(1) Pre-work includes pre-inspection and protecting vulnerable areas of the vehicle from damage during the replacement.

(2) Parts and glass removal includes removal of moldings, wipers, cowl and trim. To save time, glass installers may bend the cowl back rather than remove it. This could result in a poor set of the new windshield. Be sure your auto glass technician removes the existing cowl from your windshield.

(3) Pinchweld preparation includes trimming the old urethane evenly to 1/16 of an inch. This ensures a quality fit and bond of the new windshield.

(4) Proper urethane application requires selection and use of primers and urethane systems that fit the existing weather conditions, and the time that the vehicle will be out of operation. Choose a glass shop that can provide with documentation of training that their technicians have received in urethane adhesive and auto glass replacement.

(5) Glass and parts replacement especially on larger windshields - can sometimes require two technicians to ensure the windshield is set properly. There is no room for error when setting the windshield. Poor initial placement leads to compromises in installation quality. Once the windshield is set in place, the unit should be leveled and centered. Your technician should then check the windshield for leaks, reset the trim molding and reinstall the wipers, cowl and any other devices detached or removed during the glass removal.

(6) Post-work includes cleaning and inspecting the vehicle for stray pieces of glass and part debris and providing clear instructions on safe drive-away time to the car owner. Different adhesive systems have significantly different cure time characteristics. It is a good idea to ask ahead of time how long the vehicle must remain out of operation.

Source: www.pgwprostars.com Spring/Summer 2006