So, you have researched a lot of different glass shops, hired an installer, and your new 
windshield is in place. How do you know if the installation was done correctly? There are a lot of windshields not being installed correctly everyday by what is known in the industry as slingers or hacks. These individuals are generally easy to spot since they typically don’t display a company name on their trucks. Note: An improperly installed windshield is a safety hazard so it is important to know what red flags to watch for during and after an installation has been performed on your vehicle.
6 signs that your windshield replacement was not installed correctly:
- Old urethane or adhesive was not removed – The area on the car where the urethane is placed is called the “pinch weld”. This area contains the old bead of urethane which was applied at the factory where your car was manufactured. This bead will need to be removed and properly prepared in order for the bond between the new windshield and pinch weld to be 500 pounds per square inch after it dries. In order to do this, the technician will need to cut off the old bead of urethane and prep the pinch weld with rust inhibitor or primer before laying the new bead. The rust inhibitor or primer will keep any exposed metal from rusting at a later date. Rust is like a cancer and can cause major problems with the pinch weld area at a later date in time.
- The installer did not wear gloves – It is important that gloves are worn at anytime the new glass is being handled. Any oils from the technician’s hands can be transferred to the glass which will cause the new urethane to adhere improperly. Most certified glass techs will cary a box of 100% nitrile gloves to ensure they use a new and clean pair for every install they perform.
- The newly installed windshield is not centered or flush to the car’s frame – If you notice the new glass is not sitting properly in the opening, chances are the installer did not use factory recommended replacement glass or the glass was pulled from a salvage yard. This is noticeable in some aftermarket glass that is produced by manufacturing plants not following OEM standards. Be sure to know what brand of glass is being installed and whether it meets the factory recommended specifications of your automotive manufacturer.
- The new molding is not flat around the glass or opening frame – This is caused when an installer uses some type of bulk molding or used the wrong molding for your specific vehicle. The technician will need to re-install the molding to resolve this problem.
- There are leaks around the edge of the glass – This can be caused from air pockets between the new urethane and the glass or pinch weld after it dries. You may not notice the leaks until you have a chance to take a drive. The leaks can be wind or water and you will definitely be able to notice the wind noise if there is a leak. You may need to visit your local car wash in order to check for water leaks. Just ride through the tunnel as your car is being washed and watch for water seeping in around the inside edge of the glass.
- The new glass appears wavy – This one is more of a quality issue rather than an incorrect installation but I felt it needed to be mentioned. I have seen a lot of automobiles driving around with wavy windshields. Most of these windshields will cause things to appear distorted when looking through the glass. This is typical when buying glass that does not meet the manufacturer recommended specifications.
For your safety, be very cautious when selecting a company to handle your auto glass needs. The auto glass industry is not regulated by any federal laws so it is a good idea to locate a technician that is not only certified but adheres to the guidelines put in place by the AGRSS. The AGRSS was created with consumer safety in mind and auto glass shops that are a part of the organization will be well educated on product performance and installation procedures.
Autoglasslocator.com 
does its best to ensure that glass shops on our site are certified. When speaking with any of these shops, be sure to ask if the person that will be performing the windshield replacement on your vehicle is certified.
