Rust Can be Unsafe if it Affects Windshield Seal

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 14, 2003; Rust on your car can be more than just unsightly. If rust has formed around the perimeter of your windshield, it could affect the windshield's installation and performance, according to a leading automotive replacement glass industry expert. "The only way to correct corrosion on a vehicle is to eliminate it," says Bob Beranek, owner of Auto Glass Consultants. If there is rust in the pinchweld, the L-shaped bed where the windshield is placed, have an auto body shop repair it, Beranek advises, even if the windshield is in good condition. "If there is rust, the bond between the glass and the car metal has been compromised," Beranek says. "The only way to ensure you will achieve the proper bonding necessary to hold the windshield in place is to have the corroded metal repaired." It is important for the windshield to be installed properly, Beranek noted, because it performs important safety functions. In a collision, a windshield needs to remain in place to help keep occupants inside and prevent the roof from crushing them if the vehicle rolls over, and the airbags deploy off the windshield. Beranek advises consumers to inspect the pinchweld area of their vehicle around the windshield, and have a body shop repair it if there is rust. This is important when buying a used car, he adds, and suggests consumers ask if the windshield was ever replaced. "If a car owner has to have a windshield replaced, a professional installer will be able to remove it and replace it once the rust has been repaired. A professional auto glass installer will know what to look for and how to correct it, Beranek says. He recommends selecting an installer certified by a leading industry organization. For more information on auto glass, visit http://www.ppgprostars.com. Or call 1-866-2-THEPROS to locate a quality auto glass shop near you.