rock chip on windshield

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nomech

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I had a rock hit my windshield on the highway and caused a decent sized chip and several cracks. I'm confirming through my insurance if windshield replacement is part of my plan, but regardless if it is or isn't, I want to make sure I get factory/OEM glass for the replacement.

I have to assume someone has gone through this process with a newer tahoe. I don't want lower quality glass or anything aftermarket that doesn't follow the factory glass specs. For example, the black trim, etc...

I read on other forms for other vehicles that windshields with front facing cameras behind the glass need to be calibrated to make sure there aren't issues with the sensors/camera behind the glass. Is there anything specific I need to request/look out for?

I've taken other vehicles to safelite to fill smaller cracks and I was happy with their work (couldn't even see the crack/chip when they were done, but it was small). What is the opinion for windshield replacement from safelite? Other than that, I haven't used any other shop for windshield replacement as I've never had to change one out before.

2025 Tahoe HC

Thanks.

Edit- For pricing curiosity I went through the wizard on safelite's site and the replacement come in just under $900 but there are no options of glass type (OEM, third party, etc) and I'm not satisfied not knowing the type of replacement glass I'd be getting. However, I only went through the wizard to see pricing and if they let you select glass style/type/etc and nothing more. Honestly, $900 seems cheap to me so I don't think this is OEM glass. I was expecting OEM replacement glass to be somewhere between $1500 - $2000. I've never gone through this process so I'm not sure if the number I had in my head is high.
 
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thefrey

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So I just got my windshield replaced on my 2013 through Safelite. I don't have any technology in my windshield, but it's also a vehicle with 226k miles on it so I opted for the easier aftermarket replacement. My deductible was $100 but safelite said the total was $230 and insurance covered $130.

Safelite I believe usually defaults to aftermarket glass. OEM glass is available, but you usually need to call and ask for it. Now getting it approved by insurance might become a little hairy. From my conversations with the tech on site, he said that insurance usually does not approve OEM glass if the vehicle is past a certain age (maybe 1-2 years old). You may be able to speak with your insurance and ask them to cover OEM glass since it is a newer vehicle and you don't want any of the technology to get messed up. They might be able to help you out where you might pay a bit more over your deductible, not sure though. Worse comes to worst, you may just have to deal with aftermarket glass or pay out of pocket for OEM.
 
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nomech

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So I just got my windshield replaced on my 2013 through Safelite. I don't have any technology in my windshield, but it's also a vehicle with 226k miles on it so I opted for the easier aftermarket replacement. My deductible was $100 but safelite said the total was $230 and insurance covered $130.

Safelite I believe usually defaults to aftermarket glass. OEM glass is available, but you usually need to call and ask for it. Now getting it approved by insurance might become a little hairy. From my conversations with the tech on site, he said that insurance usually does not approve OEM glass if the vehicle is past a certain age (maybe 1-2 years old). You may be able to speak with your insurance and ask them to cover OEM glass since it is a newer vehicle and you don't want any of the technology to get messed up. They might be able to help you out where you might pay a bit more over your deductible, not sure though. Worse comes to worst, you may just have to deal with aftermarket glass or pay out of pocket for OEM.

I'll deal with that if my insurance says it is covered. I did look at my policy online and I didn't see anything about windshield replacement but I'm waiting to hear back from my agent.

I have no issues paying out of pocket, but I want OEM glass, if that means I have to call them then I'll do that.

Thanks.
 

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So I just got my windshield replaced on my 2013 through Safelite. I don't have any technology in my windshield, but it's also a vehicle with 226k miles on it so I opted for the easier aftermarket replacement. My deductible was $100 but safelite said the total was $230 and insurance covered $130.

