How to Repair Cracked Windshield
A cracked windshield can happen for a number of reasons. There are many dump trucks on the road that carry gravel and rocks which can fall from their vehicles and cause damage. Other debris could hit the windshield and likewise cause damage to your windshield.
A cracked windshield is not only aesthetically unappealing but it can also be dangerous to drive with a cracked windshield because it cuts down on your visibility. While the windshield can be repaired in many cases, it must be done in the first month after it was damaged because the crack can spread whenever you hit a bump in the road or due to exposure to bad weather. Once the crack has spread the windshield will have to be replaced.
- Purchase a windshield repair kit from an auto parts store. There are a number of such kits available. Make sure your kit has everything you will need for the job.
- Perform the repair when you know you have a few hours of sunlight left, as sunlight is part of the curing process.
- Use a razor blade to get out any small pieces of glass that might be in the chip or crack of the windshield. Position the razor on the glass and move it across the entire surface of the crack to make sure that there is no debris such as bugs or dirt on the area that needs to be repaired.
- Clean the area around the crack with soap and water and alcohol. Let the windshield dry completely before starting the next step.
- Take the adhesive and syringe from your repair kit. Use the syringe to apply the adhesive slowly and carefully to the crack surface of the window, but make sure that it only gets in the cracked area. It is important to keep it away from the paint on your vehicle. The adhesive will seep into the crack to repair the crack. Make sure there are no bubbles in the adhesive. You should have a solid covering of adhesive when you are done.
- Allow the adhesive time to cure a few hours. Once it has cured, use your razor to gently wipe away any excess adhesive bumps from the process. The crack should be fully repaired and it should be virtually impossible to tell that there was a crack to your windshield.