Regardless of its' location, if the chip is a lot bigger than 3 inches than most glass company firms will tell you that you need to replace it. If the chip is smaller than that, it can usually be fixed. The important thing is that you do not get talked into replacing your windshield when it is not necessary. If you suspect that a simple front window repair job would suffice, get at least 3-5 opinions before making the final call.
Once the door panel is removed, the problem may be quite obvious, as it was in my case. Your door may have a vapor barrier or plastic sheet that is glued to the door. Carefully remove this. In most cases, you can reuse the adhesive for the barrier during re-assembly. Make sure the motor is connected. Look for burned wires or obvious damage. If everything is intact, you need to test the motor. The best way to do this is to run a jumper wire from the positive terminal of your battery to the positive side of the motor to see if it jumps to life. If not, the motor needs to be replaced.
Check for irregularities. If you're at the windshield replacement near me or rear of the car, look along the car to see if there are small dents. These can be seen as distortions in the reflection. If the paint is not smooth in one place, then this could be a place where there has been some damage. Dents as large as a coin can be restored by a panel beater. Dents that are not thoroughly repaired are often filled with polyester resin or fibreglass paste. Tap the surface, or go along it with a magnet. Know whether the panel is made of steel, not plastic, fibreglass or aluminum. If there are places where the magnet will not adhere, then in all likelihood, the panel has been repaired. Ask the owner why the part has been repainted?
It sounds like a hassle, like something that will keep you from your baby for weeks on end, but actually it's fairly simple. Remove the old windshield chip repair, install a new one, and seal it up. Walla, auto glass replacement is done. That might be over simplifying the procedure but that really is all there is to it. What most people are afraid of isn't having a new windshield it's the looming question of will the new windshield leak in the rain, car wash, or snow.
You have to check the extent of damage on your windshield before doing anything. You can either bring your car to a professional or do the inspection yourself. If there are minor cracks or chips, the damage can still be repaired. Small cracks that look like cobwebs are repairable as well. However, there are kinds of cracks that are beyond repair. Seek a professional's opinion as to whether the damage on your windshield can still be fixed or not.
After removing the film, use a hard object that won't scratch the glass to remove excess resin. Something like a plastic scraper or piece of wood, such as a popsicle stick should do the trick.