The windshield is most often the victim of scratches, chips and cracks, which are rarely avoided with frequent driving on highways. It is very difficult to notice a stone flying out from under the wheels of a truck in front. Often, the windshield suffers from children playing in the yard or through the negligence of the car owner himself, who, in the process of repairing a car, managed to drop a heavy object on it.

If a small scratch can be sanded and polished, then with deeper chips such a trick will not work. Nor will the principle "will work anyway, you can see the road, the rest is not important." If we are talking about a crack, and not about a scratch, then it will not disappear anywhere, but after a few years it will turn into an ugly strip that passes through all the glass.

What to do first

Even if the chip seems very tiny and does not bode well, it is worth making a decision - to repair or change the entire windshield (if the insurance covers, then there is a chance to get by with a little blood). If a decision is made to go to a car service, then it is imperative to seal the damage with tape and not start moving until the chip is completely closed.

Such a measure is necessary for two reasons:

• It is hoped that this will prevent further fracture divergence.
• Dust, dirt, moisture, midges and other "delights" will not get into the chip, which will make the repair impossible or greatly complicate it.

After that, you need to very carefully drive to the car service. You cannot brake sharply, fly into curbs or develop high speed. All this will only aggravate the situation.

In a car service, everything will depend on the master, his skills and lack of desire to "weld" on a useless procedure that will not fix anything. If you're lucky, the glass can be restored.

Repair of chips and cracks in the windshield

The procedure is performed as follows:

• All glass is cleaned from small fragments, dust and dirt.
• The foreman evaluates the damage. If the chip is in the shape of an asterisk with rays longer than 1.5 cm, then a small hole is drilled at the end of each of them.
• The glass is blown through and filled (under high pressure) with a transparent polymer material.
• An ultraviolet lamp is directed to the "patient", thanks to which the polymerization of the introduced composition is completed.
• The glass is dried and polymer residues are removed from its surface. After that, the surface is carefully polished.

And everything would be fine. Only the success of the measure for fixing chips and cracks is far from always guaranteed. It all depends on many factors that are worth mentioning before spending money on repairs.

Does the repair give a result

First of all, you need to understand that if the chip is deep (for example, a stone has almost completely pierced the surface), then no polymers will help restore the disturbed stress that is created during the manufacture of auto glass. If there is no required voltage, then any subsequent damage can lead to dire consequences.

Even if we assume that the polymer is able to glue all the layers of the glass so that it is completely restored, a number of additional problems arise. In order for the miracle composition to help avoid buying a new "lobovuha", the treated surfaces must be completely clean. But, by itself, dirt, dust and other particles have already got into the crack. This means that the polymer will simply not be able to fill 100% of the space. Therefore, the longer the car owner drags on the repair and continues to clog the gap with dirt, the more hopeless the repair will be.

Separately, it is worth noting the reagents with which the roads are watered. You don't need to be a chemist in order to understand that they contain fatty inclusions (otherwise how to explain the fact that a car that has entered a warm box from the street remains wet and greasy after 40 minutes and after 1.5 hours). Of course, if you ride with a chip on the glass in winter, the reagent will fall into the crack. And fat, as you know, is the main enemy of the glue, so the polymer simply cannot properly adhere to the surface.

Of course, the master will talk about modern equipment that will help avoid this problem. But, in fact, he will simply fill the resulting chip with a degreaser and blow it with a compressor or clean it with a vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, such manipulations rarely give at least some kind of effective result. And if even a little fat particles remain inside, then all efforts are in vain.

