Panoramic Roof Glass Damage Inspection Procedure
- Photographic evidence of the origin of the glass damage concern must be retained (and available on request) to support both customer conversations and Warranty claims. For further guidance, refer to the Global Warranty information in relation to Glass.
- Damage from an external influence must not be claimed under Warranty. All Warranty claims are subject to audit.
Where customers present vehicles with damage/cracks in the panoramic roof glass, the following guidance is designed to help retailers/authorized repairers determine if cracks in the panoramic roof glass are the result of a manufacturing defect in the glass substrate or, as is more likely, as a result of impact damage, such as a stone chip. The procedures outlined below should always be completed whenever a vehicle is presented with reports of damage/cracks in the panoramic roof glass. Regardless of if the repair is to be claimed under Warranty or not, the procedures for gathering and recording evidence of the nature of the cause of the damage should be followed.
Preparation
Use a suitable glass cleaner to thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the glass panel. Be careful not to apply excess pressure to the glass panel as this may result in further damage.
Equipment Required
- Paint Marker or China Graph pencil
- Pencil with a sharp point
- Magnifying glass or equivalent
Optimal Viewing Conditions
The inspection should ideally be completed in a well-lit workshop, with the vehicle placed so as to minimize any reflections on the roof glass. To confirm the precise location and root cause of the concern, it may be necessary to survey BOTH the interior and exterior surfaces of the panoramic roof glass panel for signs of cracks/damage.
Damage Inspection Procedure
- As shown below, use the point of a sharpened pencil to feel for the profile of the crack/breach in the glass (as indicated by a step or rough area on the otherwise smooth surface of the glass).NOTE: This should be done on both the interior and exterior surfaces of the roof glass.
- Feeling for any step or rough area on the glass, follow the path of the crack with the tip of a sharp pencil. Using a magnifying glass, follow the path of the crack and identify any visual signs of impact damage on the glass surface. If a breach in the glass surface is evident, then the damage to the glass will NOT be covered by the vehicle warranty and the cost of repairs will need to be covered by the customer (or the customer's insurance policy). NOTE: not all cracks will necessarily run through the centre of the discernible impact point. See examples of impact points/impact damage shown in the article below.
- Using a paint marker or chinagraph pencil, circle the origin of the crack/damage identified during the inspection of the glass panel (as shown below). Care should be taken to avoid any further damage when marking-up the glass.
- Capture the following set of images (see examples below) as supporting evidence that the faulty glass is still installed on the vehicle. Make sure the images are unobstructed, in focus and plainly show the damage to the glass. If necessary. carefully remove any obstructing trims to gain clear access to the damaged portions of the roof glass before capturing the following images:
- An image showing an overview of the entire glass panel
- A close-up image of the root cause (impact point) of the crack/damage
- A close-up image of the glass ID mark/trademark logo
These images should be retained in case they are requested for Warranty audit purposes or to facilitate discussions with the customer regarding retail or insurance repairs.
Example Of Damage To Roof Glass
Shown below are examples of cracked/damage roof glass. The top row photos show the original impact points that caused the cracks and other damage to the roof glass. NOTE: not all cracks will necessarily run through the centre of the discernible impact point. The bottom row shows the magnified images of the impact points.