A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Acoustic Interlayer: A sound-dampening layer of vinyl inside the windshield - promotes a quieter interior. Your vehicle may have been advertised as having "quieter glass." You may see a name such as "Acoustigate" in the trademark on the glass.

Air Bag: Passive safety device, standard on all new vehicles. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Antenna: Thin metallic line in or on the windshield. You will notice a long thin line in between the windshield plies of glass, or a thin line attached to the inside of the windshield similar to a defogger line on a back window. Generally, if your windshield has an antenna, you will not have an external "whip" antenna on the vehicle. However, a small number of vehicles will have both - see "diversity antenna"

Anti-Theft: A safety device used to alarm in the event of a vehicle break-in. The windshield in some cases is used as part of the device or to support the device. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Auto Dim Mirror: An electronic rear-view mirror that dims automatically at night when it detects headlights behind the vehicle. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

C

Compass: Compass in the rear view mirror. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Compass Bracket: A bracket attached to the windshield to support the compass. This may be a second bracket to help support the compass and rear-view mirror, or it may be a larger-than-normal rear-view-mirror bracket.

D

Diversity Antenna: Thin metallic line in or on the windshield - additionally, the vehicle also has an external "whip" antenna. You will notice a long thin line in between the windshield plies of glass, or a thin line attached to the inside of the windshield similar to a defogger line on a back window. Generally, if your windshield has an antenna, you will not have an external "whip" antenna on the vehicle. However, a small number of vehicles will have both - these two or more antennas act together to find the best radio signal.

E

Electrochromic Mirror: An electronic rear-view mirror that dims automatically at night when it detects headlights behind the vehicle. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

F

Fine Wire Heated: A series of thin metal wires running between the plies of glass in the windshield used to conduct electricity and generate heat to defog and defrost the windshield. Wires are visible when viewed closely. Wires should run horizontally through the glass, spaced about 1/2 inch or less apart. Wires may run all through the daylight opening or only along the area where the windshield wipers rest.

Fully Heated: The windshield is completely heated - not just a small area where the windshield wipers rest. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

G

Garage Door Opener Notch: A visible area in the top, center of the windshield through which a garage door opener located in the overhead consol would be. Look for the notch behind or above the rear view mirror

GPS: Global Positioning System - device used to locate the vehicle based on relationship to GPS satellites. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

GPS Antenna: Antenna used by the Global Positioning System. The windshield may have a silver grid painted somewhere along the top edge of the windshield that allows the GPS system to communicate to the satellites.

H

Heads Up Display: A feature allowing speed, signals and other driver information to be projected onto the windshield for easy driver viewing. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Heated: The windshield is completely heated - not just a small area where the windshield wipers rest. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Heated Wiper Park Area: The area of the windshield where the windshield wipers rest is heated to prevent freezing and slush accumulation. See vehicle owners manual. The areas in some vehicles are visible from the outside of the vehicle. Look for brownish lines running back and forth along the bottom 4-6 inches of the windshield.

I

Infrared: A coating inside the windshield that reflects additional infrared energy. See vehicle owners manual. The coating will appear "bluish or purplish" on a very cloudy day - different from a non-coated windshield in the same light.

K

Keyless Entry: A feature allowing the doors to be unlocked remotely - usually activated by a button on a key or key fob. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

L

Light Sensor: A sensor that detects the amount of daylight and turns the vehicle's headlights on at the appropriate time. See vehicle owners manual. This device matters for a windshield installation only when the light sensor is located behind the rear view mirror and is attached to the windshield. Otherwise, this feature doesn't affect the windshield model.

M

Mirror Bracket: The small metal bracket located on the inside of the windshield where the rear view mirror attaches. Most rear view mirrors are attached via a "mirror bracket" to the windshield. (Some vehicles without mirror brackets mount the rear view mirror from the inside of the roof of the vehicle or from the dash board.)

N

Navigation: GPS or other directional hardware and software in the vehicle. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Night Vision: An infrared camera is used to identify obstructions in the road during periods of low or poor lighting. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

O

One-Piece: For trucks only - a single-piece windshield. As opposed to a "two" piece windshield in some trucks.

On-Star: The safety communication system provided on some General Motors vehicles. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Overhead Console: Controls and/or storage compartments located over head. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

P

Paint Band: The black perimeter of ceramic paint on many windshields. Not to be confused with a rubber or vinyl molding, the black paint band is a thin ceramic coating painted on the inside of the windshield around the perimeter.

R

Rain Sensor: A device that senses when rain is on the windshield and turns on the windshield wipers and/or automatically changes wiper speed based on moisture on the glass. See vehicle owners manual. Typically, the device is located near or behind the rear view mirror and is attached to the windshield via a plastic bracket. The sensor may be visible from outside the vehicle as an iridescent spot surrounded by black paint.

Rain/Light Sensor: A combination rain sensor and light sensor integrated into one sensor. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Raised Roof: A roof option that provides more headroom than the standard roof. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

S

Sleeper Cab: Extra large cab capable of housing sleeping quarters. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Solar: Glass that absorbs some amount of solar energy rather than passing all of the energy into the vehicle compartment. The trademark on the windshield may indicate a solar property.

Solar Coated: A coating inside the windshield that reflects additional infrared energy. See owners manual for some models. The coating will appear "bluish or purplish" on a very cloudy day - different from a non-coated windshield in the same light.

Sunroof: A piece of tempered glass secured into the roof to allow visibility through the roof. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

T

Third Visor Frit: A large pattern of small dots or squares painted on the windshield in the top, center to act as a third, center sun visor. Look for a patch of these dots located in the vicinity of the rear view mirror. The patch will generally be one to several inches tall and at least as wide as the rear view mirror. Mostly, these areas are used instead of a blue or green shade band across the windshield, but that is not a determinant test.

Two-Piece: For trucks only - the windshield is made as two distinct sections of glass – a left and a right hand. Generally only found on heavy trucks - the glass will have a supporting post running vertically down through the center of the windshield.

V

V.I.N. Notch: A space left in the paint band of the windshield to allow visibility to the Vehicle Identification Number from outside the vehicle. Generally on the driver's side at the bottom of the windshield - locate the V.I.N. and determine if you can see it through a void in the paint on the windshield or through the normal daylight opening of the windshield.

Vinyl Roof: Convertible top - or vinyl cladding over the vehicle hard roof. See vehicle owners manual to determine if you have this.

Z

ZR-1: Vehicle badging identifying the vehicle model. Generally will see the ZR-1 logo somewhere in the top, center of the windshield - visible from outside the vehicle.