When you are in need of new glass for your automobile, you will be presented with a myriad of options. OEM and OEE are two acronyms you can almost plan on hearing throughout the process. They describe to different types of auto glass. To make an informed decision that will assure safety and durability, you will have to ask yourself: What is the difference between OEM and OEE glass?

What Is OEM Glass?

This stands for Original Equipment Manufactured. When you are in need of glass for you vehicle, you often bring it in to the dealership. A dealership is authorized by the manufacturer and can provide glass made especially for it. This can be expensive.

OEM glass is essentially identical to the glass you would receive at the dealership, only, it might not be from the same distributor. Still, you will likely not even be able to tell the difference. OEM glass provides the same:

– Thickness

– Color

– Shape

– Size

– Durability

You will have to locate a repair center that offers OEM glass from a reputable distributor. Generally, OEM glass is more reliable, but also more expensive. It comes with similar guarantees to glass produced by the manufacturer.

What Is OEE Glass?

In the auto glass world, OEE glass is the equivalent to an off brand. OEE glass — an acronym that stands for Original Equipment Equivalent — is after market glass. The companies that produce it do not contract with the manufacturers. They are also not legally allowed to create glass of identical thickness, color, shape, and so forth.

Price is a major draw for OEE glass; it is significantly cheaper than OEM glass. However, you get what you pay for. OEE glass does not come with many guarantees and the glass will be noticeably different from manufacturer or OEM glass. But, if you simply want to replace a broken windshield or window at a decent price, OEE glass does the job.

Locate Auto Glass Repair Pros

Still wondering: What is the difference between OEM and OEE glass? It’s easy to find out what local auto glass repair shops can offer you. Simply sign on to TalkLocal and put out a call for help. You can even specify if you are in the market for OEM or OEE glass. Only relevant professionals will contact you to help you out.

Learning how to remove car window tint film is not as daunting as you might think. Sure, car window tint film certainly looks like it’s not going to go anywhere without a fight, but you can remove it even without using harsh chemicals. You won’t have to scratch up your windows while doing so, either.

You will need some important tools for the job, but ultimately, knowing how to remove car window tint film yourself can save you a significant amount of money in the long run.

How To remove Car Window Tint Film

1. Obtain a fabric steamer. If you do not already own one, they are actually pretty affordable. Fill up the fabric steamer with water and turn it on.

2. Point the steamer at a window with car window tint film on it. The steam from the steamer will melt the adhesive underneath the film.

3. Eventually, you will be able to remove the car window tint film by hand. Simply peel it away.

4. Your window might be left with residue from the melted adhesive. Use a general adhesive remover to wipe away the remaining adhesive.

Tip: It might help to avoid steaming the entire window all at once. You can begin at one corner of the window until you are able to peel it back. Continue steaming small sections of the window as you peel the tint away. This cuts down on the risk that small sections of film will stay stuck on, which would prolong the process.

Locate A Professional In Your Area

If you are in the market for a professional tint job, or simply can’t handle the task on your own, use TalkLocal for your search. With our service, you won’t have to wade through a sea of unqualified professionals that can’t handle the demands of your job. It’s fast and free.

So you’ve made the decision to tint your car’s windows. But before you go off and splurge on the darkest tints you can find, keep a few things in mind. Choosing a shade for your window tints can be confusing. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing car window tint shades.

1. Consider the cost of any window tint you look at. Higher-quality tints will obviously be more expensive, but going for the cheapest available may result in a poor quality tinting job. You don’t need to break the bank, but it’s okay to invest a little more money for a higher-quality tinting job.

2. A colored window tint — a color not on the grey scale — will fancy up your car. You can find tints to match or compliment the color of your car. So if you have a bold colored car, why not go bold with your window tints?

3. Choose mirror tints for maximum privacy. A reflective tint will prevent people from seeing inside of your car, which is one of the major benefits of window tinting. Mirror tints also reflect sunlight well, which can help keep you car nice and cool during those hot summer months.

4. Choose a tint that is legal in your city or state. Most states have restrictions on darker window tints, especially tints that look black. Having extra dark tints could make you a target for police as well, so be mindful of the regulations in your state regarding darker car window tint shades.