Safelite I believe usually defaults to aftermarket glass. OEM glass is available, but you usually need to call and ask for it. Now getting it approved by insurance might become a little hairy. From my conversations with the tech on site, he said that insurance usually does not approve OEM glass if the vehicle is past a certain age (maybe 1-2 years old). You may be able to speak with your insurance and ask them to cover OEM glass since it is a newer vehicle and you don't want any of the technology to get messed up. They might be able to help you out where you might pay a bit more over your deductible, not sure though. Worse comes to worst, you may just have to deal with aftermarket glass or pay out of pocket for OEM.
hmm, must be a state thing I recently checked safelite for my 2012 and they quoted me $489 before tax
 
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nomech

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The company I went through (smaller mom and pop shop with good reviews) was very helpful. They asked me if my car had lane assist and once I said 'yes' they immediately told me I needed OEM glass and that was the only option.

My insurance covers windshield replacement and $0 deductible. She also made an appointment with the local chevy dealer for the recalibration process and I picked up the vehicle once they completed the calibration.

The only issue I have is that my intermittent/auto sensing wipers don't work. Not sure how I want to handle this. I did see it work maybe for 1-2 minutes on the first rain (about a week after install) since then it doesn't auto sense and/or work intermittently. Meaning, regardless if I have it on 1 2 3 setting it either doesn't work at all or it works at the same speed regardless on which setting I have. The highest setting works fine and is fast, but the selection where you can adjust the speed/frequency isn't working properly.

While this setting isn't often used, when I need it, it is annoying that it doesn't work.
 

pronstar

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Is this a general comment to windshield replacement or is this for my wiper question?
General…wiper sensor doesn’t need calibration on my 2018, yours is likely the same.

So either the glass in front of the sensor has an issue, or a smudge, or the sensor got mucked up during the install.
 
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nomech

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General…wiper sensor doesn’t need calibration on my 2018, yours is likely the same.

So either the glass in front of the sensor has an issue, or a smudge, or the sensor got mucked up during the install.
That's my concern is that in order to fix this they will need to pull the glass off, etc. I'm not interested in going through all this again. While the experience was smooth, I just don't want to go through it again.

Also, there is a good chance that I will have another chip/crack and that I'll need another replacement at some point. Having never gone through this experience before (with a vehicle with all these sensors) I now know what to look for next time I'm in this scenario.
 

pronstar

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That's my concern is that in order to fix this they will need to pull the glass off, etc. I'm not interested in going through all this again. While the experience was smooth, I just don't want to go through it again.

Also, there is a good chance that I will have another chip/crack and that I'll need another replacement at some point. Having never gone through this experience before (with a vehicle with all these sensors) I now know what to look for next time I'm in this scenario.

Yeah we just replaced the second windshield in a year on our 2018.

Was hoping for a repair, but sometime between the night before the repair, and the repair gal arriving that morning…the tiny circular ding decided to become a 12-inch crack.
 
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nomech

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Yeah we just replaced the second windshield in a year on our 2018.

Was hoping for a repair, but sometime between the night before the repair, and the repair gal arriving that morning…the tiny circular ding decided to become a 12-inch crack.
My 2020 tahoe a small rock caused a small chip in the lower, center of the windshield within the first month of ownership. My previous vehicle did have lane sensors but I never got the large crack repaired and had that vehicle for 5 years, 3 of them with a crack. I immediately took the 2020 to get the chip filled (safelite) and they did a very, very good job, I could barley see the chip after their repair.

About 18 months after that the windshield cracked and I never repaired the windshield. I hate the thought of replacing the windshield and I'll give you one guess as to why. Hint- my auto sense isn't working.
 

E_S_D

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The company I went through (smaller mom and pop shop with good reviews) was very helpful. They asked me if my car had lane assist and once I said 'yes' they immediately told me I needed OEM glass and that was the only option.

My insurance covers windshield replacement and $0 deductible. She also made an appointment with the local chevy dealer for the recalibration process and I picked up the vehicle once they completed the calibration.

The only issue I have is that my intermittent/auto sensing wipers don't work. Not sure how I want to handle this. I did see it work maybe for 1-2 minutes on the first rain (about a week after install) since then it doesn't auto sense and/or work intermittently. Meaning, regardless if I have it on 1 2 3 setting it either doesn't work at all or it works at the same speed regardless on which setting I have. The highest setting works fine and is fast, but the selection where you can adjust the speed/frequency isn't working properly.

