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Ford On Target example carries warnings for auto body, glass shops on windshields

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Announcements | Education | Repair Operations | Technology
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A deadline on urethane, curing considerations and some windshields’ one-time-use status are among the significant warnings and instructions repairers might face on a Ford vehicle, based on an example in the latest On Target.

The new issue of Ford’s newsletter for the collision industry contains a lengthy feature on fixed glass repair derived from the OEM repair procedures for a 2019 F-150. Ford warns that the information is “a general guideline and is not all inclusive,” directing repairers must refer to the actual OEM procedures online.

Still, the document should help educate estimators, body technicians, and glass repairers about what repair operations are likely and the timing of glass work within a vehicle repair plan.

For example, once you cut the urethane to remove the existing glass, the clock starts ticking, according to Ford.

New or re-used fixed glass must be installed within two hours of cutting the urethane adhesive,” the OEM wrote (emphasis Ford’s.) “Cut or scraped urethane becomes oxidized and inactive beyond two hours, reducing the effectiveness of the repair bond.

“If the fixed glass, such as the windshield, is not seated properly, and the substrate is not prepared correctly, the glass could pop right out during a subsequent collision event, seriously jeopardizing the overall structural integrity and safety of the vehicle,” Ford senior damageability engineer Gerry Bonanni said, according to the newsletter.

So getting glass installation correct — or ensuring your subcontractor glass shop didn’t botch the job — is something to take extremely seriously.

Collision Hub CEO Kristen Felder and VECO Collision Experts CEO Mark Olson in 2017 suggested an incorrect glass installation could have been cited to win the $31.5 million case against John Eagle Collision. (Later settled for an undisclosed amount.)

Olson said that he spoke with plaintiff’s attorney Todd Tracy about the glass being a factor, and Tracy told him they had noticed it as well, but didn’t have to bring it up because they already had a case in the roof repair outside of OEM procedures.

Here’s some other warnings Ford particularly emphasized to whet your appetite for the On Target and the true OEM repair procedures online. If you’re not already reading the OEM repair procedures, at least one of these might be an “I didn’t know what I didn’t know” wake up call to start. (Minor formatting edits.)

One-time use glass and camera brackets

NOTE: If either of the following conditions exist, the fixed glass must be discarded, and new fixed glass is required when:

“• The fixed glass is the windshield glass and is equipped with a camera bracket.

“• The fixed glass is equipped with adhesive moldings.”

On top of this, “If the windshield glass being replaced is equipped with a camera bracket, it must have locating pins and spacers to ensure correct alignment. Do not use a replacement windshield glass without locating pins and spacers.”

Pinch welds are structural, can’t have corrosion

WARNING: Repair any corrosion found on the pinch weld. The pinch weld is a structural component of the vehicle. Corrosion left unrepaired may reduce the structural integrity of the vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious injury to vehicle occupants.”

Proper curing

The vehicle door windows must be left open during the adhesive curing time, to prevent the air pressure of closing doors from compromising the urethane adhesive bond.”

Do not drive the vehicle until the urethane adhesive seal has cured. Follow the urethane adhesive manufacturer’s curing directions. Inadequate or incorrect curing of the urethane adhesive seal will adversely affect glass retention. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious injury to vehicle occupants.

Learn more in the full On Target article here.

More information:

“FORD DETAILS THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER FIXED GLASS REPAIRS”

Ford On Target, June 2019

Ford On Target 2019 Volume 2

Ford official OEM repair procedures website

Featured image: The windshield of a 2019 Ford F-150 Limited is shown. (Provided by Ford)

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