# Windshield Replacement - 2018 Subaru Forester - Subaru Employee spills the beans on EyeSight Cal time **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** subaru\ **Created:** [December 1, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992 "2018-12-01T16:07:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rich15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@Rich15](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rich15)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/1 "2018-12-01T16:07:16Z")
2018 Subaru Eyesight question from today’s Denver Post. 3 hours to recalibrate after windshield replacement is 2 hours too many. Warranty time is 0.9 so adding 2.1 hours is just greed. Worked for Subaru corporate 16 years. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/2 "2018-12-02T19:43:50Z")
So you can’t avoid getting into an accident for 3 hours or am I missing something. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 5:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/3 "2018-12-03T05:11:40Z")
> **[New Tech May Need New Windshield Replacement Routines](https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/new-tech-may-need-new-windshield-replacement-routines)** > > This Subaru windshield replacement requires EyeSight recalibration Not sure if it would be covered under insurance but it might be worth asking. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 5:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/4 "2018-12-03T05:19:33Z")
Vehicles with cameras in the windshield require calibration when the windshield is replaced, my shop foreman has us collecting 4 hours of labor for the procedure. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 12:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/5 "2018-12-03T12:01:25Z")
It wouldn’t be the first time the warranty allocation by the manufacturer was completely unrealistic in the field… ---
**Author:** ![GhostRide123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GhostRide123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GhostRide123)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/6 "2019-02-21T18:24:59Z")
3 hours does sound a big excessive but I do understand that some of the newer windshields with cameras do require calibration as mentioned on this thread. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/7 "2019-02-21T19:47:05Z")
I agree that 0.9 hour sounds very unrealistic. I remember when the windshield was replaced on my work truck several years ago–a 1998 Chevy Express cargo van. This windshield had no sensors, antennas, or anything else mounted to it other than a metal “button” which holds the rearview mirror. It took more than an hour for the auto glass person to replace it. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/8 "2019-02-21T20:47:18Z")
I don’t get the Denver Post but don’t have a Subie anyway, but I’ll keep that in mind. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/9 "2019-02-21T20:52:42Z")
Less then an hour is pushing it. Last time I had a windshield replaced, once the tech was finished I couldn’t drive away for at least 30 minutes. They wanted to make sure the sealed cured. Didn’t want me to bring it back because there was a leak. 2 hours for a windshield without many added electronics is a good rule of thumb ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/10 "2019-02-22T00:11:26Z")
The warranty time of .9 hours in the OP is for calibrating the forward recognition camera after the glass company has replaced the windshield. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 3:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/11 "2019-02-22T03:59:51Z")
It seems like that is a necessary function if you want the collision avoidance gadget that peers ahead to peer in the right direction. 3 hours doesn’t seem out of line for shop calibration after windshield replacement. I certainly wouldn’t want to pay 3 hours for that myself, which is why I don’t own a car w/ that function. But if you own a car w/that function, 3 hours seems entirely reasonable. Complexity can increase safety, but can decrease reliability and almost always increases repair expenses. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/12 "2019-02-22T04:05:58Z")
So the 4 hours your shop charges, is that for replacing the windshield _and_ performing the calibration, or is that _only_ for performing the calibration? I am just curious. I do not own a vehicle with this type of feature, and would not buy one. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 5:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/13 "2019-02-22T05:12:13Z")
We get a few vehicles each week from glass companies and body shops for radar and camera calibration after repairs have been completed. New windshield or front collision repairs have been completed before sent to the dealer for calibration. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/14 "2019-02-22T05:18:13Z")
Let’s remember that a labor charge of 4 hours or $450 may be what the market determines is a fair price, not what a car maker is willing to pay for repairs under warranty. Adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, lane departure warning, backup camera, park assist, whatever, all these systems require precision components and many require specific calibration that is accurate to within inches over the length of a football field. Replacing a windshield, grille, or side view mirror that also mounts a camera or radar requires accurate calibration. To do the calibration can require open floor space of up to 400 sq. ft. that is level and free of markings AND requires the use of $20,000 of equipment and software. Few shops have that resource, and those that do now have the ability to provide a service that their competitors can not. Good business practice and common sense dictates that the price for that service should be as high as the market will bear in order to recoup the investment as quickly as possible and become profitable. If you’re the only shop around that can fix something, $400 seems like a bargain. ---
**Author:** ![Michael-381](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Michael-381](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Michael-381)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/15 "2020-05-12T20:41:00Z")
No it’s not reasonable because windshield is included in the warranty so the recalibration should also be included and it’s being done by the dealership who doesn’t have to recoup the $20,000 they paid for the equipment it take to recalibrate the cameras because they’re already making half the aMount of the car in interest alone… ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/16 "2020-05-12T20:57:20Z")
> [@Michael-381](#): > > because they’re already making half the aMount of the car in interest alone… If you are saying that on a 30000 dollar vehicle there is 15000 dollars worth of interest you are mistaken . ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/17 "2020-05-12T23:43:21Z")
Maybe it’s not a matter of 3 hours being too much as it is a matter of .9 being way too cheap. Subaru has has always been very stingy with warranty labor times from stem to stern along with a few other nasty habits. I like Subaru cars. I detest their corporate structure. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/18 "2020-05-13T00:04:59Z")
> [@Michael-381](#): > > because windshield is included in the warranty Since when is a damaged windshield covered by warranty ? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/19 "2020-05-13T00:09:05Z")
Where does someone like Michael 381 get wrong ideas like these ? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992/20 "2020-05-13T00:42:15Z")
> [@VOLVO\_V70](#): > > Where does someone like Michael 381 get wrong ideas like these ? Do you need to ask? Some think cars should be free so anything paid is exploitation. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-replacement-2018-subaru-forester-subaru-employee-spills-the-beans-on-eyesight-cal-time/129992.md?page=2)