Rock Chips and Windshield Cracks
I dropped two English tourists off at Pappas Seafood a few months back - they were excited to try crawfish as they had heard so much about it. En route, they noticed the large front windshield of my Tesla Model 3 did not have any cracks. Which was surprising for them because in the few days they had been in town, they had noticed that many cars on the road had cracked windshields. They were curious as to why the car's owners did not fix them, and how I protect mine.
Houstonians know what causes it - rock-chips! As to why car owners do not fix their windshields? There are myriad reasons.
Tesla Quoted $1200
Fast forward to the second week of Jan 2023. a rock hit my windshield and In the 10 minutes it took me to drop my rider off at the Galleria, the chip became an 18 inch crack. Since I was already at the mall, I decided to charge the car, making my over to Lower Level 2 - Green Lot, the location of the Superchargers. I planned to schedule service through the Tesla app while I was charging.
Gasp! Their quote was $1200 - welcome to Elon's World! Being that I know a windshield guy, I declined service. Unfortunately, my guy was out until the end of the month.
Over the next week, I continued ridesharing, and more than one rider remarked on the crack - unbeknownst to them, cutting me deeper each time. Finally, one rider recommended I repair it instead of replacing it. He told me to go to Chips and Cracks Windshield Repair.
I debated it. Ultimately, with me driving approximately 3k miles a month, I concluded it was only a "matter of time" before it happened again, so I took him up on the offer.
Chips and Cracks Windshield Repair
Chips and Cracks Windshield Repair is at the southwest corner of the Westheimer and Fondren intersection (8903 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77063.) In the parking lot are set up an umbrella and a toolbox. I pull in, and there is one car in front of me, which is good because parking is minimal. Had the line of vehicles been any longer, it would have spilled out, creating a cluster on the busy Westheimer thoroughfare.
When it was my turn, I pulled forward, and Clint repaired the crack. It takes about 15 minutes to seal. Meanwhile, he lights up a cigarette and regales me with a few tales from the trade. When the phone rang, he would answer it.
After he finishes, I Zelle (cash, CashApp, Venmore but no credit cards) him $30 and drive away merrily.
Was it Worth the $30
Here is the verdict on repairing a crack. First, it does not remove it. Instead, it seals it so that it doesn't spread, at the same time, reducing its visibility. Clint did explain the faster a person gets it repaired, the better. As a driver, it was the best choice for me, and it was $30 well spent.
This adventure brings me to something I learned afterward. Clint offers a 50% coupon to Uber/Lyft/Taxi/Limo and other drivers who show him their credentials - undoubtedly the best deal in Houston. In other words, that repair should have cost me $15 - oh well, next time.
Even without the coupon, a $20 repair for rock chips and $30 for windshield cracks is still a fantastic deal.
Summary
Contact: Chips and Cracks Windshield Repair
Location: 8903 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77063 USA
Phone: (832) 335-7386
Email: clintn1972@gmail.com
Hours: Mon to Fri: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sat: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Do you believe that repairing a windshield is a good choice? Please share your thoughts with us. Comment below or Start/Join a discussion in the Houston Rideshare Forum