While this setting isn't often used, when I need it, it is annoying that it doesn't work.
I have the same exact issue with my Safelite replacement windshield. When I turn the wipers on intermittent they wipe twice, stop, and then wipe continuously even when there's no rain hitting the windshield. I have to turn them off manually before they will stop. And you are correct ... it's annoying.
 
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nomech

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I have the same exact issue with my Safelite replacement windshield. When I turn the wipers on intermittent they wipe twice, stop, and then wipe continuously even when there's no rain hitting the windshield. I have to turn them off manually before they will stop. And you are correct ... it's annoying.

What I've noticed is that sometimes they will run one time and stop and never start again. If I flip the switch all the way down to the highest setting then back up to any intermittent setting, they just run at the same speed back and forth and never stop (meaning, same speed regardless of which intermittent option is set).

I tried calling the office yesterday but it was towards the end of the day and nobody picked up. I'm still deciding if I want to call because I don't see how this can be fixed w/o removing the glass. I thought about taking the plastic pieces off that are behind the rearview mirror, but I doubt there is much to see in there other than some wires and connectors. However, maybe I'm wrong and something can be removed from inside the car to work on the sensor.

Part of me thinks Chevy would have designed it for the rain sensor to be a part that can be accessible w/o removing the entire windshield.......right? :)
 

E_S_D

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What I've noticed is that sometimes they will run one time and stop and never start again. If I flip the switch all the way down to the highest setting then back up to any intermittent setting, they just run at the same speed back and forth and never stop (meaning, same speed regardless of which intermittent option is set).

I tried calling the office yesterday but it was towards the end of the day and nobody picked up. I'm still deciding if I want to call because I don't see how this can be fixed w/o removing the glass. I thought about taking the plastic pieces off that are behind the rearview mirror, but I doubt there is much to see in there other than some wires and connectors. However, maybe I'm wrong and something can be removed from inside the car to work on the sensor.

Part of me thinks Chevy would have designed it for the rain sensor to be a part that can be accessible w/o removing the entire windshield.......right? :)
The sensor is accessed by removing the plastic trim behind the mirror and it is held in place against the glass by a piece of spring steel. I already removed and re-seated my sensor and it made no difference.
 
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nomech

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The sensor is accessed by removing the plastic trim behind the mirror and it is held in place against the glass by a piece of spring steel. I already removed and re-seated my sensor and it made no difference.
Interesting, this makes me wonder what the issue could be. Given that we both have the same or very, very similar issue, I doubt something 'broke' in both of our installs. Ironically, mine did seem to work maybe once the first time it rained but only for a short period because I remember thinking 'this worked yesterday but it isn't working today'.
 

E_S_D

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Interesting, this makes me wonder what the issue could be. Given that we both have the same or very, very similar issue, I doubt something 'broke' in both of our installs. Ironically, mine did seem to work maybe once the first time it rained but only for a short period because I remember thinking 'this worked yesterday but it isn't working today'.
According to my workshop service manual, the rain sensor is a single use item and is supposed to be removed and discarded, then replaced with a new one when the windshield is replaced. It must also be installed with no air gap between it and the glass.

Removal:
22. Windshield Outside Moisture/Ambient Light and Humidity Sensor (1) >> Remove and DISCARD

Installation:
5. Windshield Outside Moisture/Ambient Light and Humidity Sensor (1) >> Install NEW

Maybe whenever a new one is installed the vehicle calibrates it to the glass? I'm going to order a new one and see what happens.
 

jerry455

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Safelite is coming today between 1 and 6pm to install a new windshield in my 2021 Suburban. I don't have a problem with whatever glass they install, it has to be decent if they offer a warranty. I have a HUD and all of the sensors. They recalibrate all of that and are one of the largest glass install companies. I have used them before for a couple of other vehicles and have been satisfied.
 

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