Auto Parts - How to Fix a Chip in Your Windshield

Gravel, road salt, construction zones, and trucks kicking up debris mean windshield chips are inevitable at some point in any car owner’s life. If you've recently noticed a new chip in your windshield, you may be wondering what to do next.

Keep reading to learn how you can fix it yourself, and why acting fast is the key to keeping costs low and avoiding a large crack across your windshield.

Should You Repair Your Windshield or Replace It?

Some windshield chips are beyond repair because of their size. But if the chip is smaller than roughly 25 mm (about the size of a quarter), it’s a good candidate for a repair. The type of chip will also dictate whether it can be effectively repaired. Bullseye, half-moon, and star break chips repair well so long as they are under the size of a quarter.

Chips that should be taken to a professional for repair include chips that are:

• directly in the driver’s sightline
• touching the edge of your windshield
• spreading into a crack
• deep enough to have penetrated both layers of glass

If you’re unsure whether the damage requires professional repairs, your local NAPA AUTOPRO location can help you assess it.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait

If chips are left for too long, they can spread into cracks. Canadian freeze-thaw cycles and the heat from your defroster cause your windshield glass to contract and rapidly expand. This can make a chip spread quite quickly. Heavy rain during spring and summer storms, as well as ice build-ups in the winter, can enter the chip and cause it to spread.

While a chip repair can cost anywhere from $80 to $150 at a shop, the cost to replace the windshield once it spreads into a crack can run from $300 to $1,500+ depending on your vehicle. Contact your insurance company to check for coverage.

What You Need to Repair a Windshield Chip

To properly repair a windshield chip yourself, you’ll need the following items:

• windshield repair kit
• microfibre cloth
• razor blade (this is usually included in the repair kit)
• direct sunlight for curing

How to Repair a Windshield Chip

Follow these steps for an effective windshield chip repair:

1. Park your car in the shade before you begin working.
2. Clean the area with a microfibre cloth and remove any loose glass fragments with the razor blade or a pin.
3. Apply the adhesive patch and pedestal included in your repair kit over the chip. The pedestal creates the channel for the resin.
4. Fill the injector with resin and attach it to the pedestal.
5. Pull the plunger back to pull air out of the chip and create a vacuum. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds, then push to force the resin in. Repeat this step two to four more times until all air bubbles are gone and the chip appears saturated.
6. Remove the injector and place a drop of resin on the pit, before covering it with a curing strip.
7. Move your car into direct sunlight to cure for 15 minutes to one hour depending on the intensity of the sun.
8. Once the resin has cured, peel off the strip and use the razor blade to scrape off any excess resin.
9. Buff the repair and surrounding area of the windshield with a microfibre towel.

If your chip is located directly in your sightline over the steering wheel, have it professionally assessed to make sure there’s no optical distortion in that area.

When to Take Extra Care of Your Windshield Repair

If the chip meets any of the criteria outlined above, bring your car in for professional assessment and repair. Windshield repair kits only work for certain situations, and repairing a chip too big or deep for a kit can lead to more damage later, as the hole enlarges and spreads.

Many newer vehicles have cameras or lane-assist systems built into the windshield, which may require professional recalibration after any glass work is done.

When it comes to repairing a chip in your windshield, it’s better to act as quickly as possible. For the best advice and a wide selection of windshield repair kits , visit your local NAPA Auto Parts store to speak with an automotive expert or browse our full selection of glass repair products at www.NAPACanada.com.