When there is no point in spending money on repairs

There are several more reasons why even the most tough and dedicated craftsman will not be able to repair glass:

• If a crack appeared from a strong impact, then, with a high degree of probability, delamination of the inner surface layer occurred. Even if the chip is clean and the polymer is carefully poured into it, this will in no way prevent the appearance of haze in this area. Gradually, the layer will peel off even more and after a while the road will be visible as if in fog. If the master is qualified, then he will diagnose and he will refuse such repairs, since he will understand the hopelessness of the situation.
• If the damage is minor, then the polymer embedded in the crack will still be noticeable, even if you don't look closely. Therefore, those who are annoyed by any stains or dirt on the windshield will find it very difficult to come to terms with such a defect.
• Not every chip or crack can be repaired. There are several situations when it is better to immediately go not to a car service, but to the car market for new glass. For example, damage that has affected the inner and outer layers of glass cannot be repaired. There is no point in spending money on repairing chips with a diameter of 5 cm or more. The repair will be of questionable quality if the damage has 30 or more rays. Cracks that are too long (more than 70 cm) are also a sign of an imminent trip to the car market. The chances of winning are also low if the damage is too close to the edge of the glass (1 cm or less).

In all these situations, the master himself must refuse to repair and explain the futility of this event. But who refuses to get the extra money? Therefore, you need to independently try to assess the damage and make an informed and correct decision.

In custody

If the crack is not too large or deep, it does not have many rays, it is not located close to paradise, and immediately after receiving damage, the car owner closed the chip, then there is a chance to restore the windshield. However, much depends on the master and the equipment that he will use. If, after processing and diagnostics, there are no fat inclusions in the crack, then you can try. In all other cases, chances are slim.

This does not mean that you should leave the problem as it is. If there is already a crack, then it is dangerous. A single pebble can cause injury to the face or more serious injury if it provokes an emergency. Therefore, do not delay.

Everyone has happened to get into situations when, during normal driving, a stone flies out from under the wheels of a car driving in front of you. In this case, the windshield of the car is often damaged in the form of cracks. And then what to do if you do not have extra time and money, and this unfortunate, albeit small, crack does not give you peace of mind? You are quite capable of independently and without outside help to cope with this ailment, without resorting to the services of a car service. Here are 4 easy ways to glue a crack on your windshield with your own hands.

The first step, of course, is to prepare the cracked glass for repair. To do this, first rinse the glass with water and detergent, and then wipe it dry with a clean cloth. It is very important that there is no water and dust in the crack area, since in this case the glue will not adhere well. After the glass has dried, the surface must be degreased. We take a synthetic fabric (leaves no villi behind) and moisten it in acetone or solvent. Well, here are 4 easy ways:

1 way. Silicone glue

This is the easiest way. We apply glue directly from a tube or using a medical syringe. The cavity should be filled slowly and gradually, avoiding air bubbles. We leave the work done for a day until it dries completely. Depending on the type of silicone, the repaired area will take 12 to 24 hours to dry. For reliability, the former crack can be covered with a thin layer of clear varnish.

Method 2. Polyfoam + acetone + turpentine

What is needed here is already clear. We mix acetone and turpentine (3: 1, that is, there will be three times more acetone) in a glass jar. Next, in the resulting solution, you need to crumble the foam into small pieces (the smaller the pieces of foam are, the faster the reaction occurs). Stir, wait a bit for the foam to dissolve, and the mass becomes transparent and viscous. This glue quickly hardens, so you need to do it in small portions and use immediately after preparation. The resulting glue can be applied to the crack with a syringe or fine brush.

Method 3. Clear nail polish

If the crack in the glass is very thin, cover it with clear nail polish. Such bonding is able to prevent crack growth, and should last for about 3 or more years. Apply a thin layer of varnish on both sides and wait until it dries completely. The varnish applied from the outside of the window will not wash away the rains.

Method 4. Stationery tape

It is best, as soon as a crack has formed on the glass, to seal it with ordinary office tape to protect it from dirt and dust, and also to prevent its growth. It is enough to glue the damaged area on both sides. Of course, such repairs are short-lived, and soon you will have to take more serious measures.

A car for a man is a second wife! And what kind of wife should you be? Right! Perfect! But, if the legal spouse has to cope with herself, then you have to take care of the car yourself. An important role here is played by the windshield, which is vulnerable to "bruising" of gravel and other debris.

That's why repair of cracks and chips on the windshield carried out quite often. Is it possible to avoid this? Yes, only if you put the car in the garage and admire it from afar. But, of course, this does not happen, so you have to "heal the wounds."

