Cracked windshield - any hidden issues?

[Silver Dollar]

I was driving down the highway and I saw a small rock arcing towards me (almost like it was in slow motion - nowhere for me to try and swerve aside though) and heard a loud CRACK when it hit the windshield but couldn't find a chip so I thought it was fine. Turns out it hit the very upper part of the windshield that's actually hidden from view by the front edge of the ceiling liner. When I got back in the car later and drove for a bit I saw the beginnings of a crack and by the next day (now) it is about 6 inches and lengthening - slowing curving towards the center.. Funny thing is that it never seems to lengthen while I'm driving - just does it when the car is parked and I'm not in it haha (maybe from the glass cooling down after having the heat on I guess).

Anyways - I was curious if anyone else here has had to have a windshield replaced yet and if so, are there any issues to make the shop aware of? i.e special tabs or features they might not know about if they haven't had an altima coupe go through their shop yet?

I called the dealership to see if I could get it done through them but they said they had all their stuff done through a third party. The only issue that I have is the third party place seems to be almost unknown around town and I have had another place recommended already by a few different people (its a big chain auto-glass place but they had their license yanked a few years back for defrauding the gov't so now that they have their license back, all their work is spotless!)

[JDRosenberg07]

Yeah if you dont get a chip fixed in the beginning it mess up your windshield quick. I dont think it has any special sensors or anything like that so you should be good on that note.

As far as the 3rd party dealership thing goes, im not a big fan of the dealership cause they'll bend you over your hood any chance they get, but if their guy messes up then they have to pay for it. But the same will go for any company you take it to. Id go with the guy that got his license back, but just go where every you feel comfortable takin your baby.

[Flypinoy457]

Join the club, I had a small rock hit my windshield the 2nd week i had the car **stupid trucks on I5** it hardly made a noise when it hit the windshield, but none the less it crack it right away. Had it fixed a few weeks later after my insurance went through, went to a local place here in the bay area; same place that did my tint. Since then ive had only couple incidents of a rock getting kicked up and no cracks, so pretty sure the factory Nissan glass isnt the best. I think there was a post awhile back ago about this same issue.

[ItsEcko06]

i'm in the same boat except i haven't gotten it replaced. mine just seemed to appear after the hurricane that hit texas back in sept. i had my altima safely stored away but iono what happen! hopefuly i can get it taken care of with the insurance claim from my unfortunate accident last friday.

[Silver Dollar]

Hmm the crack just curved around and reached the spotted area right over where the rearview mirror sits - and stopped.. Maybe that will keep it from going further

Is the replacement windshield from Nissan or is it a custom piece made by someone else usually? Would certainly be nice if it wasn't a Nissan part, they seem to be really ****ty quality sometimes.

I can't believe how easily the paint chips on my car - it's like they went to the lowest bidder on the paint and then asked if they could have just one coat instead of three.... Makes me wonder if they cheaped out on the glass too.

[marlin29311]

Unless you catch the crack before it progresses, you can't really save a 6 inch crack to a windshield - you might have to get this replaced because of the size of the crack. Of course, I could be wrong and things could have changed in the glass repair world, but from my own experience, when you have a crack that long, that spells new windshield...

[LinkNuc]

funny thing is that if you have even a non-visible structural weakness i teh glass a simple drop in pressure (e.g. going through a thunderstorm) can finish the job of cracking it, happened to me once and my dad once, ear's popped and, snap there's the friggin crack.

It was 239 bucks to get my Z's windshield replaced and they drove to my place to do it.