I did something ignorant tonight. Before taking the time to watch more than 1 youtube video, I tried to remove my mirror by inserting an allen key into the base and pulling upward but after 15 minutes of failed attempts, I got stupid. I tried to pull the mirror ball joint out of it's socket by twisting it in circular motions while pulling toward me. The whole mirror decided to come off instead while taking some glass shards with it and leaving a pride-injuring spider in the center of my windshield. Can this be prevented from becoming worse over time from vibration and how would you go about fixing this?


Spider in windshield




Mirror with glass shards still stuck on base

 

It looks like you are in the market for a replacement windshield...

 

Oh god I hope not. Surely that can be patched? It's less than 2 square inches.

 

You've successfully made yourself a junk windshield. Gotta replace it.

 

Not much of a chance I'm afraid, as far as I know the glass shops can only seal up very small chips (think a pencil eraser head size, not a postage stamp or larger).
I say this because in the past 6 months I've had my windshield replaced twice and all after many, many repairs and it's now in need of another replacement (damn highways during winter)...

Cheers D

 

My glass repair guy won't attempt anything bigger than a quarter in diameter, and even then it's unlikely to be a permanent fix. You actually have missing glass, so you're in for a new windshield. I need to replace mine again because of rock chips, but it is a year old, so I can't complain.

 

You got a new windshield in your NEAR future. Good job

 

What's average price for a new windshield?

 

Last time I needed one I paid $220 installed. Likely cheaper if you're in a little larger city. I don't think the glass itself is much over $100.

 

Yeah you'll be replacing that. The price depends on your area I would think. Most accurate way would be to call around and get some estimates.

 

I've tried the kits you can get and they suck. My 98 needs a windshield, 100 for the glass and 125 to install. Looks like you were due for one anyways from all the specs in the pic. You will be happy with a nice clear view in the end.

 

The "glass" in the windshield is sand whiched between tow very thick pieces of plastic film. Repairing is when the glass itself is cracked and they inject a liquid plastic into the cracks and the filler is held in place by the plastic film.


If you yanked pieces of glass off, that windshield is toast, but good news! You're going to win the arm wrestling contest at the next county fair.

 

I'm pretty sure you saw in whatever video that the mirror slides onto the metal button that is in turn glued onto the windshield. Im not sure what you were trying to accomplish by breaking the mirror arm. If it wouldn't easily slide off the button, the catch/ screw was not fully released. The "good" news is that when the installer replaces the winshield he/she will glue on a new button for you.

 

I thought yhe buttons came on the glass from the glass manufacturer.

 

You are correct, they do