Discovering a broken side window glass in your car can be distressing, but the solution may be painless. Professional replacement is not only possible, but it may also be accomplished with relative ease.
Most vehicles are equipped with tempered glass for their side windows. This adds durability during an accident, but the entire window is likely to shatter if damaged. Higher-end vehicles and those with advanced safety measures may use laminated glass, which may be more easily repaired. A quality auto window repair professional can seamlessly replace your car side window – no matter the type of glass – ensuring your vehicle is safe and beautiful again.
Why Does Side Window Glass Break?
Your vehicle’s window glass is strong enough to withstand a significant amount of impact, but the side window glass can still break due to severe weather, an accident, or other events. If you’ve discovered an unexplained break in your side window, you may be the victim of an attempted break-in.
A broken front or rear windshield is rarely due to a crime, and damage is most likely caused by weather, road conditions, or accidents. Unfortunately, sudden unexplained damage to your side window is more often the result of vandalism. And unlike damage to the windshield or rear glass, you may not see or hear the damage to the side window glass occurring.
The very small side windows – called vents or quarter vents – are meant to give your vehicle a little extra ventilation and light. These triangular panes of glass are more common on older cars, and may either be fixed in place or set on hinges to allow airflow. These might also be broken, but are separate from the primary piece of glass on your side window. Repairing or replacing the vents uses a different process than for the main glass.
What Kind of Glass is Used for Car Side Windows?
Most vehicles use tempered glass for the side windows. Tempered glass is made through a specific heating and cooling process, which improves impact resistance and provides added durability. Tempered glass is very strong, but it is also brittle. When tempered glass is impacted in a certain way, it safely shatters into tiny pieces. This minimizes the risk of passengers or drivers being cut or injured by shards of glass.
Some higher-end vehicles, including those with boosted soundproofing and security, use laminated glass for the side windows. These are becoming more and more popular, so some vehicles have been retrofitted with this type of glass. Laminated glass is made by layering polymer with the glass to hold the window together in the event of damage.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Side Window Glass?
Repairing or replacing your vehicle glass – no matter why it’s broken or where it’s located – is an unwelcome hassle. Always consult a professional for advice on the safest and most reliable course of action.
In most cases, side windows need to be completely replaced. Tempered glass shatters when the surface is breached. Because of this, it’s not possible to repair tempered glass and it must be replaced.
If your car’s side window glass is laminated, it may be possible to repair the damage, but it depends on the type and size of the damage.
In some instances, the choice between repairing and replacing may come down to cost considerations and insurance coverage. Ultimately, the final determination should be made by a skilled technician, who will consider factors like the type of glass, the size and location of the damage, and safety concerns.
How to Improve Car Side Window Safety
If your car’s side window glass has been broken as a result of vandalism or a break-in, you may want to consider adding a security film to the glass after it has been replaced. Security film is similar to window tint in that it is a thin polyvinyl film applied to existing glass. This makes it harder to break through the window and holds the glass together in case it becomes damaged. When getting your window replaced, ask your local glass shop if they offer security window film services.
Glass.com affiliates are well aware of the tragedies that are often associated with side window breakage. That’s why they will do their best to get your new auto glass installed quickly and will offer alternatives that will help you protect your vehicle from another attempted robbery.
Understanding the Side Window Glass Replacement Process.
Oftentimes, it isn’t the glass that’s broken on the side window – it’s the mechanism that raises and lowers the glass. Some, but not all glass shops can fix this mechanism as well, and it may be as easy as repositioning the glass in its track. In more complicated cases, the window mechanism may need an electrical overhaul. Many modern and luxury vehicles use advanced technology and safety sensors – these may need to be recalibrated as well. Your Glass.com affiliate can assess the extent of the damage and provide an overview of what’s needed to restore your vehicle safely and completely.
Replacing window glass such as rear quarter glass or side window glass may not be difficult, but it is time-consuming and requires precision. If not done correctly, the window will whistle and may not be reliable, so leave this process to a professional. You can find a professional installer through glass.com’s affiliate program or search for highly-recommended local shops. Technicians with Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC) certifications follow strict training and safety guidelines to ensure your glass is replaced correctly.
The replacement process for the side window glass begins with an assessment of the damage and what kind of glass your car has. This will determine whether a repair is possible or if it needs a complete replacement. The installation process should be performed in accordance with the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS), developed by the AGSC.
Having to replace or repair your car window is often a traumatic experience. Rest assured that Glass.com affiliates will do their best to make the process as painless as possible and help you take steps to reduce the likelihood that such damage will ever happen again.
