BajaNomad - Has Baja Claimed Your Windshield or a Window?

Has Baja Claimed Your Windshield or a Window?

DianaT - 9-9-2010 at 03:55 PM

A very large rock from a weed mower near San Quintin claimed this latest windshield---by the time we came back, it had grown to full cracks from top to bottom with another crack going across the windshield---had to go and it was only 6 months old and had not one little chip! Oh well, that is Baja

This company charged us $130.00 for our Toyota Tundra which was a little discounted. They charge a little more if you use a credit card. Use cash or your ATM. And it would be even cheaper if one wanted used glass.

It is the lower rent area near all the wrecking yards in Chula Vista. The place ain't pretty, but who cares.
"Super Low Price Auto Glass"
880 Energy Way
Chula Vista, CA 91911
619 656-2313
7 days M-Sat 9:00 to 5:00
Sun. 9:00 to 2:00

If there is no line, it takes about 30 minutes. They also repair all other car windows.

Just wanted to pass this along as Baja is harsh on windshields and this is the second time we have used these people. And after lots of calling around, we think $130.00 is quite a good deal.

Diana

On edit, John just reminded me that they have had the Tundra windshield in stock both times---no waiting for it to be ordered.

[Edited on 9-9-2010 by DianaT]

tjBill - 9-9-2010 at 04:32 PM

Thanks for the reference.

I have a crack on my windshield that keeps growing. Apparently I am not allowed to use the Sentri lane with a windshield crack. I am waiting for the officers to say something.

The crack occurred in San Diego though.

dtbushpilot - 9-9-2010 at 05:10 PM

I got mine broken once.......

Had to get a new mirror too.....

[Edited on 9-10-2010 by dtbushpilot]

chippy - 9-9-2010 at 05:17 PM

Back in the early 90s I went 4 for 4 on windshields. Trips to the tip in my Mazda 2600 4x4. I guess I shoulda bought a deflector?

elgatoloco - 9-9-2010 at 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tjBill
Thanks for the reference.

I have a crack on my windshield that keeps growing. Apparently I am not allowed to use the Sentri lane with a windshield crack. I am waiting for the officers to say something.

The crack occurred in San Diego though.

I crossed a dozen or more times over the course of 6-8 months with a crack before it was mentioned to me to get it fixed. The agent said it as he typed the note in the computer and said I would not get a second chance. I had heard second hand of someone having Sentri pass taken away because of cracked windshield. They got it back when they showed new glass. I got mine changed.

YARDSAIL - 9-9-2010 at 07:28 PM

IF YOU HAVE NOT HIT A BUZZARD FLYING OFF ROADKILL,IN A CLASS A MOTORHOME, YOU HAVE NOT REALLY HAD THE REAL BAJA EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE IT HAD TO BE THE DRIVERS SIDE! :fire:

DavidE - 9-9-2010 at 07:42 PM

I am checking on the feasibility of a space age telomer transparent skin that is said to reduce impact damage by -a lot-. It's used on the space shuttle. A DuPont product. Wish me luck.

mulegemichael - 9-9-2010 at 07:47 PM

dt...was that an 18 wheeler?....one time i pulled into ricardos rice and beans in san ignacio for the night and there was about 15 big rigs in the rv area...half of them were taping their rearview mirrors back on...only took one big rig to do the damage....nothing like a caravan

mike odell - 9-9-2010 at 07:57 PM

You really have not lived until a great horned owl hits your driver side mirror and commits suicide at 3 in the morning, dark of the moon, oh my god, those eyes staring at you!!!

