So we go to Boreal on Saturday for some skiing and it was freezing from the recent storm. We come out at the end of the the day and icicles are forming around the edges of the car. I had the wipers off the windshield when we came in the morning so they were not stuck to the car or anything but I was excited to try the window de-icer feature, hit the button on the dash and heard a small click, didn't pay much attention to it and started driving down. About 10 minutes into the drive noticed a crack going up from where the de-icer element was to about 4-5" up the windshield. Not much I can do I thought so keep driving only to watch the crack grow to almost 20-25" over the next 1 hour. It has now stabilized to where it is now but has anybody had such an issue. I have barely had the car for about 2 months and there were no rock chips or any such damage to the windshield prior to this.
Windshield de-icer cracks the windshield
- Thread starter amarpawar
- Start date
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00Sebby
Senior Member
That's what I was thinking.
00Sebby
Senior Member
Plus, the de-icer elements run horizontally to the windshield. If they were the only cause then you would expect the crack to run along the area of greatest temperature variance... parallel and probably on top of the elements. I think the chip, if that is what that is, induced the stress and the quick temp change finished the job. I've had small chips on the edge of a couple of windshields that cracked all the way across the windshield when the door was closed.
HerT4R
New member
Attachments
Well I see it now but don't remember seeing it before the crack appeared.
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00Sebby
Senior Member
Although your crack was most likely caused by a rock chip (in case no one has mentioned it), some of us have experienced temperature induced cracking. I have a 2 foot long crack running parallel to the windshield (as [MENTION=134890]00Sebby[/MENTION] mentioned) that occurred while driving to work a few years ago in a snow storm. The snow was melting as soon as it hit the windshield, turning into an icy slush that the wipers were having a tough time removing. I've never gotten the windshield replaced as the crack was mostly in the lower black portion of the glass. I don't blame Toyota - just mother nature.
Ron4RNevada
New member
Same thing happened on MY LR Discovery years ago. Don't have or use electric de-icers anymore.
Batang.Gapo
New member
Same thing here, I have been using wiper heater for 6 winter season now and no issue (fingers crossed).
nevada
Senior Member
it very likely appeared after, or maybe even as the crack formed.
unlikely it was the CAUSE of the crack however. unless it originated from that point. and you said it didn't...
e60ral
Banned
the rock chip, then subsequent uneven heating of the windshield, is definitely the cause
You can see the crack go all the way through the glass at the chip where there is a v crack on the inside
nevada
Senior Member
if that's the case, the crack would have started AT the chip. it didn't.
its not the cause.
besides, he said there was no chip there prior to the crack.
cbreze
Member
I had a rock chip down at the very bottom on passenger side a couple years ago and didn't notice till a cold morning, I started running the defroster, heard a noise, thought not much of the noise then in a few minutes noticed the crack traveling across the glass.
I must say tho I have been driving for 50 years and have had many rock chips on many vehicles and have never had this happen till the 4runner. This includes 4 other Toyotas. There's something about these windshields.
I must say tho I have been driving for 50 years and have had many rock chips on many vehicles and have never had this happen till the 4runner. This includes 4 other Toyotas. There's something about these windshields.
e60ral
Banned
it did start at the chip, the crack on the backside is called a radial fracture, you can see it pointing to the rock chip
nevada
Senior Member
not according to the OP. he said it started down at the heater, and worked its way up.
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