Windshield Replacement

[Prophet]

Two days in a row last week, my windshield got hit by rocks kicked up on the highway and now I have 2 dime sized stars in front of my eyes. They probably won't spider, but they're in my field of vision and very distracting.

I was gonna just call the insurance company and arrange for it to be replaced by whoever they use, but then I was told by someone at work that I should call Toyota.

He said the black bumps on the inside of the windshield where the rearview mirror is are related to the autodim feature of the rearview and that a 3rd party replacement windshield won't have these. He also said that there would probably be a difference in tint on a replacement windshield.

Any truth to any of this? Or is this guy and his recommendation to go through Toyota and seek an OEM windshiled just silly and wrong?

Any info or advice would be apprciated!

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

He said the black bumps on the inside of the windshield where the rearview mirror is are related to the autodim feature of the rearview and that a 3rd party replacement windshield won't have these. He also said that there would probably be a difference in tint on a replacement windshield.

My gen 4 camry came with autodim mirror, and it does have the black bumps, my gen 1 solara didnt come with auto dim, and i don't recall the black bumps...so i'm not sure if this theory holds. But good observation. In regard to the tint differenciation...Well not here in states, abroad you have two choices for glass when you guy new cars...insulated n non insulated..the insulated is the one we all get in our cars here standard. The non insulated is a bit greenish and doesn't have tint to it. I'm sure replacement windshiled shops should have insulated windshield (it doesn't promote greenhouse effect in the car as much). hope someone wise can guide you in the right direction!

[Bigdawg103]

I had a rock hit my windshield on my 2002 Solara last summer. It caused a nasty crack that turned into a thunderbolt across the passenger side.
I called around and found out that since I have comprehensive glass coverage with my insurance company they will replace the windshield with no deductible. All I had to do was select a body shop that they recommended. So I asked for a list of companies and checked out the credentials for each one. If they were are a member of PPG or not is worth checking out, hopefully your insurance company will know.
In addition, when and if you use your insurance company or any company you should ask for "dealer glass" this means they will replace your broken windshield with an exact replacement from the dealer. This way there can be no difference with tint or any other features that the windsheild should have. Like in your case you need yours to have "dots" for the auto dimming mirror.
By the way My insurance company is AllState.
Good Luck

[Bigdawg103]

I had a rock hit my windshield on my 2002 Solara last summer. It caused a nasty crack that turned into a thunderbolt across the passenger side.
I called around and found out that since I have comprehensive glass coverage with my insurance company they will replace the windshield with no deductible. All I had to do was select a body shop that they recommended. So I asked for a list of companies and checked out the credentials for each one. If they were are a member of PPG or not is worth checking out, hopefully your insurance company will know.
In addition, when and if you use your insurance company or any company you should ask for "dealer glass" this means they will replace your broken windshield with an exact replacement from the dealer. This way there can be no difference with tint or any other features that the windsheild should have. Like in your case you need yours to have "dots" for the auto dimming mirror.
By the way My insurance company is AllState.
Good Luck

[rnsmelody]

i had my windshield replaced last summer on my 2002 solara. i ended up paying out of my pocket $250, the insurance didnt cover it, for a ppg windshield. its was only $20 difference from the aftermarket one. also the aftermarket one, doesnt have the top tint like the ppg ones does, its different. when going for the OEM one make sure at the bottom cornor it says somthing like

Toyota
PPG
Solargreen

its something like that. on since you have a 04, it might be hard to find an aftermarket windshield, if they didnt release the mold out for aftermarket parts. since this is the first year the car been out. might be hard to find.

[Buckeyegirl]

Well it's my turn now, today my windshield got hit by a stone and shattered. I just get my car back from the dealer last week and got the left drift and the dash rattle fixed and now this. I must be jinxed because a month after I bought my '02 RAV4 the same thing happened. I guess I did a little better this time since I got by Solara in Sept. (but I'm still pissed).
Gotta love the freeze thaw in the midwest with the stones from the potholes. It's sooo hard to keep your car nice. The glass shop is having a hard time finding a windshield for so new of car.

[Prophet]

Thanks for the replies!

So far, no luck obtaining dealer glass. All I keep hearing from Geico's recommended glass place is "we'll have it soon". Sigh!

[Buckeyegirl]

The glass co. called today and said they finally located a windsheild for my car. Has anyone else had this problem because the car is sooo new?
Now I'm going to have to make an appointment to get it in to be fixed.