Why patch up chips and cracks?

Repair of chips on the windshield is carried out not only for the presentable appearance of your own car.

At first, the presence of a chip can significantly reduce the cost of a car on sale. Buyers are reluctant to purchase defective goods. The presence of a powerful engine and equipment will not correct the situation, especially when it comes to an expensive model.

Secondly, the presence of a crack poses a potential threat to the safety of passengers and the driver. Of course, we are talking about large and deep defects, but even small lines can lead to injuries if a stone hits the windshield again, or worse.

Thirdly, this, of course, is a technical inspection. It is because of the danger to human health that most cars with chips and other defects in the windshield are rejected for further operation.

According to GOST R 51709 - 2001 and p. 4.7.2., Cars with cracks on the windshield in the wiper area and on the driver's side are not allowed to operate.

How to fix a crack in your windshield? Video:

When should cracks be repaired?

Before deciding how to fix the problem, you should decide what to do with the windshield in principle. Removing a crack or chip may not always resolve the technical inspection situation.

In most cases, all the actions and works of the car owner are useless. Therefore, you should decide: repair the glass or replace it completely.

So, a complete replacement of the windshield is carried out in the following cases:

On your own or in a car service?

Repairing cracks in a car windshield can be carried out independently or through the services offered in a car service. The cost of the services offered is not always to the liking of car owners. So, the average cost of repairs in Moscow is:

• repairing a chip for 1 cm 2 will require 1500 rubles. ;
• repair of a crack for 1 cm 2 - 100 rubles. ;
• drilling glass on one side - RUB 500

Often, it is because of the cost that car owners independently undertake repairs. And they succeed in it, because they follow the rules of work and instructions.

Required tools

If it was decided to get rid of the defect on your own, you can purchase a special kit for sealing cracks on car windows in a specialized store.

Everything you need is there, except for a drill and a polisher. In the case of purchasing all instruments separately, the following list should be collected:

An optional repair tool includes a curvimeter. This is a special tool designed to accurately measure the length of the crack, so you can accurately calculate the required amount of polymer for the job.

The curvimeter is not subject to compulsory purchase, since in most cases it only calculates the cost of the repair performed.

Repairing cracks in the windshield

It is also important to learn exactly how to stop a crack in the windshield with a drill, since the work itself is very stressful - deviations or distraction from the process will lead to a complete split.

How to repair a crack in your windshield? Be guided by the following sequence:

1. At the initial stage, the area for work should be fully estimated. Here they use a flashlight and glass, with which one should "mark" the beginning and end of the crack.

2. Now you need to release the stress at each end of the defect - this will stop its growth. Focus your gaze at the very end of the defect and measure 1-2 mm - in this place you need to drill a crack on the windshield.

During work, set a quiet mode of operation of the tool and press on it so as not to provoke splits and unnecessary crumbling.

They approach drilling thoroughly - it is necessary to comply with all the requirements so as not to provoke unnecessary breakage.

The main requirement is prevention of condensation, if the work is carried out in the winter.

To do this, set the temperature inside a little higher ( literally 10 degrees) than on the street. In no case should you use heating devices - this will lead to a sharp drop and damage to the glass.

3. The treated surface must be blown out to get rid of the resulting dust. Do not rinse - it is difficult to achieve complete dryness, which will lead to the formation of stains in the already repaired crack. Finally, use alcohol to degrease the surface to be treated.

4. Now proceed with the installation of the injector. Determine the exact place where the crack starts, usually a chip. The bridge is attached to the glass with a suction cup.

It is important to make sure that when fastening, the position of the gander matches the profile of the existing defect. With the help of the installed bridge, the crack is filled with polymer. Decide on the volume to be delivered - this will prevent excess flow out of the filled crack.

5. Now use the hose to pump the air into the pump.- this is necessary for even distribution of the polymer, and even hard-to-reach places will be treated with the help of air pressure.

Take a closer look at the treated area. If you notice that the polymer has not penetrated all the places, reposition the bridge and repeat the steps.

