A stone hit her windshield and a crack is slowly growing from the impact site. She is short of funds. Can anything be done short of replacement?
If the crack’s not too big, the windshield shops can inject a clear resin that basically fills in the crack. I think you can also buy the resin yourself, but I don’t know how much it costs or how to inject it.
The crack still has to be pretty small, though.
In Massachusetts, windshield replacements are completely free as long as you have comprehensive insurance and most people do. There are tons of companies that will do it at your home or your work place at any time you specify. I have had it done three times and it takes one phone call and 30 minutes of the technicians time.
It may not be the same where you are but it is worth it her to check with her insurance policy to see what is covered.
Replace the windshield.
Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
You can fill a bulls eye with resin like DTC said, but a crack will just keep getting longer, and longer. The only cure for a crack is replacement.
There’s things you “can do,” but the windshield is weaker now. A rock that might put a small crack in it could now bust right through. Replace it.
Funny Rick says “do not collect $200,” because that’s about what I paid for the one windshield I’ve had to replace.
I used to hear about a method to treat cracks in which end of the crack is drilled slightly (to create a rounded depression), and the resulting depression is filled with resin. The idea is to prevent the crack from spreading any further.
Is this not done anymore?
I’ve used this technique to stop cracks from spreading in plastic but never in a windshield. I’m not an expert but it seems to me that the integrity of the windshield would be compromised with a crack.