dodgy windscreen fitters

[dazzed]

how many of you guys had screens fitted and then problems ? you know that 20 years ago a screen cost like $380.00 fitted now these dicks pump em out at like $180.00 if you have rust around the sills , dosnt matter pump it with sikaflex wack a screen in give me ya $180.00 and piss off ,, then the rust breakes out even further and quicker and more rapidly than you can squint your zed is leaking water and rusting thanks to the bright spark that fitted your screen , you need to examine the vehicle yourself or have a fabricator inspect the vehicle before the new screen goes in ,, the windscreen fitter is by no means qualified to to advise you he is only fitting your screen , thats all and dosnt want to get involved with delays that will stop the screen being fitted and him not being paid  watch out theres a lot of dodgy windscreen fitters out there

[hunterzed]

I was unlucky enough (or lucky depending how you look at it) after racing 4wd's for a couple of years to learn how to fit windscreens myself. You save heaps of money and you know the job is done properly. You need to remember that these guys aren't there to fix your rust problems. They are only there to do the job that you're paying them for. Ie. to fit a windscreen. Most of them wouldn't have the tooling to do minor rust repairs or preventative rust treatments. If you have some concerns when you take it to them then ask them to call you if they find anything that may cause problems and have a plan of attack ready.

[Kodie]

I just took out both my Z's windscreen and a windscreen from an ra28 celica which had the same problem as what you are having. The Z wasn't too bad but was still excessive and rust had been covered. The Celica on the other hand was sikaflexed to buggery, so much of it that I had to use a small garden spade to get it all out!?!?

 

Like hunter has said though the windscreen fitters are only paid to do one job. If you are looking at getting another one put in then maybe take the old one out yourself then repair the rust before the new one goes in.

[Brabham]

Yep thats the best advice if you want something done properly do it yourself... Good idea to take out window yourself and fix it before installing new one.

[Zeddophile]

Depends on the screen fitters... The one we use at work will immediately come and tell you if there is any rust under the screen rubbers when he's pulled it out, and say what do you want me to do?  Happened on my old mans Discovery, had a tiny (5c piece) patch or rust coming through right at the top (from where someone had cut the urethane out the last time).  He left the screen out for me, I bare metalled that patch and rust killed it, he came back the next day and glued the new screen in (they don't use seals on a lot of new cars, the screen is just urethaned in place).

 

But then again, he's not a franchised screen fitter, and I couldn't even tell you his business name.  He fits screens to lamborghinis, ferraris astons and so on, and is one of those guys you have to be in the motor trade to even know he exists. 

 

O'Briens/Jims etc would likely all follow the "fit and run" strategy as described in this thread, but then again what do you really expect from any big franchise operation?  Its a bit like taking your car to Kmart Tyre and Auto for a service, and expecting that the apprentice there (who in some cases I know of has already been fired from a number of reputable workshops) will do any more than change the service sticker.  He might, but then again he probably won't...

[sco_aus]

A good friend works in a glass fitting workshop here in canberra and i help out there a lot.  He actually does try and at least contain any rust in the sills.  O'Briens... Well I had a bad experience there and now that I know more about it, they are a pack of lying pricks (in my own personal opinion). They go around telling people their staff are all highly trained and that they use the best products out, well they use the same stuff as anyone else because there is very limited choice in Australia and their staff are no more trained than you and me when they start.  They then go and mark up their prices based on these lies and when you return to them with a problem, they make it out like it was your fault.  I know one company that wont ever get my money again...

(Disclaimer: The above is from my own personal experience and is my own personal opinion.  It in no way reflects the opinions of auszcar )

End rant/

 

Guys in Canberra, seriously, if you need any glass go to Aussie windscreens in Phillip and see Chris, they always honour their work and its the same products as anyone else for a lot cheaper.  Andie can also come to you in the van.

[dat2kman]

My bloody windscreen isn't in the car long enough to start the frame rusting, I seem to get from two to six bullseyes per meeting, and then one or two cracks.

probably cos' i just travel to close to Shelby Mustangs, Porsch 911's and DeTomaso Panteras with their big wide sticky tyres spitting loulders off the race track at me.

The radiator where the wire screen doesnt quite fully fit gets peppered too

Thank goodness for the $180 screen, a bit of detergent and some electrical wire to pull the inner rubber of the seal back in, after I kick the old ones out!