6. Once the entire length of the crack is filled with adhesive, the bridge can be removed and flushed. This should be done immediately, because it will be difficult to remove dried residues. At the same time, it is necessary to remove the excess from the glass surface using a sharp tool.

7. Now start drying the polymer using an ultraviolet lamp. Use the lamp according to the instructions and check the curing time on the packaging of the adhesive used.

In the absence of a lamp, you can simply expose the glass to direct sunlight. With this method of drying, prepare for a long wait - it will take at least 3 times more time to dry the composition.

Do not forget to put on gloves and a mask yourself, glasses will not interfere, since the polymer has quite specific secretions that are dangerous to human health.

The repair will make it possible to hide the defect by 75% of the existing one, at best, with extremely careful work and complete grinding of the glass, by 90%, which is almost imperceptible to the human eye.

Moreover, such actions allow you to calmly pass a scheduled inspection.

Knowing exactly how to fix a crack in your windshield , you can avoid not only financial costs, but also other unpleasant moments associated with an unpresentable type of car. Get to work and you will succeed.

Nothing foreshadowed trouble, and then ... a traitorous stone flies out from under the wheels and leaves a crack on the windshield. Can glass be saved and what can be done to prevent further glass destruction? We'll tell you.

Why is a chip or crack on the glass dangerous?

The danger of driving even with a seemingly insignificant chip or crack is that in extreme heat or frost, even a barely noticeable "cobweb" quickly becomes a huge crack. You cannot ride with such glass.

First, you do not pass MOT, and the inspectors of the patrol-guard service who stop you will regularly draw your attention to the need to eliminate the glass defect.

Secondly, it is just unsafe: after all, a crack even in an "unimportant" section of the windshield can lead to a chain of fatal events when you will not notice some trifle on the road, or divert your attention to the crack itself and notice too late.

Thirdly, with such a defect on the windshield you will not be able to travel to the European Union... Border services of many European countries do not hesitate to turn cars with cracked glass back, because this is not just a "cosmetic" flaw, but a direct threat to the safety of the driver, passenger and other road users. Especially if the defect is located in the area of ​​glass cleaning with wiper brushes.

What to do right after the accident

So, if a stone flew into your glass and you see a chip, your actions should be aimed at preventing this chip from growing!

Fortunately, modern glass restoration technologies can fix the problem, and you won't need to spend money on expensive part replacement - but only if you do it right.

As soon as you are faced with damage to the glass, you need to stop the car (in a permitted place, of course) and look for tape, duct tape and paper.

You can go to your nearest pharmacy and buy a regular adhesive plaster. Your task - glue the chip, protecting the crack from dust, dirt and water. Therefore, the particles trapped inside the defect will not be able to effectively eliminate it.

If you are our client, then you can use branded tape(round), which will be glued on your glass from the inside. It can be used to seal the chip at the impact site.

Have you covered the crack? Now get back into the car and go urgently to the service!

There, the technician will pressurize the damaged area with a special polymer-based compound to fill in the damage.

The next stage of processing is to dry the composition with a special lamp so that the polymer solidifies, thereby hardening the glass. In order to hide the traces of interference, glass polishing is used. This method works if the area of ​​damage is up to 3 cm.

If the cracks are more serious, the master will apply blind drilling to the glass in the place where the crack beam ends - this will prevent the growth of the defect. Only then the polymer composition will be applied to the glass and then according to the algorithm.

IMPORTANT:

-do not tighten with the repair of damaged glass. The first 3 days is the optimal period for recovery, and it is better to fix the problem immediately. If you delay it, it will be very difficult to achieve a good result.

While ride with the damage taped, try not to use cleaner brushes, so that small debris and dust do not get into the crack.

- do not use heating or blowing the windshield, so as not to create a temperature difference inside and outside the glass - this can lead to an increase in the defect.

-Do not try to "fix" the glass yourself. Only a quick response on the principle of "sealed with tape - turned to specialists" will save your glass.