El Camote - 9-9-2010 at 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by YARDSAIL
IF YOU HAVE NOT HIT A BUZZARD FLYING OFF ROADKILL,IN A CLASS A MOTORHOME, YOU HAVE NOT REALLY HAD THE REAL BAJA EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE IT HAD TO BE THE DRIVERS SIDE! :fire:

Oh man, what's the cost to replace a (half a) Class A windshield? Those boys are enormous.

dtbushpilot - 9-9-2010 at 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
dt...was that an 18 wheeler?....one time i pulled into ricardos rice and beans in san ignacio for the night and there was about 15 big rigs in the rv area...half of them were taping their rearview mirrors back on...only took one big rig to do the damage....nothing like a caravan

No, it was a rental motorhome. I can imagine how intimidating the Baja highway would be to someone not acustomed to a narrow road in a motorhome that they probably weren't used to. He was obviously crowding me a bit as we passed each other. Glad the window was rolled up, if it had been down the mirror would have knocked my head off. I was picking glass shards out of my face and chest for hours after that.....not fun......dt

mike odell - 9-9-2010 at 09:27 PM

DT and all, here's another.
Coming back from La Paz some years back with a one ton flat bed full of construction stuff, close to the Leonero turn off, straight stretch, I might add,
a bit after dark thirty, I see lights comin at me like a bat outta hell, try to get to the right side without runnin of the freakin road, no shoulder I might add,
Wacko!! Expoding window and mirror ensues, glass shards in my face, arms, everywhere! I find a wide out about 200 yards up the road, pull out, try to do some clean up, look back and see the offending hitter turnin around!!
I'm border line pist, ready to open a can of whoopass, ole gal pulls over and say's aint you
aint you Mike Odell? I said, mayhap, underneath all this glass and blood, who in the flech are you? Moreen I am, she say's, marooon says I, what is your need for speed, and gotta reason for drivin in the middle of hiway one? Are you Inflicted by some chance of some mind altering substance? Beer perhaps?
Wacky weed?, Steriods? Lack of sex partners? Do tell me please?
Forgot my glasses say's she!! OK it all makes perfect sense then, have a good eveing, bye

ddawson - 9-9-2010 at 10:09 PM

i caught a nice half dollar sized rock with my windshield shortly below Ensenada. i was following some Suzuki Samurai that had mud terrain tires and no mud flaps. i saw it coming like it was in slow motion, and watched it crack the glass. it wasn't too bad at first but by the time i finished my trip and made it back to the US the cracks had nicely spider webbed across the driverside of the windshield. i ended up getting it fixed in Santa Ana, and it wasn't too expensive ($130).

BAJACAT - 9-9-2010 at 11:09 PM

A trip to San Felipe got mine,,, you can see the crack windshield on all my photos and video that I took inside the truck.. from the pass two years... i don't want to replace it it has alot memories. I have a nick on the side from my trip to Santa Ana Visita (San Borja Mission)..and a few fron Guadalupe canyon,

DianaT - 9-10-2010 at 08:35 AM

Love the direction of the thread! Lots of interesting stories. BTW, for anyone else who has driven to Alaska, it is next to impossible to not end up with rock chips from that road!

For the future, if anyone knows of a less expensive place in the San Diego area for replacement, please share.

And DavidE --- look real forward to seeing if that space age telomer transparent skin from Dupont works!

Happy Baja Driving

Martyman - 9-10-2010 at 08:45 AM

My windshield is still cracked from my trip down in May.
This thread reminded me of a family trip to Mazatlan in 1969. My Dad was driving at night, Impala station wagon with a 17' Terry trailer. We come over a rise to a herd of cattle in the road. My dad somehow swerves through without hitting anything except ripping off the removable side view mirror.
I'm still looking for that steer with the mirror on his horns. :smug:

bajajudy - 9-10-2010 at 09:56 AM

Every car we have ever owned has received some sort of nick, crack etc. We also use Crystalmex. For one of our vehicles, we had AAA insurance on it so waited until we got up to Ca. We waited all one day for the guy who had given us an estimate. Deciding that we would not and could not waste another day waiting for anyone, we called AAA and they said to get the work done here and they would reimburse us. We did and it saved AAA about $50.

Gaucho - 9-10-2010 at 10:00 AM

Ok, this is really embarassing but it's one of those stories to laugh about later.

My buddy and I were on a surf trip in his Baja Bug down near Colonet in about 1983. We were camping at Cuatro Casas and went for a beer run. Anyway, my buddy had just removed some stuff that he had stored under the hood and forgot to put the cotter pins back in the posts that hold the hood down. As soon as we passed the first big rig WHAM!! the hood flew up and shattered our windshield. Good thing we brought some duct tape.

bajalou - 9-10-2010 at 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gaucho
Ok, this is really embarassing but it's one of those stories to laugh about later.

