It is pivotal to be aware of the effective methods to take care of a newly replaced windscreen. This is to ensure the windscreen is able to last long and is protected against the surroundings and weather adequately.
If you missed our previous article, here’s the link on how to claim and replace your damaged windscreen and the latest Price List of Malaysia Windscreen Insurance Coverage (Updated 2020).
Let’s move on to the 3 GOLDEN tips to protect your newly replaced windscreen.
- The crucial first 2 hours of replacing the windscreen.
- The first 48 hours of replacing the windscreen.
- Indicators that your windscreen was not correctly installed.
Remember, the first two hours is the most crucial moment to protect your windscreen. Try not to drive the car immediately or go for a long drive. Bear in mind that windscreen replacement usually uses adhesive glue to bind the glass to the car. Also, it is important to provide the glue some time to harden and bind the windscreen well. Hence, it is highly recommended to not drive the car immediately after the installation process is done.
The windscreen specialist will remind you about this. Sit back and have your coffee or brunch in a cafe nearby while waiting for the glue to harden and set. Once the replacement process is done, be careful of any shards or sharp objects that might be left over from the installation process.
Do follow the tips below to prolong the use of the new windscreen.
a) Leave the windows slightly open. This is to ensure that the pressure is equalized inside and outside of the car. Unbalanced pressure can affect the quality of the adhesive binding to the vehicle frame. This should be done for the first 24 hours at least to make sure there is equalized pressure to ensure a perfect bind and to prevent leaks from appearing.
b) Close the vehicle door with windows slightly open. Similar as above, closing the door with fully closed windows forces a high air pressure which would pop up the air channel in the adhesive of the windscreen. This air channel can be the source of leak which would further weaken the adhesive. Avoid slamming the doors!
c) Do not drive the car when it is raining. The usage of wipers will weaken the windscreen glue. Vibrations from the wiper and rain water will create a force which will further weaken the glue.
d) Do not wash your car using high pressure power washers in the first few days. Washing your car using power washers can dislocate the still-wet adhesive preventing optimal drying of the glue. Let’s say the car is super filthy and you can’t wait any longer to wash, then you can opt to wash it using the manual way (hand method) instead.
e) Drive safely and meticulously. Be careful when driving, avoid sudden accelerations such as drastic sudden braking or speeding as this would further exert pressure on the windscreen and dislocating its position. Also, drive slowly over speed bumps and uneven roads. This is because it might cause the shifting of the windscreen adhesive.
f) Do not remove the tapes on the windscreen. Even though the tapes might be an eyesore for you, do leave the tapes around for another 2-3 days to ensure the glass does not move.
If you noticed any of these signs that your new windscreen is not installed correctly, do make sure to immediately take action!
a) Water leaks around the edges. If you notice water seeping in around the edges of the windscreen when it is raining or when washing your car, then it is a pointer that the windscreen was not installed correctly.
b) Windscreen looks wavy. If there are any imperfections, bumps or waves which affects your visibility, then this is an indicative of a low quality windscreen. The easiest way to spot any flaws on the windscreen is by looking at it in direct sunlight. Check whether the view is clear or not.
c) Whooshing sound heard when driving at a high speed. If you hear a whooshing sound when your car picks up speed, then it is a sign of a poor windscreen installation.
d) Rattling noises heard. If you hear any strange noises from your windscreen then it would most likely be the windscreen which is loose in its structure and also the adhesive which is not holding it together properly. If you realize that your windscreen is bouncing or rattling then you would need to get it repaired as soon as possible.
e) Crooked windscreen. If your windscreen looks a little odd then that is another sign that the windscreen requires a checkup. Crooked windscreen is due to the dislocation of the glass while you were driving or installation errors. It is recommended that the windscreen is checked by a windscreen specialist as the alignment of the windscreen has to match the frame.
f) Presence of old adhesive. If the previous molding was not scraped away and a new windscreen is added in, then it would cause your windscreen to not be weatherproof anymore and cause space cracks in between when the new windscreen is fixed.
In essence, be aware of these indicators and immediately visit the windscreen workshop to get it checked and fixed.
Do take note of the 3 golden tips to make sure your windscreen is properly set. Do not rush as this would make things worse and complicated. Hold your horses!
We surely hope this article was informative and helpful to you. You now know another important fact compared to your fellow counterparts on the road!
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