# A friend has a growing crack in her windshield. How can she stop it from spreading? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 5, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809 "2008-12-05T03:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809/1 "2008-12-05T03:40:31Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809/2 "2008-12-05T03:48:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809/3 "2008-12-05T03:53:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809/4 "2008-12-05T04:04:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809/5 "2008-12-05T04:14:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809/6 "2008-12-05T04:16:40Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > 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. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friend-has-a-growing-crack-in-her-windshield-how-can-she-stop-it-from-spreading/475809/7 "2008-12-05T04:42:49Z")
> [@robby](#): > > 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.