The fact is that the tips on how to remove a crack on the windshield on your own describe procedures that will only clog the surface of the chip with dust (wipe the damaged area by hand or with a cloth, etc.) - and then even a car glass repair service will not help to return details original appearance and functionality.

The windshield is one of the most vulnerable parts of a car. All stones, bolts, small objects and all sorts of similar ugliness fly straight into him. Sometimes you can get off with only a scratch or you are completely lucky and there are no traces left. But sometimes the angle of impact and the speed is so bad that chips remain or, worse, cracks. It is quite difficult to repair cracks on your own, but DIY repair of chips on the windshield quite possible.

Brief background

I was driving my Suzuki Jimny into the forest. I went out onto the track, accelerated and then a bang - the sound of a blow and as if something had cracked. I look more closely and see damage to the windshield on the passenger side glass. A small pothole or, as it is called, a chip, around which a cobweb has gone from cracks in all directions. It should be noted that I have read many times that the Suzuki Jimny windshield is subject to frequent damage, since the glass angle is almost straight and all objects do not slip, but pierce the windshield. But until now I was lucky, and I, having traveled for almost three years, caught only small stones that broke and only slightly scratched the windshield. But this time the damage was more global.

Of course, the first thought is to look for the approximate cost of replacing the glass in case the crack begins to grow further. I figured out the prices and was upset. Changing an entire windshield due to one damage at such a price is quite expensive and pointless.

I started looking for options for repairing the windshield. The service set the cost of repairs - 2,000 rubles ... A considerable amount for the repair of 1 cm of glass chips. Especially considering that new Jimny glass can be bought for 2500 rubles.

Of course, it was decided to look for something about DIY windshield repair.

It turned out that the situation is not so catastrophic and repair methods already exist... There is even special kit for windshield repair... There are decent videos about this question and here and there on the drive its miraculous properties are mentioned. But I did not come across a detailed article and that is why I decided that my material might be useful to the reader.

Windshield damage

Windshield damage is different.

A crack may appear, a through hole may form, a chip may appear, from which the crack will spread. Of all these damages, we will only consider the chip.

So, before discussing repair techniques, let's take a quick look at the chips.

Chips have long been systematized conventionally and divided into four groups: bull's eye, star, moon and combined damage.

The latter is the most unpleasant to grasp.

Cases are different and repair is not always possible. But if the damage is "within the framework", then it is quite possible to bring the windshield back to its normal form without replacement.

Let me remind you that a standard windshield consists of multiple glass layers, which are glued inside with a special polymer film. This is usually three layers of glass. When a flying object hits the glass, it does not damage all layers. A chip is formed. The rest of the layers can either crack or remain intact. Using this knowledge, it is easy to guess what the glass repair is based on. The damaged part is dismantled or drilled out, and a special polymer material is applied in its place. But careful drilling is not always possible and it is not always possible to do this without a garage and good lighting. This requires a certain sleight of hand. Therefore, there were do-it-yourself kits for glass repair were invented... Drilling is not required in this case.

The effectiveness of the repair will directly depend on the ability of the glue to fill in discontinuities in the glass and microcracks.... Often the damage looks like a small chip (2-3 mm) appears on the upper layer of glass, a spider of cracks grows on the second layer of glass, and the inner layer remains intact. Such injuries are the worst to be treated, since the glue will not be able to fully fill all the spaces of the cracks. I came across just such a chip. But the repair still proved to be effective and I am satisfied with the result.

The easiest way eliminate open chips where the top layer is completely damaged. In this case, the adhesive will actively penetrate the entire damaged area.

Windshield repair kit consists of a special light-curing glue, a convenient syringe for pumping glue into a crack and auxiliary elements. On the Internet, it can be found under the name windshield repair kit... This is the name of the set for aliexpress and for ali it costs 220 - 290 rubles. In offline stores, where you don't have to wait for delivery, you can buy it for 390 - 400 rubles. Large chain stores sell a "US version" for 800 rubles. At this price point, the point of buying a set remains questionable. After all, new glass for my car costs from 2500 to 4000 rubles. But here, of course, installation costs and unnecessary headaches must also be taken into account.

