Looking at your vehicle’s windshield, what do you think of? Does it provide you with the ability to see clearly on the road? Can you notice there’s sound coming in from outside?
Your vehicle’s windshield is equipped with advanced safety technology designed to protect you with much more than simply being a glass layer between you and the outside. It helps to make up the overall structural integrity of your vehicle. Without a proper windshield glass repair, it can create a world of damage far more substantial than you’d ever expect.
Here at Rocco’s Collision Center, we get drivers asking us all the time, “what happens during a windshield repair?” We’re here to let Pennsylvania drivers know what you can expect, and it might surprise you just how complex the repair is.
One thing to note is not all car repair shops are the same. If it’s been a while since you got your car repaired, you might assume good car repair simply comes down to using the right tools and equipment. This is no longer the case, which is why manufacturers release repair procedures for technicians to follow known as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) repairs. These are the highest quality and safest repairs out there for your car because they ensure your vehicle is repaired precisely as the manufacturer would instruct.
We wish we could say every auto body shop follows OEM repair procedures, but that is not the case. To meet the tight deadline and keep the insurance companies happy, technicians will get straight to work out of “experience,” thinking that will be more than enough to repair your car instead of knowing car repair doesn’t work like that. We at Rocco’s understand how critical OEM repairs are for your car, which is why we make sure every car is repaired specifically as the manufacturer instructs.
In the case of Ford Windshield repair, it’s a lot more complicated than what you see on different glass commercials. It’s a time-sensitive repair that if not properly executed, your entire safety would be at risk.
Windshield Repair on 2019 F-150s
According to the OEM repair guidelines on windshield repair for 2019 Ford F-150 vehicles, “new or re-used fixed glass must be installed within two hours of cutting the urethane adhesive. Cut or scraped urethane becomes oxidized and inactive beyond two hours, reducing the effectiveness of the repair bond.”
In other words, a windshield needs to be repaired in a mere two hours to remain safe. Otherwise, the glue (aka urethane adhesive) holding the windshield in place won’t provide the same level of strength. Any time you work with glue, you only have a short period of time before the glue starts to dry up. When it comes to fixing a Ford F-150’s windshield, the adhesive ability of the glue is an imperative factor in the safety of the final repair.
Here are the exact words from Ford’s senior damageability engineer, Gerry Bonnani:
“If the fixed glass, such as the windshield, is not seated properly, and the substrate is not prepared correctly, the glass could pop right out during a subsequent collision event, seriously jeopardizing the overall structural integrity and safety of the vehicle.”
This is why proper glass installation is something you can’t take lightly or assume is not as important as other aspects of the repair. Never assume that a body shop knows how to perform a windshield repair the right way. It may look good and appear “fixed” on the outside, but it could also fail to provide you with any level of protection in case you get in an accident. Your car’s windshield isn’t just glass, but it part of what creates the overall structural integrity of your car.
Proper Cure Time
Aside from only having a 2-hour window to repairing a windshield on the 2019 Ford F-150, technicians are also required to follow the OEM instructions of proper curing. An “inadequate or incorrect curing of the urethane adhesive seal with adversely affect glass retention,” as stated regarding this particular repair. The vehicle cannot be driven during this time until the urethane adhesive seal properly cures. If the vehicle is driven or anything else were to occur without proper curing, your car would be an open target of getting in another accident.
What Happens When A Shop Cuts Corners In The Repair Process
The following photo is what happened to an American couple after their car had a prior illegitimate repair on the roof that they were unaware of. What you may not realize is the roof is a critical element of vehicle windshields, as they all work to maintain the overall structural integrity of your vehicle. If one of these vehicle parts has received illegitimate repair in any way, it can create a catastrophic ripple effect on the rest of the car. That’s what happened to the couple involved in the car accident shown below. It may not have been a Ford, but we wanted to illustrate how critical it is shops follow the repair procedures laid out by your car’s manufacturer.
Because the repair shop that performed a prior repair on this vehicle neglected following OEM repair procedures, the couple was trapped in a burning car after another vehicle T-boned into them. It should have only been a minor accident but ended up in a burning vehicle that could have cost them their lives.
Other Important Requirements For Fixed Glass Replacement
In addition, there are a couple of other specific circumstances in which Ford requires the damaged fixed glass to be discarded and replaced with a new one. These are:
- “The fixed glass is the windshield glass and is equipped with a camera bracket.
- The fixed glass is equipped with adhesive moldings.”
The Ford OEM statement also stresses if the replaced windshield is equipped with a camera bracket serving as an additional pair of eyes to keep you safe on the road., “it must have locating pins and spacers to ensure a correct alignment.” This is what we discussed earlier with windshields being equipped with advanced safety technologies. These technologies are known as ADAS, which are the rearview camera, forward collision warning, blind-spot detection warning, and lane keep assist features your car is equipped with.
Without looking up what the OEM says, you could be involved in a collision like the above photograph, all because a repair shop takes the “easy way out.”
Who In Pennsylvania Knows How To Perform Windshield Glass Repair For Ford?
Here at Rocco’s Collision Center, we are always researching what different car manufacturers have to say regarding a repair on their vehicles. We feel that customers deserve to know what they deserve when getting their car repaired, which is why we wrote this blog for you.
We know you have many choices when looking for a car repair shop, especially in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas. We aim to show you why we’re the best out there, why we’re the best out there, which is why we are dedicated to giving you the best repair possible for your car!
We have six different locations across Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. We invite you to see for yourself why Rocco’s is the best out there! Feel free to give us a call at anytime at (888)-9-ROCCOS. Or to schedule an appointment or to call any of our locations directly, click here.
We look forward to hearing from you!
