Auto Glass Repair and Replacement

Serving Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, & More

As you drive through Santa Barbara, your windshield is deflecting tiny pieces of debris like gravel, sand, pebbles, and other things that can be kicked up by other cars on the road. Occasionally, a larger stone, rock, or another object can hit your windshield and cause it to chip or crack. When this happens, it’s important that you get your windshield repaired or replaced as soon as possible. When your vehicle is in need of windshield crack repair or windshield chip repair, the team at Eli’s Collision Center is here to help. Learn more about car glass repair and how to avoid road debris with Eli’s Collision Repair below, or contact our team if you have any questions about our auto glass repair and replacement services.

Why Car Glass Repair is Important

So, why should you bring your vehicle in for windshield crack repair as soon as possible? If a rock or another object caused a crack or a chip in your windshield, you may be tempted to put off the repair if the crack or chip is small. However, your windshield isn’t just there to deflect bugs, wind, and rain from disrupting your view of the road. Your windshield was designed to assist in the structural integrity of your vehicle, and a chipped or cracked windshield — no matter how small — can disrupt the windshield seal and reduce the integrity of the windshield by up to 70%. That is why even windshield chip repair is so essential. Read some of the other reasons you should get auto glass repair in Los Angeles as soon as possible:

Many windshields on newer vehicles have built-in features like a Heads-Up Display (HUD) and sensors that will impact the performance of the vehicle if the windshield is not repaired.
Chips and cracks will grow as the temperature fluctuates. A crack that was small a week ago can grow significantly as the temperature rises and falls, especially during the colder months.
Your windshield is a primary component in your vehicle’s safety rating and helps keep the cabin of your vehicle intact in the event of a roll-over accident.
Your windshield helps your airbags deploy properly in the event of an accident.

How Car Glass Repair is Done

The auto glass repair and replacement your vehicle needs will depend on which glass panels on your vehicle are damaged and the severity of the crack or chip. Luckily, when you use a professional repair service like Eli’s Collision Repair, you can have your windshield repaired and replaced in around 30 minutes*. Read below to see how most auto glass repair and replacement is done:

How Auto Glass Repair is Done

Typically repairing a small crack or chip in a windshield is a simple process that takes about 30 minutes.*
A technician will use a specialized tool to create a vacuum over the small chip or crack.
The air and moisture around the crack/chip are removed with the tool.
Resin is injected into the damaged area, filling micro-cracks and abrasions.
The technician removes the vacuum and applies a UV light to harden the resin.

How Auto Glass Replacement is Done

Car windshield replacement is a bit more extensive. If your entire windshield needs to be replaced the process may take up to an hour or a couple of hours,* depending on the extent of the damage.
During car windshield replacement, a technician will remove the trim around your windshield, releasing the seal and any leftover glass if the windshield was shattered entirely.
With the trim removed, the technician will remove the windshield pane with a specialized tool that often has suction cups that adhere to the windshield to safely remove it.
With the windshield removed, the pinch weld — the small area between the body of your car and the windshield that holds or “pinches” the windshield together — is cleaned out and prepared for a new windshield.
New urethane is applied to the edges of the pinch weld.
With the new urethane in place, a new windshield is positioned and pushed into place on your vehicle.
The urethane is given time to set and your vehicle is ready to go!
If your windshield is integrated with other features on your vehicle, extra time may be needed to reconnect and check those features to ensure everything is working properly.

Why Auto Glass Repair and Replacement Should Be Handled by a Professional

Due to the many responsibilities your windshield has in regards to your safety on Beverly Hills roads and the different sensors and features it assists with, we strongly recommend that you have your windshield repaired and replaced by a professional. You don’t want to leave car windshield replacement up to just anybody. It may be tempting to try and save money by buying a “do it yourself” auto glass repair kit, but only a certified professional can properly install your windshield.

A professional will ensure that the repair meets state and government safety standards, is installed / repaired properly, and that your vehicle’s additional features and sensors are working in conjunction with the rest of your vehicle. You can get a free online estimate at Eli’s Collision Repair and you can even get auto repair financing with our flexible payment options. Don’t leave your safety on South Bay roads to chance. Bring your vehicle to Eli’s Collision Repair for auto glass repair near Los Angeles.

Get Car Glass Repair at Eli’s Collision Repair

Now that you have a better idea of how auto glass repair and replacement works, make an appointment with our team to have your windshield repaired or replaced by our professional staff. If you have questions about the price of windshield crack repair or replacement, reach out to us today. You can get an estimate online with our free tool, plus you can read our blog for other car repair resources and tips. Contact our team today! We look forward to helping you keep your vehicle running like new in Downtown LA.