My buddy and I were on a surf trip in his Baja Bug down near Colonet in about 1983. We were camping at Cuatro Casas and went for a beer run. Anyway, my buddy had just removed some stuff that he had stored under the hood and forgot to put the cotter pins back in the posts that hold the hood down. As soon as we passed the first big rig WHAM!! the hood flew up and shattered our windshield. Good thing we brought some duct tape.

Most Baja Bug drivers have at least one similar experience.

DENNIS - 9-10-2010 at 10:55 AM

My last trip home from the border on the toll road, I watched a stone hit my windshield at fifty MPH. It left one of those starburst breaks about the size of a dime.
I know that's the type of damage that is most easily repaired rather than cracks. Does anyone know of a glass repair shop in the Chula Vista area that I could take it to?

Dennis

bajaguy - 9-10-2010 at 11:03 AM

Safelite Auto Glass
8575 PRODUCTION AVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121
877-742-4577

YES

desertcpl - 9-10-2010 at 11:11 AM

2 years ago we was coming back from Gonzaga bay,, big storm came in from the sea,, my windshield was sand blasted, had to replace when got back to yuma

DENNIS - 9-10-2010 at 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Safelite Auto Glass
8575 PRODUCTION AVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121
877-742-4577

Thanks, Terry. That's where I'll go.

bajalou - 9-10-2010 at 11:33 AM

Have had windshields replaced in Mexicali at authorized LOF glass shops for less than 1/2 or the NOB prices. Bronco II for about $110.

rocmoc - 9-10-2010 at 07:11 PM

4 in 7 years all in AZ. None in Mexico!

rocmoc n AZ/Baja

woody with a view - 9-10-2010 at 08:10 PM

Dennis

go to walmart and spend $10 on the windshield repair kit. i've used my 1 kit 4 times and that goop is holding strong.

DENNIS - 9-10-2010 at 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
Dennis

go to walmart and spend $10 on the windshield repair kit. i've used my 1 kit 4 times and that goop is holding strong.

I once watched the repair thing, but I don't know if I want to try it. The guy had clamps, syringes and drills.

I have a load of AAA insurance, but I don't feel like making a claim for so little.

Thanks, Woody. I didn't know anybody could buy those kits. I'll look at one out of curiosity.

woody with a view - 9-10-2010 at 08:34 PM

it looks cheezy and lame but as long as you follow the directions and get the resin into the cracks the stuff seems to work.

Casey67 - 9-11-2010 at 03:12 AM

Rear window destroyed after 4 months in Coyote/Conception area. Pulled off highway 1 to regular Burro restaurant and one of the two trailing 18-wheel trucks inadvertently tossed a rock at rear window as they passed by. I had to wait 2 months till I was back in San Diego to replace. Used vinyl sheet and duct tape in the interim. It's hard to fix a 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara in Baja. Switching to older F150

bajabound2005 - 9-11-2010 at 06:41 AM

i thought a cracked windshield was the symbol of Baja!

We did get one...driving to San Felipe a rock got thrown up off the road by a vehicle in front of us. It was small. Then we went to San Quintin and drove around on the washboard back roads...and it spread. We got the windshield replaced. Then it happened again, but we got it repaired before it spread!

The Gull - 9-11-2010 at 08:04 AM

Four cars, four windshields or windows claimed by Baja.

Once from a pick-up truck backing up perpendicular to my car and running the rear bumper into my driver's window. Happened in a liquor store parking lot. He didn't need the extra booze he bought. I was parked.

ncampion - 9-11-2010 at 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Camote

Oh man, what's the cost to replace a (half a) Class A windshield? Those boys are enormous.

Had to replace one on my Class A about a year ago - $800 for one side. A Baja fatality - of course.

.

