Noticed a crack creeping up the windscreen this morning. Strangely is appears to emanate from under the plastic scuttle tray. Either that or it started further up and headed towards the scuttle tray. I've run my finger along it and there is a small chip further up, although strangely its tiny and below the line of the bonnet.

 

Checked my policy documents, £75 excess.

 

I used Admirals recommended windscreen replacement company, Autoglass. Used their online form, all booked in at the wife's place of work on the 9th April (earliest slot 2 weeks away!), but it was really straightforward, they take care of all the paperwork, contact Admiral etc.

 

Or so I thought. Just had a phone call from Autoglass asking if the car has a windscreen mounted camera. Unfortunately it does for the lane assist (a feature we don't use).

 

As a result this camera needs re-calibrating after the new windscreen is fitted. Low and behold this can't be done by the mobile fitter so the car has to go to one of Autoglass's depots with the right equipment, the nearest of which is in Leeds, 40+ miles away!

 

After kicking up a bit of a fuss, it was me that asked if a Skoda dealer could do it instead, there is one just round the corner. After speaking to his manager they said yes, but that I'd have to contact Admiral and the Skoda dealer and pretty much arrange it all myself. So much for the days where windscreen replacement was relatively simple.

 

 

Edited 25 March, 20188 yr by silver1011

I'd be very surprised if the local Skoda dealer actually had the calibration equipment though as I seem to recall some threads where using a VW dealer was the only option.

Just been through the same. Luckily the nearest calibration place was nearby.  Luckily, you will get a genuine Skoda screen. I had to fight for it as vrs was just over 3 years old (Admiral only fit genuine OEM up to under 3 years old). I've seen some shocking aftermarket ones fitted by some of the bigger companies - the main issue being the heated elements. They can be thicker and reflective even crossing over on one on my mates.

12 minutes ago, john999boy said:

I'd be very surprised if the local Skoda dealer actually had the calibration equipment though as I seem to recall some threads where using a VW dealer was the only option.

 

Hortons have the kit....unkess they took it to the local VW dealer. I was charged £125 by them to recalibrate after my first windscreen replacement, as I asked to have the screen replaced in my work's car park.  About 12 months later another small stone, another windscreen. I had to take it to an Autoglass centre, which had the calibration kit.  They do seem thinner, weaker than my MKII, which took several small chips without cracking. Although this one is heated with filaments. 

Yep, mine became cracked from stone impact too and I had to go through the same process. Mine is also heated - not sure if this makes a difference and if it makes them a bit weaker.

You will buy these fancy cars with gadgets in 

Mine needs a screen ideally, it has a big chip which started to crack in hairlines around it and there are some really big scratches right in the drivers eyeline. How much faff is it to get another screen through insurance these days? Never done it myself.

Oh great, so after all that my local dealer might not be able to re-calibrate it? I'll have to ring them in the morning, what a pain in the a***e!

 

We do have a VW dealer nearby, so that could be plan B.

 

It's actually a lease car and goes back in a couple of months. If the camera isn't calibrated do you get a warning on the dash? Might just leave it.

 

By the way, my screen isn't heated. My other car is a 2011 Superb on 140,000 miles, still on the original screen.

 

Looking at my original picture above, the screen is starting to go milky along the edge, is this a sign of delamination? Blimey, my 2008 Octavia suffered this!

54 minutes ago, SashaGrace said:

Mine needs a screen ideally, it has a big chip which started to crack in hairlines around it and there are some really big scratches right in the drivers eyeline. How much faff is it to get another screen through insurance these days? Never done it myself.

 

It's actually relatively straightforward. Phone up the dedicated glass claims line, hand over your glass excess (usually about £75) and book it in at an Autoglass Centre (or your insurer's preferred glass replacement company).

 

Just be aware, it is something you have to declare on future renewals even if it doesn't affect NCB. Got my renewal this week and it went up by about £60 from last year, with no other changes to policy. Not sure how much of that is directly due to the glass claim, but it's still cheaper than any new quote elsewhere :(

That’s my worry, still cheaper than what it would be from my pocket though. It’s annoying as it’s really obvious from the drivers seat. Happened within days of collecting the car, had it repaired but it’s still visible. It’s the scratches in the drivers eyeline that are most annoying however.

 

Thanks for the info

OP you got it lucky, my replacement windscreen was done in Sept 17 & the camera couldn't be recalibrate until late Nov 17 when Skoda released the 3rd party software license agreement. 

 

I had to shame Skoda on social media to get this to happen, I had no error messages whilst awaiting the recalibration but, I didn't try using the Lane Assist

Some insurance companies apparently will pay for the windscreen but not the calibration ( Admiral will pay).

 

The fitter also told me a few stories about not having calibration certificates which can void insurance claims.....even if you have the lane assist turned off!

 

Good point about declaring as a claim, most people forget this. 

So am I correct in thinking that if you have a camera, completely pointless using a mobile fitter as they cannot do the whole job, and it has to be taken to a centre with calibration equipment afterwards, which rather negates the convenience of coming to you.

Or does the Autoglass fitter bring a car trailer with him, to take it for you.

 

Yep, had to go to the local kwik-fit where Autoglass rent a bay with all the kit.

Well, what an absolute nightmare this has turned out to be.

 

Autoglass told me that they could replace the windscreen at my place of work, but that the camera would need recalibrating. This could be done in one of two ways...

 

1) Take it to an Autoglass depot equipped with the calibration equipment.

2) Take it to a Skoda dealer with the calibration equipment.

 

All would be covered by my insurance (minus the £75 windscreen excess).

 

Now the problems start.

 

- My local Autoglass depot doesn't have the calibration equipment.