5. Put a band on the top of your windshield to match the tint shades on your windows. This acts as a shield and protects your eyes from the sun, and also gives the car a sporty look. Some windshields come with a tinted band anyway, but it will just make your car look sharper if the windshield band matches your window tints.

Get Those Windows Tinted!

Hopefully you now have a better idea of what to look for in your new car window tint shades. Now you need to apply the tints to your car. You can certainly do this yourself, but you can also find a professional to do it for you. TalkLocal will help you find an auto glass shop in your area who can help you at your budget. Forget the online search; we do that for you, for free!

Tinting the windows of your vehicle lends numerous benefits. Not only can tint make a car look sporty and cool, but in hot climates, it can help limit the sun that enters the vehicle, keeping you cool inside. It can also make it tough for outsiders to see in, giving you privacy and cutting down on thieves that are passing by looking for quick stuff to steal.

As any other custom feature on a vehicle, the cost of tinting car windows can vary. You could pay as little as $200 for a professional job all the way up to $500. It simply depends on your specific demands. Here are a few factors that can have an impact on the cost of tinting car windows.

Car Types

The size and shape of windows hinge upon the vehicle’s make and model. This figures into the cost of tinting car windows. If you have a smaller sedan, the price will not be too high. That price can increase as the surface area of the vehicle’s windows increase. Sport utility vehicles have a lot of window surface area, and therefore, are some of the most expensive vehicles to tint.

Additionally, some cars are harder to tint because their windows curve in a unique manner. It is important to talk to a tinting professional before the job to get an accurate quote.

Tinting Film

Window tinting is added to a vehicle with various types of tinting film. These films can contain anything from dyes to very thin pieces of metal. Some of these films are extremely cost efficient ($200-$250 per vehicle), while the most high-end films will cost you a pretty penny ($400). Selecting the right tinting film hinges on your personal needs.

Heat absorption

Tinting films that are most effective at absorbing or reflecting sunlight will be more expensive. This is worth the cost, however, because the more effective the film is, the cooler  you can keep your vehicle.

Aesthetic quality

If you are having your windows tinted purely for looks, you don’t have to select a very high-end tint. However, do not go for the real cheap films, as over time, they can start to bubble up.

Do-It-Yourself Kits

Want to drive the cost of tinting car windows all the way down to $80? You can purchase a pre-cut window tint film kit. These kits come with everything you need to tint your own windows, but you run the risk of making mistakes.

Get Professional Help

Get a hold of a local auto-tinting technician for a quote or general questions about the process. Finding a professional has never been easier than with TalkLocal. Try out our free service and be amazed at how quickly you are connected with someone who can help.

Sometimes it just gets way too hot outside and just air conditioning in the car isn’t enough. This is when tinted windows can be more than just a slick look for your car. You may be surprised to hear that tinting your car’s windows at home is fairly easy. We have some simple steps on how to tint car windows yourself.

Before you tint your windows, make sure you know the regulations about tinted windows in your state. Most states have regulations on how dark a window tint can be, and breaking these rules could result in fines or other legal trouble.

Materials Needed:

– Tint solution. You will be able to buy this at an auto parts store. Most tints are graded, which determines how dark the tint is.

– Window cleaning solution

– Sponge

– Single-edged razor blade

– Utility knife

– Squeegee

– Lint-free cloth

How to Tint Car Windows

1. Clean your windows thoroughly using the window cleaning solution and the rubber side of the squeegee. Make sure both sides of the window are clean.

2. Identify which side of the tinted film is the liner and which side is the film itself. Usually, the silk side is the liner and the sticky side is the film.

3. Carefully roll the film on the window with the liner facing outward.

4. Use the single-edged razor blade to carefully cut the extra parts of the film. Exercise extreme caution while doing this and always make sure that you cut the film at least one inch larger than the size of the car window.

5. Make sure that the bottom-most side extends to at least one fourth of an inch below the top of the inside casket.

6. Spray the outside of the film with the application solution and use the sponge to smooth the surface.

7. Use the utility knife to trim the vertical edges of the film.

8. Lower the window to about two inches and further trim the film to fit the shape of the window glass.

9. Clean the inside of the window with the application solution.

10. Put the film on the outside of the window glass.

11. Very carefully remove the liner.

12. Spray the inside of the window with the application solution, and then remove the film from the outside of the glass and place the wet part against the wet glass.

