Hail Damage

kiddynamite · Post by **kiddynamite** » 26 Mar 2009, 14:31

So we had a little hailstorm yesterday-- total carnage in the parking lot of my office, but I got off relatively easy, a pretty big (but still driveable) crack in the front windshield, and many, many small dents in the hood, roof, and trunk lid.

My 2 questions are:
1. Has anyone had any success with the dry ice method of minor dent repair?
2. I've never before had to replace any glass on a car that I've owned. The crack is small enough that I can still drive the car, but big enough that I'm going to need to replace it in the near future. Anything I should look out for when looking for replacement glass and an installer?

thanks

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 26 Mar 2009, 16:37

It is relatively cheap to have the windshield replaced- I would get it done professionally and not tackle this yourself. Ask around- this isn't a Volvo specific thing- even the dealer farms this work out- just ask around and find someone who has a good reputation.

In regards to the dent repair, I have used cans of compressed air upside down (the liquid that comes out is similar to the cold from dry ice) and a heat gun. Heat and chill several times and some of those dents would come out. There's even some video's on YouTube that shows you how to do this.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Mar 2009, 16:39

I had an Audi 5000 essentially totaled out by hail damage about this time of year - I took the check and kept the car. Leaving it in the outdoor parking lot at work and in the driveway by June it had 99% fixed itself in the sunlight.

Any competent glass shop should be able to deal with the glass.

...Lee

Post by **confused_al** » 26 Mar 2009, 20:49

kiddynamite wrote:...The crack is small enough...

Take a dollar bill and put on top of the crack, if the dollar bill covers the crack entirely its repairable. On my M-B truck the repair job was done so well it holds up 10 years and still counting. If you have Allstate insurance it gets even better, it will be covered under comprehensive policy without deductible.
IMO any replacement windshield can never get as good as original one. I have had my 95 n/a windshield replaced 3 times, none of them fits well.

GL!