is that they fully depend on how strong a windshield is. This means that if a windshield is not properly installed, or if it’s damaged, the glass itself may pose more danger when a collision takes place.
Clear Line Of Sight
One of the most important factors in road safety is a clear line of sight. If there are chips or blemishes of any kind that hinders the driver to see clearly, it poses a safety risk. Even the slightest distraction makes a huge difference in life and death, especially when dealing with car and road collisions. Which is why even the slightest crack or chip on your windshield needs to be either repaired or replaced the soonest possible time.
Don’t wait to repair your windshields contact Chapman Auto Glass today!
by Steve | Apr 5, 2018 | Windshield Repair Albuquerque
The following is a list of Honda vehicles that REQUIRE OE windshields:
2013-2015 Honda Accord EX-L, Touring
2014-2015 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L, Touring
2014 Honda Accord Plug-In, All
2014 Honda Civic Hybrid, All
2013-2015 Honda Crosstour EX-L
2015 Honda CR-V, Touring
2014-2015 Honda Odyssey EX-L, Touring
2014-2015 Acura MDX, Tech, Advance
2014-2015 Acura RLX, All
2014 Acura RLX Hybrid, All
2015 Acura TLX, Tech, Advance
2013 Acura ZDX, All
by Steve | Aug 24, 2017 | Windshield Repair Albuquerque
More Money For Windshield Replacements, Less Problems For Drivers
Don’t want to pay more money for a windshield replacement? Then don’t buy a new car. As with all technological advancements, there are always added costs. Your windshield might look like just a big piece of glass, but it’s actually filled with technology. We’re here to tell you why, and by the end of this article, you may be convinced that the extra cost is well worth it.
What are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems?
We’ve been talking about ADAS, (which stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems,) and for good reason too. These systems are here to stay and they’re becoming more advanced with each new model release. They utilize radar, lidar, cameras, computer imaging, sensors, networking, and other devices to create a safer vehicle.
ADAS refers to any type of assistance to the driver that it automated. This can be something as simple as auto-on headlights or rain sensing wipers. Moving up the scale, ADAS can also assist drivers by utilizing night vision technology and sensing vehicles in blind spots- something your average human with five senses would have difficulty doing. ADAS at its most advanced state is less of an assistance system, and more into the realm of becoming autonomous. These are the cars that have lane departure sensors, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance systems, automated parking, and other features that let the driver sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
Self-driving cars: booooring.
This technology isn’t anything new though. Self-driving cars have been in testing since the mid 1980’s and ADAS features became mainstream starting around 2010. Thanks to the likes of Tesla, Google, Apple and Uber racing to have the first truly autonomous vehicles though, ADAS has caught a ton of traction lately. It has really opened up the discussion of highway safety and how these features can prevent crashes.
Saving lives: not boring!
Let’s face it: a large percentage of drivers on the road are just plain bad. You probably experienced one on your way to work this morning, or maybe you were one doing 15 over the speed limit to get work before the boss noticed you were late (we won’t judge).
Not convinced? Every year in the US over 2 million people are injured or disabled in traffic accidents and another 35,000+ are killed. That’s basically the population of an entire town being wiped out every year just from traffic accidents.
ADAS can help. A lot. According to some industry professionals, the impact of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication alone could cut accidents upwards of 600,000 a year! This translates into countless lives, limbs, tax dollars and insurance expenses saved. Combine V2V communication with the other high-end ADAS systems and you have one very safe vehicle.
Windshield Replacement Time
If you don’t already have a vehicle equipped with ADAS features, chances are you will in the future since more and more vehicles have these systems as standard features.
So listen up!
Despite the latest and greatest technology, things still break- especially windshields, which take the brunt of highway-speed abuse from objects like rocks. When it comes time for windshield replacement there are certain things you’ll want to know– like the fact that the car’s computer system will likely need to be re-calibrated.
Areas with road work are notorious for having increased rates of windshield damage
The process for windshield replacement calibration varies from vehicle. It can be as simple as resetting the vehicle’s computer system, to as complicated as setting up lasers, taking measurements, and making manual adjustments. These ADAS calibrations after a windshield replacement require specialized, expensive tools and a lot of training. Additional costs vary by complexity of the recalibration and fees generally range from $150-$450. Considering what goes into it, these are bargain prices. Especially when a proper windshield replacement calibration could be the difference between saving a family of four or a deadly accident.
Windshield Replacement Calibration
You may be wondering why a car needs to be re-calibrated at all. Or better yet, why a windshield replacement causes issues. This is due to the fact that car windshields are actually pretty techie and what you think may be just glass, isn’t just glass. Even though you can’t always see it, there are built-in sensors, specially positioned areas of tint and no tint, heaters, noise reduction layers– the list goes on. Some of these built-in or attached sensors can be linked to ADAS. And if the sensors change position by just a millimeter or degree, it may throw the entire system off. This one reason why re-calibration is essential after a windshield replacement.
The more advanced systems that use cameras for lane departure warning systems and the like usually have special areas of the windshield that the lens “sees” through. It is a very precise area, so great care must be taken during an install to ensure everything is lined up. Much like other sensors, the cameras are very sensitive to change and will likely need to be re-calibrated after a new install as well.
by Steve | Aug 22, 2017 | Windshield Repair Albuquerque
August 15, 2017 by Katherine Coig
[email protected]
Texas Watch, a non-partisan citizen advocacy organization, has asked the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) to investigate the insurance industry’s “corner cutting automobile repairs.” This is in light of State Farm’s alleged role in influencing an auto repair that wasn’t performed to the OEM’s specifications. The repair in question resulted in a $1 million lawsuit against a Texas collision repair center, as well as a separate lawsuit against State Farm, following an accident that left a couple severely injured.
The organization wants TDI to take “enforceable action” and discourage insurers from steering its consumers into using its preferred auto collision center. Texas Watch believes this will prevent insurance providers from pushing auto repair shops into performing cheaper repairs.
“When insurers prioritize the bottom line, and pressure body shops into unsafe, shoddy repairs, Texans’ lives are put at risk,” Tori Sommerman, deputy director of Texas Watch, said in a statement. “Recent reporting demonstrates the tragic consequences of insurance companies pressuring drivers into using industry-preferred body shops where insurers can push for cheap, substandard repairs.”
In a letter to TDI deputy commissioner Mark Einfalt, Ware Wendell, executive director of Texas Watch, urged the department to “hold industry wrongdoers accountable through all available means and without delay given the many lives at stake.” He added that laws are only “ink on paper” until courts and agencies enforce them.
Matthew and Marcia Seebachan have filed separate lawsuits against State Farm for negligence and breach of warranty, following statements that Boyce Willis, director at John Eagle Collision, gave in his deposition. According to Willis, insurers can trump OEM specifications by not paying the bill if the repair isn’t performed how the insurer dictated it.
The lawsuits are ongoing.
