The windshield is one of the details that may have been replaced on many old cars. However, not every windshield replacement is synonymous with a car that has had an accident. According to Mr. Dang Khac Cuong - owner of Viet Bac Car brand, determining the cause of windshield replacement should be based on the overall inspection process of the body, frame and related details.
Overall assessment of vehicle body condition
The first step is to check the areas around the glass such as the hood, column A (two metal columns located on both sides of the windshield, connecting the body of the car to the roof). If these positions still retain the original paint of the manufacturer, there are no signs of denting, welding or painting, it is likely that the glass is replaced due to external impacts such as scattered stones or falling objects, instead of traffic collisions.
To determine accurately, inspection units often use specialized inspection machines (original paint meters). If the paint layer parameters are uniform and meet the standards of the original vehicle, the possibility that the area has never been painted or repaired is higher. However, it is still necessary to combine with other inspection items.
Signs that the car may have been hit
Conversely, if the hood, A-pillar, or roof of the car shows signs of a matte bait, traction, lifting, or abnormally increased paint thickness, this is a basis for suspecting that the car has ever been hit.
Depending on the location of the damage, technicians can make different judgments. For example, if the hood is repaired along with the replacement of the windshield, the possibility of the car having a direct collision will be higher. Meanwhile, if the hood is still the same but the two A-pillars and the roof have signs of repair, the cause may be a falling tree or heavy object falling from above, damaging the windshield and the roof.
However, these are only initial signs and need to be combined with many other inspection items before making a final conclusion.
Check for disassembled tracks
Another important step is to check the fixed bolts at the hood area. For manufactured vehicles, bolts are installed before painting, so the head of the bolt will have a uniform paint layer with the body.
If bolts have been removed, even if they have been repainted, the lace or edge of the bolt head often leaves traces of the dismantling and installation process. Currently, many units use endoscopic cameras or specialized magnifying glasses to observe deep inside the bolt head, detect scratches, paint peeling or deformations that are difficult for the naked eye to recognize.
When combining the results of the paint layer inspection, body and shell repair traces, and bolt condition, technicians can relatively accurately assess the cause of glass replacement as being due to scattered stones, objects falling from outside, or vehicles that have had collisions.
