Auto Glass in McAllen, Weslaco and the Rio Grande Valley: Our Donna Shop

Drivers across the Rio Grande Valley spend a lot of time on Expressway 83/I-2. Gravel trucks, construction and long commutes between McAllen, Pharr, Weslaco and Mercedes mean windshield chips are a fact of life. Texan Glass serves the Valley from our shop at 1200 E. IH 2 in Donna.

Chip or crack: what to do first

A small chip can often be repaired if you get to it before it spreads. Heat, cold mornings and potholes all make chips run into cracks. If the damage is larger than a dollar bill, sits in the driver’s line of sight or reaches the edge of the glass, the windshield usually has to be replaced. Our guide to repair versus replacement goes into more detail.

Cars with cameras need calibration

Many newer vehicles have a forward camera behind the mirror for lane keeping and automatic braking. After a windshield replacement, that camera needs ADAS calibration. Ask us about it when you book.

Insurance

Many comprehensive policies cover glass. We can help you start the claim. Here is how insurance claims work with Texan Glass.

Which Valley cities do we serve?

Drivers come to our Donna shop from McAllen, Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, Weslaco and Mercedes. Call before you drive over to ask about mobile service at your home or work.

Heat and windshield damage in the Valley

Valley summers are long and hot. A windshield heats up fast in the sun, and blasting the air conditioning on hot glass, or a cool rain on a hot windshield, creates stress in the glass. That stress is often what turns a small chip into a long crack. If you have a chip:

• park in the shade when you can;
• avoid aiming the defroster or the A/C straight at the chip;
• avoid slamming doors, which flexes the body and glass;
• get it repaired as soon as you can.

What happens during a replacement

1. We confirm the right glass for your vehicle, including any camera, rain sensor or heated area.
2. The old windshield is carefully removed and the frame is cleaned and prepared.
3. The new glass is set in fresh urethane adhesive.
4. We tell you the safe drive-away time, because the adhesive needs time to cure.
5. If your vehicle has a forward camera, it is calibrated. Read more in our guide to ADAS calibration.

Side and rear windows

Break-ins and road debris also break side and rear windows. Side windows are usually tempered glass, which shatters into small pieces. We vacuum out the glass and install the new window.

Caring for a new windshield in Valley heat

After a replacement, the adhesive keeps curing for a while. In the first days, avoid car washes, do not slam doors and leave any retention tape alone until we say it can come off. If you park outside, a sunshade helps keep the dashboard and new glass cooler. Watch the edges of the glass for wind noise or leaks after the first heavy rain, and call us if you notice either. A properly installed windshield should be quiet and dry.

Keeping chips from happening

You cannot avoid every rock, but you can lower the odds. Leave more room behind trucks and gravel haulers on the expressway and farm roads, avoid following closely on fresh chip-seal roads, and replace worn wiper blades so grit does not scratch the glass.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Texan Glass in the Rio Grande Valley?

Our shop is at 1200 E. IH 2 in Donna. Call (956) 803-8111.

Can a chip be repaired instead of replacing the windshield?

Often yes, if it is small, not at the edge and not in the driver’s line of sight.

Why did my chip turn into a crack overnight?

Temperature swings, like hot glass and cold A/C, stress the glass and can make a chip spread.

Do you replace side and rear windows too?

Yes, along with windshields.

Contact Texan Glass RGV

Texan Glass RGV is at 1200 E. IH 2 in Donna. Call (956) 803-8111 for a quote, or read about our same-day service in Donna.