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Australian windscreen replacement

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australia
14K views 23 replies 10 participants last post by  BobT 
#1 ·
After 15000k without even a stone strike this trip, today coming east from Camooweal, got a decent sized rock into the top left hand corner.
Parked in Mt Isa, went to lunch, and came back to a 300mm crack heading down into the centre of the screen. I already have a large star repair in the screen from our last western Qld trip so its a new screen coming up.

Our insurance will cover a genuine screen.

I did read a while ago that some of the screen replacements experienced phantom wipes and headlight dipping issues.

What are the present experiences with windscreen replacement, and should i go to the trouble of getting a genuine one?

Thanks
John
 
#2 ·
I would only choose OEM as the sensors and cameras should function better with the Mopar screen.
I had the phantom wipes for a couple of days, but it went away.
 
#7 ·
On Tuesday the windscreen was replaced with a Mopar screen. (for info - priced at $2200!!!).
Yep - every time the engine is started there is a one wipe phantom sweep.

installers say they had done about 6 WK2's before and never had an issue - this was also the first genuine screen they had fitted, and apart from the Mopar logo they couldn't tell the difference. I watched the installation and from my perspective they were very careful, and I thought they did a great job, until the engine start…...

By chance the vehicle was at the dealer for 70K service yesterday - so asked them to look at it. No codes were stored and of course they had never seen the problem either - it seems there is no calibration or program they can run to diagnose or stop the single wipe.
Next week they will take the vehicle and pull the rain sensor out and replace to see if that fixes the problem.

Watch this space.
John
 
#8 ·
Well, because I hate things like this i couldn't leave it alone….
Tried water spray on the windscreen - auto function worked fine. Did this 10 times or so.
Still phantom wipe on start.
Wife takes the Jeep shopping. Started and stopped it heaps of times - still one wiping each start.
Comes home - reports that as she was almost home the wipers started themselves (bright blue Gold Coast day) - wiped like crazy for 30 seconds - then stopped themselves.

Started the Jeep - no phantom wipe.
Done it 20 times - still no phantom wipe.

All fixed.

What?????
John
 
#9 ·
Well, because I hate things like this i couldn't leave it alone….
Tried water spray on the windscreen - auto function worked fine. Did this 10 times or so.
Still phantom wipe on start.
Wife takes the Jeep shopping. Started and stopped it heaps of times - still one wiping each start.
Comes home - reports that as she was almost home the wipers started themselves (bright blue Gold Coast day) - wiped like crazy for 30 seconds - then stopped themselves.

Started the Jeep - no phantom wipe.
Done it 20 times - still no phantom wipe.

All fixed.


What?????
John

Maybe a learning cycle? HAL - "I don't think you should do that Dave!?" :thumbsup:
 
#12 ·
Clay bar the windscreen and then apply a glass sealant.
 
#13 ·
A windscreen is a windscreen. Unless there's a physical imperfection in the direct line of fire interfering with the rain sensor, any reputable windscreen will do the job.

Personally, I wouldn't put Rainex in the area of the sensor, because the sensor depends on the presence of water droplets to work. Rainex will prevent that, possibly impeding the auto function from working.

(I'm an ex-autoglass specialist.)
 
#15 ·
For me, that is a bonus. I have auto turned on, but I actually hate having wipers come on too frequently, so using a glass sealant does a doubly good job, first it clears the water off quickly, and secondly it reduces the amount of wiper action. WIN WIN.
 
#16 · (Edited)
I can post an update on our experiences with the new windscreen - and as you already know it was genuine Mopar from the dealer.
We had the phantom wipe issue for several days - dealer couldn't find any problems and there is no program to calibrate the auto function.
So - the car fixed itself and the auto function has worked fine ever since. The wipers start about exactly when I would have reached for the switch. Definitely no argument with how the auto operation works.
BUT
There is a difference in the auto headlights now - they come on earlier in dim light and take longer to go off.
The auto high beam also is less sensitive and will switch to high more readily. Dips fine against oncoming traffic or other ambient light.
Quite noticeable against how it operated with the previous windscreen.

There is no difference in the appearance of the new glass, but there must be a fraction of difference in how the light comes through the glass to the sensors. Certainly it can be noticed in the way the system works.

The way the system behaved before was great and now is still great. Without a comparison any owner would not notice.

If your insurance is going to cover a screen, I would still recommend a Mopar screen - given what I now know.
John
 
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#17 ·
I know I'm digging up an old thread, but I can add to this.
I had my windscreen replaced last Saturday by RACV Autoglass under insurance but unfortunately it's not a genuine Mopar one.
My wipers did the single wipe trick upon startup for a couple of days and then on the way home from work yesterday in bright daylight they did maybe 3 or 4 fast sweeps across the screen and now the wipers are working without the single sweep on startup (which is good to see). I haven't tested them out with water on the screen yet though......fingers crossed.
However, my auto lights now appear to stay on constantly, even in bright daylight. I park in an undercover carpark so when I leave work they automatically come on when I start but fail to turn off once out in the daylight. I've tried cycling the switch through on/off/auto without success.
Cleaned the lens in the back of the mirror housing as well.
Reading the manual (strange, I know...hehe) mentions that if you have the screen replaced then it must go back to a dealer to have the SmartBeam sensor re-aligned. Is this the case? Has anyone had to do this after a screen replacement?

Cheers,
Matt.
 
#19 ·
I knew that it was the ambient light sensor on the dash, but I thought the auto lights feature may also be tied in with the SmartBeam sensor on the mirror housing. I thought I had solved the problem today. Before leaving work I removed the small mount on the windscreen, just below the rearview mirror, that my old dashcam mounted to (Itronics ITB70) that died just before the screen got replaced. the fitter stuck it back on, so I removed it and driving out into the daylight saw the lights go off, so I thought that it may have been partially blocking the sensor. All good.
Not 10 minutes later the headlights switch on again in broad daylight and now won't switch off again in Auto mode...........frustrating.

I'm reluctant to take it to a dealer at this stage, as I'm sure I'll be stung, plus finding time is hard ATM.
 
#20 · (Edited)
That's disappointing. No I certainly wouldn't go to the dealer. I'd be surprised if RACV wouldn't come to the party if you hammered them enough with politely worded letters. I also got an after market window and was expecting the worse but the fitter knew exactly what he was doing and it worked like a dream. Maybe I was just lucky to get a good fitter. I got it through O'Brian Glass. I asked for a non-insurance price and it proved to be considerably cheaper all round than the insurance price.
 
#22 ·
Just another question. There are 2 "cameras" within the rear view mirror housing, one on the back of the mirror itself and one down on the housing. I know one controls the Smartbeam system but what is the other one for?
I've got RACV onto it and would like to know what they're for when they ask.
Cheers.
 
#23 ·
It appears that the sensitivity of the sensor has been affected by the new screen, maybe.
On a really bright day, like today, they work, but anything slightly overcast and they're back on straight away. It's been that way here for a couple of weeks now, so haven't had a good day to test.
It is more sensitive though.
 
#24 ·
On the rear view mirror base, the forward facing sensor is surely the auto headlight dimer. The one flat to the glass is the rain sensor. It must be perfectly sealed to the glass. Any bubbles will be sensed as rain. Check to ensure that the ambient light sensor on the dash is clean. The windscreen installer may have gotten some gunk on it. Good luck!
 
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