What To Look For When Replacing Vehicle Glass
What To Look For When Replacing Vehicle Glass
If you need your windshield replaced in your vehicle, you might think if the windshield looks identical after the installation, that there is little difference between auto glass replacements. But there are some important details you should be aware of when replacing auto glass in your vehicle.
ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER
The original window that came with your car was made to “OEM” Specifications. OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer” and the manufacturer of the the glass that was installed in your vehicle at the factory made the glass to meet a detailed list of specifications. If you can get the windshield from the same Original Equipment Manufacturer, it will be identical in performance to your original windshield. It may even have your car’s brand logo on the glass. Your model car may have several window manufacturers depending on the year it was made, since automakers may change suppliers over the years of production.
Check Action Glass’s Superior Windshield Replacement Grand Rapids service.
ALL SUBSTITUTES ARE NOT THE SAME
Some suppliers may have “OEE” (Original Equipment Equivalent) which may have differences in specifications such as glass thickness. These differences may mean that if your car is leased, the leasing company may not accept the repair, or charge you the difference for what an original equipment installation would have cost.
FIT AND SIZE
The original manufacturer of your vehicle glass met exact size and shape requirements to fit the model year of your vehicle. Replacement windshield manufacturers may not be able to exactly match the size, shape, and other specific details like thickness of the various components of the glass such as the glass and laminate layers. Glass that doesn’t meet OEM specifications and is modified to fit in your vehicle, may not function the same as the original glass. If the shape or modified, it may even affect the safety performance of the windshield.
Check Action Glass’s Superior Windshield Replacement Grand Rapids service.
CERTIFIED AND TRAINED INSTALLERS
An installer that is certified will have the training and experience to correctly install your replacement glass. Some of the major certification sources are NGA (National Glass Association), ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) but ask if this certification is for auto glass and not mechanical repairs), AGRSS (Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council), and IGA (Independent Glass Association).
While auto glass may look the same or similar, make sure you are getting the replacement glass that not only meets the performance and safety standards of your original glass, but will also satisfy the contract requirements if your vehicle is leased.