- My local Skoda dealer doesn't have it either (how on earth are Skoda UK allowing their dealer network to not purchase all the equipment required to properly perform their role of approved Skoda service and repair agents is beyond me). DM Keith in York said they couldn't afford it. Hmm, they managed to afford a brand new showroom a year or so ago.

 

The nearest Autoglass depot with the equipment is 35 miles away in Leeds, the nearest dealer, the same, in Wakefield so approx 35 miles away. Basically a 70 mile round trip and a half day off work.

 

Skoda charge £349 for a calibration, Autoglass charge £249.

 

To be fair to Admiral, they said they'd pay to transport the car to the nearest location and hire me a car.

 

But the common sense in me, and the desire to keep the cost of a replacement screen sensible (in all of our interests) I made some of my own arrangements. I live in York but commute daily to Durham for work. There is an Autoglass depot in Darlington so I took the car up to work on Thursday (its my wife's so left her my car to use), left early and diverted through Darlington on my way home for a 1pm appointment.

 

The job was quoted as 90 mins, 60 mins to replace the screen and recalibrate the camera, and 30 mins to wait for the glue to cure.

 

Got there at bang-on for 1pm, the guy was waiting for me. Seems the unit on the trading estate is simply a warehouse holding loads of screens, and the calibration equipment. The guy was still working out of his van.

 

 

The replacement of the screen was quick and painless, no waiting room so I hung around and chatted to him as he worked. Once the screen was in the calibration began. Unfortunately for whatever reason it wouldn't calibrate. The guy said the screen was likely faulty (there are lots of electrical components and wires attached to the screen itself)...

 

 

He said I would have to have another screen fitted at a later date. Great.

 

After 3 hours, freezing cold and ready to get home I agreed and left. Strangely the Lane Assist feature worked just fine, no faults or error messages, making me question if it even needed recalibrating.

 

A few miles down the road I noticed the rear view mirror was vibrating so much I couldn't use it, holding onto it the thing was very loose. It is clearly in the 'socket' but the socket on the screen can't be tight enough to properly hold the 'ball' of the mirror.

 

I then noticed that the ticket holder (a nice little feature I use quite often) was miles off touching the screen, so now totally useless.

 

At home the faults meant I took a closer look from outside the car. The visible VIN in the bottom corner of the windscreen is no longer visible. Either the window is in the wrong place of the screen isn't fitted properly.

 

I can fit my little finger in the gap between the glass and the A-pillar on the drivers side, but can barely get my finger nail in the gap on the other side!

 

I can see where the glue has squeezed out from behind the glass in places making it look really unsightly. Splodges of glue on the roof and in places on the A-pillar.

 

So all-in-all pretty annoyed, especially given I'm going to have to go through it all again.

 

The screen is made by Pilkington. I've already lodged a complaint with Autoglass and asked for the replacement screen to be a genuine screen from Skoda.

 

What a farce.

 

Edited 31 March, 20188 yr by silver1011

To top it off the guy said it was highly likely the damage was a genuine warranty claim as there was no evidence of an external force (chip etc.) causing the crack and that it originated from below the scuttle tray, so likely a stress crack.

 

 

 

 

 

The guy thought that the DRL's were interfering with the lasers and used a special cover to hide the lights (the ignition / engine needed to be on for the calibration)...

 

 

What a ball ache! I'm not sure if it will make you feel better but every time I use Autoglass they break something or mess something up so your not on your own.

 

Did you not try the dealer for a warranty claim?

Edited 31 March, 20188 yr by SuperbTWM

Wow, sounds like an absolute pain! My local Auto glass depot had the equipment so I guess I was lucky.

 

On the issue with the DRL, could they not have just turned them off in the infotainment light settings menu? I have an option in there to turn them off.

Yeah, I guess its easier for them to 'bonnet bra' the car up rather than figure their way through various infotainment systems.

 

It would have probably taken me 10 minutes to find it 

47 minutes ago, SuperbTWM said:

Did you not try the dealer for a warranty claim?

 

I almost did, but I was sure I saw / felt a small chip along the crack so figured I'd have no chance with Skoda.

 

I didn't mention it to the Autoglass guy, it was him that said that it wasn't the result of a chip.

 

Nevermind.

Not sure if this works or whether it's an urban myth but apparently using nail varnish on a chip/small crack will stop it getting worse. Like I say, could be a load of *******s but worth a try?

On 25/03/2018 at 18:04, MeteorOcty said:

 . .  . . . . . Luckily, you will get a genuine Skoda screen. I had to fight for it as vrs was just over 3 years old (Admiral only fit genuine OEM up to under 3 years old). . . . . 

 

Unfortunately not true.  The screen on my then 16 month old vRS was badly chipped by a stone thrown up last December, which was too big to fill.  Having checked my insurance docs (the car is insured through Admiral) I made an appointment for a new screen to be fitted and duly took the car to the Autoglass fitting centre in Northampton, which turned out to be a man in a van working out of a bay in Kwik-Fit and went for a wander and to do some Christmas shopping.  When I returned,  the fitter was still trying to calibrate the camera and about an hour later, gave up saying 'see how it goes.'

 

As you can imagine, I wasn't impressed and my attitude didn't improve when I noticed that the screen was a Pilkington item which had been badly scratched under the camera housing.  I called Autoglass, who were actually very helpful and arranged for another screen to be fitted at their centre in Bedford.  Admittedly, it was a bit of a pain having to go there, but they'd arranged for a genuine Skoda screen to be fitted and the experience was a whole lot more professional than that which I had been subjected to previously.

 

I am aware that Progress Skoda in Northamton do not have the calibration equipment there, but use Tyres Northampton to undertake calibration work on their behalf should they need to use it.

 

 

Edited 1 April, 20188 yr by Mouldy