Toronto, Ontario – About 42 percent of Canadians have stated that they would attempt to fix chipped windshield repairs on their own vehicles. Another 15% of Canadians polled stated that they would perform larger repairs to their vehicle, like full windshield replacement.
This data comes from a new survey presenting Canadian respondents’ inclinations regarding Do-it-Yourself car repair.
Furthermore, nearly 31 percent of Canadians stated that they would attempt to do repairs with no previous experience in fixing vehicles.
While over half of Canadian responded that they would attempt vehicle repair on their own, the question becomes whether this is a feasible option cost wise.
Furthermore, considerations about whether such repairs can void a warranty must also be taken into consideration.
43 percent of Canadians have stated that they do not know if completing a task on their vehicles voids the warranty. However, 24 percent of Canadians stated their belief that they can make repairs without their warranty being affected.
AutoGuru’s Fleet Manager Kane Tierney discussed the feasibility of these repairs in a series of statements to Compare the Market.
When it comes to small chips on a windshield, DIY repairers can save up to approximately $200 by purchasing repair kits from an automotive parts store. Small chip repair does not typically void a car’s warranty.
However, these repair kits do not fix the chips completely, but rather prevent them from becoming larger cracks needing full windshield replacement.
Full windshield replacement, therefore, should not be attempted independently, according to Tierney. With technology embedded in all aspects of cars today, significant repair work such as windshield replacement should be handled only by a qualified windshield repair technician, as it can potentially void the warranty of the car.
While DIY vehicle repairs may be possible, they might not be a good idea. More often than not, without specialized training and equipment, DIY repairers will likely run into issues at home. This can have a detrimental effect on the car itself, and the vehicle’s warranty, and even put the aspiring technician at risk.
“As a rule of thumb, if your vehicle is under warranty, all repair and maintenance work will need to be completed by a qualified mechanic,” says Tierney.
What do you think of these poll results, dear reader? Should repair techniques be readily available to all vehicle owners? Is the repair shop-vehicle owner relationship helped or harmed by DIY repair?
