Any Windshield Magicians Out There?

RPC

RPC

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Driving home from work the other day I hear a loud impact to the windshield. Can't find anything when I get home but two days later I have an 8" - 10" L-shaped crack emanating up and down from the chip I missed.

IMG00035.jpg~original


If I can somehow convince this crack to turn upward and form a U shape I can probably get away without replacing the windshield (it would be almost entirely hidden by the rear view mirror).

Might sound crazy but anyone ever try to get a crack to do something like this?
 
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rpcowan said:
Driving home from work the other day I hear a loud impact to the windshield. Can't find anything when I get home but two days later I have an 8" - 10" L-shaped crack emanating up and down from the chip I missed.

IMG00035.jpg~original


If I can somehow convince this crack to turn upward and form a U shape I can probably get away without replacing the windshield (it would be almost entirely hidden by the rear view mirror).

Might sound crazy but anyone ever try to get a crack to do something like this?
Click to expand...

You can stop the crack from propagating by drilling a hole on each end of the crack. Then fill it with epoxy or super glue.

Look for a glass drill bit at your local hardware store.

Amazon.com: Vermont American 13310 4-Piece Glass & Tile Drill Bit Set: Home Improvement
 
Other than stopping it as described above, you're at the mercy of the stresses in the glass. I have one on my '08 that is in the shape of a dolphin. It started almost deadcenter above the hood line, headed over the passenger side up and then fiddled around and over toward the drivers side. It really DOES look like a bottlenosed dolphin.
 
Hey, sorry about that! I would just get it replaced by your auto insurance. dont want to take any chances with that breaking and cutting you whilst driving! I wouldnt mess about with it.
 
Call your insurance, usually chip repairs are covered (no deductible costs to you because it cost them more to replace your windshield than fix it). Most glass shops won't fix it, if the crack is longer than a dollar bill in length. They usually drill out the ends of the crack relieve the stress. It's a 50/50 chance that the crack won't spread. I've seen it spread past the drill points before too. A hot day will usually do the trick (causing the crack to spread).

Depending on your state, a cracked windshield won't pass state inspection and/or citable offense.

However, don't worry about the windshield falling apart and cutting you. There's a laminate film sandwiched by two pieces of glass to keep the glass together when shattered. It's why when a windshield is smashed it still holds its shape rather than crumble, exposing a hole (like side and rear windows).
 
If you were in So Cal or Indianapolis area I could hook you up with a good glass shop. Wish you luck and sorry to hear about the crack.
 
Thanks for the replies folks.

If you can believe it, a factory windshield installed is $1031 according to my local dealership parts counter. They also quoted me $206 for a "Safelite aftermarket" installed but I called Safelite themselves and got the installed quote down to $150 out the door. For that price, why wait to see what the crack's going to do? The one thing it won't do is disappear!
 
rpcowan said:
Thanks for the replies folks.

If you can believe it, a factory windshield installed is $1031 according to my local dealership parts counter. They also quoted me $206 for a "Safelite aftermarket" installed but I called Safelite themselves and got the installed quote down to $150 out the door. For that price, why wait to see what the crack's going to do? The one thing it won't do is disappear!
Click to expand...

There you go. it is a safety issue and $150 is a steal
 
No such luck, Mike. Geico only covers the chip that causes the crack, and my deductible is greater than replacement cost anyway, so the windshield is on me.
 
If anyone here has gotten their windshield replaced and paid for by their insurance company (deductible or not), did the insurance company make you pay it back (and then some likely) in increased premiums or any tricks like that?

The reason I ask, is I replaced my windshield last year on my 99 using safelite however if I have to ever replace the 07 windshield I want to specially treated factory glass back on (as long as I'm not paying for most of it).
 
rpcowan said:
No such luck, Mike. Geico only covers the chip that causes the crack, and my deductible is greater than replacement cost anyway, so the windshield is on me.
Click to expand...

I have Gecko (full coverage) and i don't have to pay any deductible for having my windshield replaced.
 
The people advices you to call your insurance company are right. Almost every company would cover this type of thing. Secondly I'm almost positive it's illegal to drive a vehicle with a crack that large in California. If a CHP sees that you're almost guaranteed to be pulled over and given a fix it ticket.
 
martini said:
If anyone here has gotten their windshield replaced and paid for by their insurance company (deductible or not), did the insurance company make you pay it back (and then some likely) in increased premiums or any tricks like that?

The reason I ask, is I replaced my windshield last year on my 99 using safelite however if I have to ever replace the 07 windshield I want to specially treated factory glass back on (as long as I'm not paying for most of it).
Click to expand...

I didn't notice a hike in my premiums. But what may've happened was I didn't get any further discounts on my premium that I probably could've without the claims.

So it the end, it'll still cost you.... maybe not with premium increases, but through the lack of discounts and being a good policy holder.
 
My insurance carrier, USAA, will fix a chip no charge, and I believe has a lower deductible for a crack (anything bigger than a dollar bill as others have said).

Because cracks/chips are not the result of careless driving and are just bad luck the carrier won't mess with your premiums (at least that's what they told me), but if it starts becoming a regular occurrence then they may start asking questions. Either way it's worth asking the insurance company.

My windshield problem isn't a crack or a chip. IN the rain all these water mark type channels appear all over the windshield. It makes for a pretty hazy driving experience and is really annoying. I've tried washing it, using goo gone (someone suggested that in another thread) but now I'm just not sure what to do other than get the darned thing replaced.
 
Wombie, these channels you talk about- do you have an aftermarket windshield then?

One of the things I am irritated about is that I'll lose the "Hydrophobic" quality of the windshield if I don't replace it w/ factory glass. Hell, maybe it's all b.s. and I won't notice anything...

Anyone who has replaced theirs with anything not factory notice a difference in the rain, or any precipitation for that matter?
 
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