You would think

bajaguy - 9-11-2010 at 08:20 AM

That somebody would develop some type of laminate coating for windshields/windows........

woody with a view - 9-11-2010 at 08:22 AM

i dunno. glass=glass. the laminate is in the middle.

Yeah, But

bajaguy - 9-11-2010 at 08:23 AM

something on the outside that would protect from chips......

durrelllrobert - 9-11-2010 at 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elgatoloco
[

I crossed a dozen or more times over the course of 6-8 months with a crack before it was mentioned to me to get it fixed. The agent said it as he typed the note in the computer and said I would not get a second chance. I had heard second hand of someone having Sentri pass taken away because of cracked windshield. They got it back when they showed new glass. I got mine changed.

Any kinda crack is a treat to Homeland Security :lol:

durrelllrobert - 9-11-2010 at 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
I am checking on the feasibility of a space age telomer transparent skin that is said to reduce impact damage by -a lot-. It's used on the space shuttle. A DuPont product. Wish me luck.

telomer

or did you mean polymer :?:

the only DuPont products used on the space shuttle are: Nomex, Kevlar, Mylar and urthane foam - non of which are transparent. Good Luck anyway :lol:

bajaguy - 9-11-2010 at 09:26 AM

................Nomex, Kevlar, Mylar and urthane foam...........

I think a combination........will protect against bullets, fire, shattering and banging your head against!!!!!

oladulce - 9-11-2010 at 10:15 AM

Quote:

We're going to have this 3M "Ultra 600" polymer film applied to the windows we have made before we bring them down for the Baja casa.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Window_Film/Solu...

Most window manufacturers offer laminated glass option on new home windows, but those labeled "hurricane or storm" rated are only available on the east coast. We want storm and security/theft protection. A good quality hurricane shutter costs about the same as the window it's made to cover- which doubles the cost of your windows! We might have a couple of shutters
but covering all the windows is beyond the budget.

The quote we got for the installed price of the 3M Ultra was $4000 dollars- I don't know the sq ft price of the film but the quote was for windows and sliders for a 2500 sf house.

The film is applied to the inside of the glass and is not metallic like the old fashioned kind that becomes a mirror at night. They say it not only holds the glass together in case of direct impact, the film is attached to the window frame so a potential intruder can't break the glass and then push the entire shattered panel in to gain entry. Nothing is 100%, but every little deterrent helps.

But after that long-winded explanation (sorry), you wouldn't want this kind of film on your car windshield because after an accident, your life may depend on escaping or being extracated through your broken windshield. 3M's automotive window film offers sun protection/tinting only.

So windshields may be like pantyhose, you'd think they could come up with a way to prevent runs, and chips and pukas but we might be stuck with them. My only advice is don't drive wearing your pantyhose to reduce your risk.

maspacifico - 9-11-2010 at 10:39 AM

Oladulce...

Do these windows keep the glass from breaking at all, or keep it from shattering and letting glass fly all around?

oladulce - 9-11-2010 at 03:34 PM

Maspacifico, the way I understand it, it's a high-tech transparent laminate that's applied to the inside of your windows and somehow bonded to the frames. I first saw the 3M film on the Discovery show "It takes a thief" where the hosts raved about the stuff as an effective deterrent for unwanted intruders . On the show they had demos where they shot a 2x4 out of a cannon and it could not penetrate the window. Then the host/burglar wacked a window with a bat and a tire iron and and eventually the window spidered but the glass remained in place attached to the film and the guy could not get in to the house.

It doesn't keep glass from breaking. The film holds the shattered glass in place and maintains a barrier. They claim that in the event of a broken window during a storm the film will keep water and debris from getting in your house and doing further damage.

I believe you can buy and install the film yourself. But I can't install shelf paper without getting lumps and bubbles so I wouldn't attempt this.

DianaT - 9-11-2010 at 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oladulce[/i

I believe you can buy and install the film yourself. But I can't install shelf paper without getting lumps and bubbles so I wouldn't attempt this.

--- had to give up on shelf paper and wall paper. :yes:

[Edited on 9-11-2010 by DianaT]

Bob and Susan - 9-11-2010 at 03:51 PM

why wasn't this my job????