My rear glass in my truck was all pitted and stained from welding spatter until recently. I was going to Carlisle to enter in the show so I had a new back window put in before I left. I called a week before hand but the earliest time they could come out was the day before I left. They told me it would take about an hour and would be drivable an hour after that… so ok I had them come out to change it. I informed them on the phone numberous times that the bed of the truck was inaccessable. When the first lady asked me what I meant I told her to just imagine there is a solid tonneau cover on that does not come off. I also informed her that space in the cab was tight even though it is an extended cab. She acknowledged it and said it’s fine and it should not hinder the technician.
So jump ahead to the day they stop by to install it. The guy seems new and was really reluctant to do it in the first place. He was making excuses that it might rain (it was beautiful out) and that he needed to do it in a garage. OK - I drive it across the street to my sister’s house where there is a full garage to work in. He starts doing his thing while myself and my friend Mike hang around and BS with him. It was about 30 minutes into it and he was making absolutely no progress getting the old window out. Not being one to just sit around being useless I began to help him. My friend Mike and I ended up taking the window out about 60% of the way ourselves using only his little plastic wedge things. He was inside with a power tool that the blade kept coming loose and wasn’t making much progress. So while he is inside with the power tool we get the window 95% out. On the final little bit I was using a razor knife and as the final cut was made, I slipped and put a scratch in the paint. No biggy, my own mistake. So he continues to prep the new window and clean off the old glue - the whole time asking over and over whether I am going to say that he did the scratch. I assured him I wouldn’t because it was my own fault. He also mentioned a few times that he was specifically NOT allowed to have anyone help, but he was very thankful that we helped him anyways. Even with our help it took almost 3 hours. The window fit like a glove on a dry test fit, but once the glue was applied and fitted back on, the driver’s side had a pretty signifigant gap. Pretty close to being able to fit a pen in it at the biggest section. He tried filling the gap with glue and pushing it down but that didn’t do anything but squeeze out excess glue and make a mess. He knew it looked terrible and recommended that I call the shop to have it changed again at a more convienent time. He made it a point to say that he was sorry for the gap and that it WOULD be fixed. He even said as the glue dries, it may shrink a little but I had a feeling that was an excuse to get out of there sooner. Also, I didn’t notice until later the next day - but there was TONS of glue on the inside of the window that oozed out as he added more glue to the gap. It was hideous and terribly obvious.
So I called them back the following Monday and they sent another guy out a few days later to take a look at it. I was at work and the truck was at home during this time but my Dad was there for the paperwork and what not. He cleaned up the glue and said that the gap was not big enough for him to do any warrenty work and left it as it was without telling me. He simply told my Dad that “it was all fixed” and my Dad left it at that. So I called back and asked what the deal was and for a better explanation than “it was fixed” and the lady told me she would have to ask the technician directly. She said the technician would call me back in 15 minutes to speak to me directly. 2 hours goes by and i finally get a phone call from him. He said he was sorry that he didn’t change the window and that he “thought about it” and he would come back again to change it since he realized it wasn’t just a run of the mill truck and that I take great pride in it. So it was Thursday by this point and he told me he would be back Monday at 8am to change it… but WAIT! They don’t have the totally clear glass like I wanted and they would have to install a grey tinted glass instead. I told them fine, even though I wanted clear - I could live with a slight tint.
So Monday rolls around… the guy is a no-show. I called at noon on my lunch break and they told me there was nothing scheduled for me! So I gave the lady on the phone the quick version and she re-scheduled me for yesterday.
So yesterday, the guy gets to my house right as I am heading back to work from my lunch break. I BS with him for a few minutes and he is really impressed with my truck and the work I’ve done, yadda yadda yadda. He agrees that the gap is too much for a brand new window and tells me “its because it’s aftermarket, they never fit the curve right”. So I tell him that’s BS because I helped the first guy install the damned thing and it fit great on the dry test fit. So as I’m leaving I tell him I hope removing the seats helps him out (I took the seats out to make it easier for him to access the inside of the window) and he laughs and says “hell ya it will. Thanks”. And I head off to work.
BUT WHEN I GOT BACK!!.. The damn window still has gaps… and now it’s on both sides! Granted, the gaps are much less in depth, but it’s EVERYWHERE now. Practically 1 continuous gap. I’m thinking he may not have taken the old glue out, but that’s just a hunch. Upon further inspection I realize there is not just 1 scratch on the back now… but 2!! So I look more… and I find a big ass chip of paint missing too! So by this point I am fired up. I knew there office was closed by then so I called them today to point this out. They said they will forward my complaint to the Loss Department and someone will contact me within 48 business hours. I am just so frustrated dealing with this. If I had known how easy it is to change glass I would of done it myself. Hell, I practically did do it myself the first time! So now I am waiting to hear back from their Loss Department. I can only imagine what excuses they are concocting right now.
I guess I am using this thread to vent and ask for advice and tips. How should I go about getting it fixed? Being that its relatively new paint I think the whole cab should be re-done, but even I think that seems a bit unfair for a scratch and a chip. But he did damage it. I plan on getting some estimates this weekend. I’ll have a few shops write one up to fix it and one to re-spray the whole cab. I’m waiting to see what the glass company has to say too. I imagine they’ll want to see it. What would you do and what would you expect done to rememdy this?
And now for the pics:
Terrible pic - but was s’posed to show the gap along the top.
The scratch the installer did. (not showing up too well in the pic)
Current glue excess from inside the cab.
Right side gap with a penny. Again, the penny can disappear if I push it in further.
Another angle of the right side.
Also, I didn’t upload the pic, but he left my interior DIRTY! There is grease and glue smudges on my rear trim panel. This thing was detailed to hell and back just a week ago for the truck show. It was pristine.
Thanks for reading.
He said safelite is known for this type of work.
