Woke up the other day to a cracked windshield. Don’t know if it had to do with the snow and temps that day or what.
Pics:
Is this something that can be repaired? Do I have to replace the entire thing? And does it look like something I need to do tomorrow, or can it wait?
That, my friend is a lucky crack. In that it goes from one edge to another and won’t spread. And it looks like it’s on the passenger side.
I’d just ignore it.
I’ll replace a windshield if the crack is right in my normal field of view. Currently I have a crack that goes all the way across the bottom. But only about 3 inches from the windshield wipers.
I will also replace my windshield when it get pitted from rocks/sand. About every 3-4 years it seems.
And no, it’s not something that could be repaired without replacement. little dings and rock chips that start off as a star can be injected with some sort of glue to help prevent the chip/crack from spreading.
You can get a ticket for a cracked windshield. The usual standard is if the crack is in the field of view. I got away with a crack that was an inch above the hood due to this. Yours you can see the road even if it’s just a bit so you’re iffy.
Check your insurance, some offer no cost replacement.
A badly cracked windshield is a safety hazard. It has lost some of its strength and could crack further under stress. A tiny crack, not so much.
I was traveling at about 50mph last winter down a 2-lane highway and a truck was coming towards me. The top of the truck was flat, and had several inches of snow and ice on it. Just as it passed me, a large chunk flew off (at 100mph closing speed) and hit my windshield squarely in the middle. I couldn’t see anything forward, and the windshield was cracked from edge to edge. Luckily it didn’t break through, or I would have been a goner and probably run off the road.
The windshield wipers weren’t strong enough to handle the ice and slush. I was able to slow the car and steer to a stop on the shoulder by looking out the side windows.
I was glad the windshield was strong enough to handle the load.
Check with your insurance company to see what the deductible is on getting it replaced. My current insurance company has no deductible for windshield replacement AND getting it replaced (as long as it’s not part of a bigger accident) won’t raise my premiums.
The last time I broke a windshield, however, I was with AmFam. I poked around on the internet to see if calling in a claim would raise my premiums and most people said that it wouldn’t (since it’s not typically an ‘at fault’ issue. ‘They’ also said that most companies set that deductible for $500 since most people use it for windshields and windshields are about $400-$500 so the person ends up paying out of pocket anyways. Furthermore, lowering it causes almost no rise in your premium.
So, I called my agent, asked about making a claim on my windshield, he told me the deductible was $500 so I didn’t make a claim. Then after I got it fixed (looking back I should have done this before I got it fixed) I lowered my deductible to $50 and my rate went up by something like $3 a month.
Finally, as others are saying a cracked windshield is a safety hazard. I’m not sure if a cracked windshield will let flying debris through (like what Musicat was saying) since it’s laminated. But it’s said to help hold the weight of the car up in a roll over accident (I’d like to see Mythbusters check that out) and the brace against it in a head on collision, so you can’t have it popping out or pushing forward.
That little crack probably won’t be an issue, but cracks grow, or maybe that little crack is in exactly the right place to be an issue, who knows.
Just to clarify something. What ‘they’ were saying is that when you set up a new policy it’s common for the comprehensive side to just be set with a $500 deductible. I recall my agent saying ‘pick the highest amount you can come up with right away if you got into an accident’. I was comfortable with $500 at the time. He didn’t tell me that a $500 deductible would make my rates $100 a month and a $50 deductible would make them $103…and a $500 deductible makes it impossible to cover the most common repair claim.
With my new insurance company, I have comprehensive set to $500 and then windshield damage set to ‘no deductible’.
Are they really normally that expensive? I had mine replaced last year and it was under $200. They even managed to transfer the city sticker from the old one to the new one somehow.
I think I paid $450 for a Honda Insight about 3 years ago.
Yeah, I just had the one on the RV (Ford E350) replaced and it was about the same price.
If the windshield has a radio antenna in it, it is going to be more expensive.
My Nissan Pathfinder has the radio antennas in the rear side windows (not operable, next to the cargo area… Something that will never have to be replaced unless in an accident. Someone was thinking.
Yes, I have also heard that the windshield is part of the structural integrity of the car. But really, the small crack that the OP has (if anyone is looking at the pics) is not a big deal. And as far as getting a ticket for it, well, it would only be if the LEO was really, really trying to ruin your day.
A small crack like the OP has is no big deal. Replace your windshield if the crack can spread, is in your vision, or when your windshield gets pitted from sand/gravel.
unfortunately the side windows and backlite are tempered glass, so occasionally they’ll just pop into bits out of the blue :eek:
the windshield and backlite are effective shear panels and do contribute to the torsional stiffness of the body. but nothing you’ll notice if the windshield is cracked. Plus, the crack may be in only one layer; the windshield is three layer “safety glass” which is two thinner layers of glass sandwiching a inner layer of PVB plastic. The PVB holds everything together in case the glass is broken, preventing the occupants from getting a face full of razor sharp daggers.
one thing is insist on OEM glass if you can. I’ve seen way too many people complain about aftermarket windshields being wavy, distorted, or other annoying flaws.
I noticed that with mine. The second I pulled out I saw a spot on the lower right (but still in my field of vision) that was wavy. Within a week I was used to it enough that I didn’t notice it all, the same way you’d get used to a side view mirror with that stupid wide angle part. My current car has that, hated it at first, after a week or so I stopped noticing it altogether.
There is usually no deductible for glass coverage. You would be amazed the cracks that can be repaired without replacing the entire windshield.
Check your insurance policy. You need to have comprehensive on your vehicle to attach glass coverage to it, but if you have glass coverage you’re all set. It shouldn’t cost you anything to have it replaced.
Former insurance agent. Still licensed.
If you’re in a state where a yearly inspection is required, a cracked windshield won’t pass inspection.
Have you ever seen that happen? The side windows just pop out? Site please.
[QUOTE=jz78817]
the windshield and backlite are effective shear panels and do contribute to the torsional stiffness of the body.
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Depends on the vehicle. My backlight or rear window on the Pathfinder has two hinges and a catch. I’m quite sure it has nothing to do with the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Look at the OP’s question again, and the pictures. That 8 inch crack is NOT a reason to have it immediately replaced. And IMHO, would be a real waste of time money and resources.
Kinthalis In a word, don’t worry about it. Replace at your convenience.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1082624_hyundai-veloster-recall-for-shattering-sunroofs-expands
tempered glass is under an enormous amount of internal stress, and a latent flaw or even a small nick can cause it to shatter unexpectedly. look up “Prince Rupert’s Drops” for a demonstration.
ETA: and I said “pop” because tempered glass makes that kind of sound when it shatters. it’s the stuff that breaks into a million little “pebbles” of glass. I didn’t mean the entire window pops out of the aperture.
I would be astounded if that were actually the case. Small dings can be stopped from spreading, but I’ve never heard of a crack being repaired and cannot visualize the process that could make that happen. Hell, they can’t even buff out the pits.
Your link is to a car that has a glass roof? That was recalled?
Did you read the OP’s question? Did you look at the pictures from the OP?
There is NO reason to alarm the OP to get that glass replaced immediately.
Me too. Cracks? No way.
With $500 deductible, I don’t even bother the insurance company.
does someone have a survey about windshield coverage by insurance companies?
