After replacing its predecessor at significant cost, I was wary of damaging my windshield, but it sustained thousands of kilometers, dozens of impacts from stray stones, and once even a falling tree branch, without so much as a ding. I was beginning to think that I had found the perfect, crystal clear, indestructible windshield. It withstood severe ice formation and clearing, stones and debris from heavy trucks ahead, and a bird impact - still not a scratch.
Why then, when driving along a gentle stretch of deserted road, with no impact to cause the event, did it suddenly decide to give up living and crack right across? It’s almost as if it took a pleasant drive in the country for it to reflect upon its life and decide, for whatever reason, to commit suicide right there and then. Cool air outside, and the defog heater on, so I suppose there could have been a bit of thermal stress, but seriously - I had driven with the heat on full blast in -45 C temperatures before without a problem. It took me completely by surprise. As far as I could tell, the glass surface was still flawless.
I can probably get it replaced under insurance, but I still have to pay a $300 deductible. This sucks.
My windshield cracked a couple weeks ago as well, I believe it was from the cold and ice expansion, there was a chip in it that was at least 8 years old and the crack went right through that. I’m keeping it as is for now as the only thing it is obscuring is my view of the windshiled wiper.
IIRC (probably not but hey), they only ticket you if the crack in a part of the windshield that is “viewable” e.g. it is visible when looking at the pavement or another car. I’m probably just fooling myself, but it saves me $230!
I have a giant creeping crack across my windshield. I have another ding on the right side, and a brand-new ding on the left side. Basically, whenever I’ve finally managed to convince myself it might be time to bite the financial bullet and replace the windshield to get rid of the giant creeping crack, another big rock flies up and takes a chunk out of the glass. And then I think, “Wow, good thing this isn’t a new windshield.”
My wife had one done on her car. They came out to the car and did it. Insurance (comprehensive) paid for it. You have to look for it to see it. It was a job well done.
Don’t know enough to say if this was the reason, but windshields set in mastic have their outer edge exposed behind the trim. Perhaps debris such as sand, aided by some rust bloom may have exerted enough pressure on the side of the glazing to cause a stress crack.
Should I pit my evil nasty alternator because the diodes went out to lunch after only 150K miles?
Vehicles. They break. To fix them, you supply $. Not a news flash.