13. Use the squeegee to place the film in position.

14. Roll up the window, so the film continues to secure itself into position.

15. Push all of the water out.

16. Make sure there are no air bubbles.

17. Wipe any extra solution off.

Need Help?

If you would prefer to have a professional help you tint your windows, just use TalkLocal! We can connect you with up to three auto glass professionals in just minutes. Our service is fast, free, and easy.

We’ve previously discussed various types of auto glass fraud, but there are even more types of fraud out there than we were able to cover.   We previously noted how sometimes con-artists will approach unsuspecting people in parking lots and try to bilk them out of money by lying to them about issues with their windshield, safety laws, and insurance policies (among other things).  We also noted that body shops are often deceptive, too, and try to trick people into replacing their entire windshield when they don’t need to.  Unfortunately, that’s not where fraud at body shops ends.  Here is a list of red flags to watch out for before fixing your auto glass.

Additional Help

When it comes to auto glass fraud, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.  And if you have any questions or want to find a reputable auto glass place near you, it’s always best to use TalkLocal—the quick and easy place to find reliable business near you. We will connect you with up to three local professionals who will be available to help you when you need them.

The windshield is obviously an important aspect of a car; it protects the driver and passengers from wind and rain, as well as debris that may fly up off of the road. It also helps keep the frame in place and maintain the structural integrity of the car.  So allowing your windshield to get very dirty or damaged can be a safety hazard.  In some states it’s even against the law to drive with a windshield that’s in a bad condition, so maintaining the windshield is an important step in maintaining your car.

Maintaining the Windshield: When it comes to cleaning auto glass, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

1. Try to avoid ammonia based cleaners.  They are great grease cutters, but ammonia can release toxic fumes which should not be inhaled, so it’s not a good idea to have them in the enclosed space of your car.  Also ammonia can dry out plastic, rubber, vinyl, and leather.   Further, ammonia based cleaners simply cannot be used on tinted windows.  Unfortunately, most household cleaner and auto glass cleaners alike are ammonia based.

So you should check to make sure that the glass cleaner you’re using does not contain ammonia.  One creative, cheap and effective glass cleaner—which will never contain ammonia—is actually vinegar and water.  This is a pretty old mixture, but it still works well.

2. You should also be wary of the kinds of towels that you use to wash your windshield or other auto glass.  Normal towels or paper towels will often leave your windshield streaky.  So, you might consider using newspaper instead.  This, too, is a pretty old method and it still works really well.  Some auto glass cleaners recommend it on the bottle.

Additional Help

So be sure to keep your windshield clean.  And if you have any questions about maintaining the windshield of your car, or vinegar and newspaper do not seem to be enough to fix your windshield issues, be sure to use TalkLocal. We will connect you with up to three professional auto technicians in your area who can help you when you need it.

Windshield repair scams are very common- more common than many people think.  Most people don’t know very much about the auto glass repair industry so they trust the information their given by “experts.”  While most auto glass repair shops and repairmen are very honest, there are some bad apples out there who try to take advantage of their position.  Often, these swindlers target people who don’t understand what’s going on—like the elderly, people with a limited grasp of English, and teenagers.  So it’s important to stay informed about common windshield repair scams and take steps to avoid them.

Common Windshield Repair Scams

A common scam involves a person who approaches an unsuspecting person and telling him or her that they are in grave danger because of structural damage to their windshield.  He’ll make up laws or facts about windshields, and generally do anything it takes to get people to stop. In some cases there’s nothing actually wrong with the windshield; in other cases the windshield may have some damage, but not to the extent claimed. There have even been cases where the scam artist has broken the windshield himself, just to get the opportunity to repair it!  The scammer tells you he will look at it or fix it for free, but then asks for your insurance anyway in order to file a claim to fix the windshield without telling you.

To avoid this scam it’s important to remember that someone you meet in a parking lot does not constitute a repair shop.  And if it’s free, you should not need your insurance information.

