Fixing the Windshield

So my husband and I decided that as part of our journey to become debt-free (I <3 Dave Ramsey) we would sell our crossover SUV.  We really like the car, and thanks to the new job I took back in June, the payment is do-able.  But I just don't want to DO it anymore.  I'd much rather just drive around a piece of garbage car, with mismatched doors and an 8-track radio than shell out this car payment every month... just to ride in luxury... and look like we're winning when in fact we've only just now stopped drowning!

Anyway, I digress.  So to get the car ready for the market, we want it to look its best.  And as luck would have it, I was driving the other day and the truck ahead of me threw a rock at the windshield and gave me a tiny little spider-like ding.  CRAP!  No matter how good the car looks, anyone who gets behind the wheel is going to see that chip and instantly the car will be worth less in their minds.

I picked up a RainX Windhsield Repair Kit.  It looks like it will fix those little spider marks, and bullet marks, you name it... as long as it's not too massive or longer than 12-inches.

First I cleaned up the chip with some Windex.  If there are any little fragments of glass still in it, they suggest that you clean those out with a razor blade.  The kit didn't come with a razor blade, so be sure you have one handy before starting the process, because you'll need one at the end.

Chip clean and ready for repair.

Next step is to fasten this little suction cup device to the windshield with that middle hole centered over the problem spot.

Then you'll screw in this little bolt-like thing.

Go until the end is flush against the windshield.

Squirt a few drops of epoxy stuff into the tube.  They said 3-6 drops depending on the size of the problem.  Mine wasn't all that big, but I went for the 6 drops just because it seemed a little deep and hollow.

Then follow that up with this smaller bolt that screws into the threads within the bold that is already in place.  This one is driving the epoxy down into the crack.  One you have it cranked pretty much all the way on, check from inside the car.  You may still see some little air bubbles.  Back out this screw to release the air, and then screw it back on again.  If you still see air bubbles, add some more of the epoxy and then I used a heat gun on low heat from inside the car to help draw the epoxy into the crevices.

Let it sit for a few minutes.  Then turn the bolt (and inner bolt) about 1/2 turn counter-clockwise to release them from the windshield.  Then remove the whole apparatus.  I then placed another drop of epoxy on the top of the ding and put down the plastic sheet that came in the kit.

After a few more minutes of letting the resin set, while the car was positioned in the sun, I removed the plastic piece and used the razor blade to scrape off the excess epoxy.

I honestly had a really hard time taking the final picture, but I cannot see where the spot had been.  So I'd say that was a pretty successful project, done in 15 minutes, for a whopping $15 or so.