My continued luck, or lack of it, continues. Either I pissed off a witch or the car has voodoo. Need to get my windshield replaced, I want to take it to a certified 3rd party installer, dealerships won't change it. Its actually done at the dealership but by the 3rd party. I think it covers my ass because a lot of stuff needs calibrated after the change and things can go wrong. They said 4 hours to replace and calibrate but I cannot drive it until the next day, the glue needs to cure at least 12 hours. Maybe their using Elmers. 2 v-days and an overnight hotel stay in Cleveland will be a pain. I've gone to several local shops and they say all can change it and they say you only need to wait 1 hour for the glue cure. But none of them can calibrate the systems. Anyone run across this overnight cure on a windshield before? Trying to figure out what their angle is, if any.

What kind of vehicle you have? Cannot tell without that information. Have never heard of such overnight curing. Of course the biggest problem that people have is leakage if done improperly.

Porsche macan.

Yes, some of the types of bedding can take 12 hours or so to dry properly, the sealant sandwiched between the windshield and body and not exposed to air will take longer. Sykaflex requires a activator with a dry time and then the sealant which also has a dry time and then a 3 hour minimum cure on the sealant (5 hours full cure). 1 hour to dry with other sealants is pushing it IMO.

It takes time to tape the paint, cut the old windshield out, pull it, clean all of the old sealant, then install the new windshield and the dealership most likely is going to let it sit/cure overnight before programming everything.


The dealer is also probably considering you will drive home on the highway and a lot more force on the windshield at 80 mph versus driving around town.

Dealer is likely the only ones who can do the calibration. Aftermarket people are getting the equipment to calibrate the safety stuff but haven't cracked some of the higher end companies.

I get that you might have to calibrate a door window as I think your car probably opens it slightly to make open/close easier and I think can remember where it was. But what the heck is calibration required for on a windshield?
In any case if there are no electronics or calibration in the windshield and you can get factory glass I would not have any problems using someone more local.
And I have been advised for an overnight cure on one specific windshield that I had done but it had embedded stuff in it. On my other vehicles I did not get that speech. (not that I break a lot of windshields, but my wife does, so I've done this way too much).

Oh. I would go with the dealership then. High end vehicle. Who knows what the reason is. Third party installers may not be familiar with whatever intricacies there may be. Just guessing. Big deal may know if he comes along.

It’s probably their accident avoidance system they need to calibrate

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But what the heck is calibration required for on a windshield?

Rain sensing wipers, built in antenna for the radio, some type of defrost for the wipers, etc.

I'm just guessing. I don't even know what a Porsche Macan is, but it sounds like something that would have some extra features.

I had the windshield replaced in my 2019 Honda Passport last Friday. Safelite did the replacement in about an hour in my garage. They said to call the office about recalibrating the lane watch, adaptive cruise, etc. I called and the office referred me to my local Honda dealer. Today I spent 3 hours while they tried 3 times to make all the stuff work - unsuccessfully. Apparently the glass has a defect that wouldn’t allow the camera to work. I guess Safelite gets a call in the morning.

Front glass used to cost me about $60 for my pickup. Things have changed. My guess this would normally cost $750.

Thursday Update - after a call to Safelite, they asked me to stop by their store. They spent 45 minutes and successfully calibrated all my safety features at no cost.

Mike

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mcrimm,

Safelite, I’ll drive without a windshield before I would use them. I have my reasons. Calibration for lane keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, auto wipers, probably more that I can’t remember.

Dealerships won’t do it, they use Porsche certified 3rd party installers. Trained for Porsche and have the equipment.

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Originally posted by 08 Cayenne:
Dealerships won’t do it, they use Porsche certified 3rd party installers. Trained for Porsche and have the equipment.

Why not ask the dealer who they use and contact them directly?

I have, they said it needs to cure.

I'd do at a dealer, local or remote. Had same experience with Cayman while in DFW and local dealer sourced this to third party, but that was probably better for me since that's all they do.

Doing it through dealer did give some assurance that everything would be set back up right, I expected a little more care and responsibility for install, paint, interiors etc. while in their shop, etc. Invoice was from dealer. Took 2 days similar to what you described, but that was just fine.

Thank you

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
I'd do at a dealer, local or remote. Had same experience with Cayman while in DFW and local dealer sourced this to third party, but that was probably better for me since that's all they do.

Doing it through dealer did give some assurance that everything would be set back up right, I expected a little more care and responsibility for install, paint, interiors etc. while in their shop, etc. Invoice was from dealer. Took 2 days similar to what you described, but that was just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by 08 Cayenne:
I have, they said it needs to cure.

Sikaflex is most likely what Porsche used to bed the windshield origionally. It has a 3 hour cure time before driving (all of the windshield sealants have this rating and a time specified), this time is in addition to cutting out the old windshield (which takes time), using a catalyst, cleaning out the old sealant, etc., so by the time you drop it off, the 3rd party shows up, they get to work, then the 3 hours go by, Porsche probably won't program the windshield until after the 3 hours, if not the next morning. If the windshield shifts 1/4" while it's drying, it will leak.

quote:

Safelite, I’ll drive without a windshield before I would use them. I have my reasons.

I agree. Their windshields are not up to par. Additionally their commercial jingle is very annoying and grating.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Oh. I would go with the dealership then. High end vehicle. Who knows what the reason is. Third party installers may not be familiar with whatever intricacies there may be. Just guessing. Big deal may know if he comes along.

Sorry, but I haven't a clue on this one. I was just about to post asking what sort of calibration needs to be done associated with a windshield replacement.

quote:

Originally posted by 08 Cayenne:
Safelite, I’ll drive without a windshield before I would use them. I have my reasons. Calibration for lane keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, auto wipers, probably more that I can’t remember.

I thought most of that stuff was imbedded in the grill. Interesting.