The principle of operation of this set is based on the fact that a special penetrating glue is introduced into the crack and chip, which, when solidified, forms a transparent layer and does not allow the crack to grow further... In addition to gluing, the glue probably also melts the edges of chips and cracks, since after repair the cracks seem to heal. Drying takes place in ultraviolet and vacuum conditions. The glue hardens exactly inside the crack without oxygen. For this, the set contains a special pedestal and double-sided tape, which restrict air access to the bonded point. This allows a vacuum to be obtained at the place where the glue is applied.

DIY windshield repair technology

So let's go. As a repair kit We use a classic Chinese windshield repair kit.

• You got hit on the track. It would be rational to stop in a convenient place, go out, swear and seal the fresh damage with tape... It's good if the tape is at hand. You need to try prevent dirt from getting into the damaged area... So much the worse if water seeps into the inner space of the damage.
• We reach a place convenient for repairs. We take out a magnificent rescue windshield repair kit. We do it without fail at such a time of day that when the glue dries completely, it is still light. It is ultraviolet light that matters, not just lighting from lanterns. Otherwise, the glue will not dry out and turn into snot. Then these snot cannot be pulled out of the crack. By the way, no one forbids using an ultraviolet lamp... But the ambient temperature in this case is not as critical as it usually happens in the case of painting with nitro enamel. I was doing repairs at -5.
• First thing clean the chip area with a dry cloth without fibers on the windshield. If necessary, this place must be thoroughly dried. It is useful to heat the glass by blowing from the inside. One way or another, a higher temperature has a positive effect. It is better not to use chemicals and liquids. It is important to clean the chip, and not to stuff it with new dirt, fibers and not form some kind of film from the cleaner there.
• Now take a needle or thin awl and thoroughly clean the chip area... This should be done very, very carefully. In this case, it is important not to break the glass. But the place of damage must be cleaned as much as possible from fragments. Let me remind you that the quality of the repair directly depends on the ability of the glue to get into the crack. Therefore, one should try to open the crack channels as much as possible.
• Next, take the pedestal and stick it on the glass exactly as described in the instructions. The tail is under 12 o'clock. Let's fill the pedestal with glue. You need to fill it almost completely, leaving about ¼ of free space.
• Screw on the syringe from the kit and create a vacuum by fixing the syringe plunger with a wire lock at the desired point.

• Let's wait 10-15 minutes. Let's move the syringe plunger back and forth to increase the vacuum. First press the syringe to increase the pressure. We carefully observe that the tightness is maintained. We will repeat these steps 2-3 times every 10 minutes. With repetitions, sometimes we remove the syringe and check that there is no lack of glue inside the chip. If a flaw is noticed, then add a drop of more polymer. You need to wait until all bubbles from the treated space disappear. They can be clearly seen from the salon.
• After all these procedures, remove the pedestal from the glass. We drip glue onto the empty space in the chip, cover with a film from the kit and iron it under the glass level. We are waiting for another 20-30 minutes until the glue sets. After that, remove the film and erase with a blade the remnants of unnecessary glue around the damage.

Glass repair result

Despite the apparent simplicity, the way is pretty efficient... In my case, almost 2/3 of the damage was healed and the top layer was ironed. In simpler cases, almost 4/5 of the chip can be removed. The glue itself cures quite well and has good optical transparency. The cobweb of cracks almost completely disappears. The crater is filled with polymer.

Do-it-yourself repair of chips on the windshield is a good alternative to an expensive procedure in the service. Of course, you won't be able to get a new glass (and not with your own hands or in a service). But it is quite possible to extend the life of the installed glass. The visual effect is very decent. True, I will note once again - there will be no miracle. A trace will remain, and the appearance will not be the same. But on the other hand, for 200-300 rubles, it will turn out to significantly improve the situation.

In my case, it turned out something like the one in the photo and I am happy with the result.

Compare in Before / After mode

P.S. By the way, the whole trick is in this wonderful glue. Surely, if you find out its composition, you can buy an analogue cheaper. After all, there are only 15 drops of glue in the kit or even less.