Another type of windshield repair scam takes place at body shops.  Consumers come in with a chip or small crack in their windshield and the shop will tell them they need to have their windshield replaced.  It’s important to know that most small cracks and chips can be repaired, and repaired fairly cheaply, sometimes with a kit from an auto parts store. It’s in the financial interest of the dishonest repair shop to get you to pay for a new windshield when you don’t need one.

To avoid this scam, simply put off the repair until you have had a chance to check it out on your own. Be an informed consumer.  Make sure the repair place you’re going to is legitimate and do some research about the type of damage you see before having it repaired.

Additional Help

If you want to find a legitimate and highly recommended auto glass repair place near you, or if you have any questions about auto glass repairs, just use TalkLocal. We’ll connect you with up to three local professionals you can count on to get the job done when you need it.

It’s summer. That means it’s hot.  And when it’s hot outside, it sure does makes opening that car door uncomfortable after it’s been roasting in the sun all day.

A legitimate question that you might ask yourself is: can heat crack a car window? Some rumors state that if all of your windows are closed tightly, lasting, high temperatures can raise the pressure in your car so much so that it causes cracking. Others may think that if there is already a crack in your windshield or other car window, excessive heat can cause further cracking.

It is unsure whether either of these situations is certain to occur, and what the actual required temperature would be for this to happen. But either way, it is not only a safe bet to leave your windows slightly open, but also a way to reduce the overall temperature inside your car. Don’t leave your windows open enough so that someone can reach in and unlock your doors or steal any personal belongings. Instead, just roll down your windows a couple of inches so that there is some air circulating through your car while it sits in the parking lot or driveway.

If you have unfortunately experienced a crack window, either from heat or some other cause, you can use TalkLocal to locate an auto repair company near you. TalkLocal is a FREE service that will connect you with top-quality, reliable auto repair professionals in your neighborhood, within minutes. Simply enter in your problem, location and availability and TalkLocal will contact multiple companies, who will then call YOU directly, ready to help.

Windshield crack repair kits are great tools to fix small cracks in your auto glass. They are available almost anywhere, from hardware stores to auto shops, and can help avoid more severe glass damage. After purchasing your car windshield crack repair kit, follow these steps to remove any small rock chips and bulls-eye cracks.

Do NOT perform this repair in direct sunlight. Your work will not result in an attractive repair because the heat will cause the resin to harden too quickly. Also, windshield crack repair kits will not repair larger windshield runs.

1. Clean the area around the crack. Use the razor blade included in your kit to scrape away any loose pieces of glass. You also need a clean area around the crack to attach the suction cup tool, so feel free to clean the area with Windex. Make sure the area fully dries before continuing on to the next step.

2. Place the suction cup tool. Make sure to place the tool so that the threaded center section is directly over the chipped area. Firmly place the suction cups into place, securing the four arms of the tool.

3. Insert the threaded repair tool. Once the suction cup tool is centered directly over the crack, insert the threaded repair tool. Screw it in tightly by hand.

4. Check the tool alignment. Make sure that the rubber end of the threaded tool is directly above the chip in your windshield. If it is not aligned, then reposition the tool.

5. Add the windshield repair resin. Open up the tube of repair resin and add it to the repair tube. It’s okay to add a few more drops than stated in the directions to be safe. You can’t use too much, but using too little will add a lot of time to the repair process.

6. Insert the plunger. You should quickly insert the center plunger right after you add the repair resin. Then, tighten the plunger almost all the way down. You’ll be able to tell you are adding enough pressure because the plunger will become more difficult to screw in. After reaching the limit, loosen the plunger a little to let air bubbles to escape. Then re-tighten it.

7. Remove the tool and apply the finishing film. Give the resin a few minutes to fully penetrate the chipped glass before completely removing the suction tool. Quickly place a section of the clear finishing film over the still-moist repair area. Carefully press the resin toward the edges of the film using the razor blade, making the film as thin and even as possible. You can add tape to the edges of the film to make sure it won’t slide around while the resin is settling.

8. Finishing touches. Wait about 10 to 20 minutes until the resin completely dries before removing the film. Clean up your repair by scraping the excess resin from the windshield with the razor blade. Then, sit back and admire your beautiful repair work.

If you feel more comfortable letting a professional handle the work, use TalkLocal to find a high quality auto glass repairman.