cracked windshield - not by a stone

[artaxerxes2]

Hey all. I honestly tried to search the forum for that problem but I couldn't find a lot of previous post about it.

I was driving quietly on a road when my windshield cracked for no reason. It started at the bottom of the windshield, just in front of the driver (me) and it rose a few centimetres and then turned right and spread right across to the passenger's side.

I was wondering how many people have experienced the same thing. I've noticed a few comments here and there on the web and I figure here would be a good place to find people in the same boat.

I called the dealership and they ask me to bring in the car to inspect the windshield. Any tips on that as well? I except they will try to insist it was due to a stone hitting the windshield but I am certain it's not the case.

If you want to email me with your similar experience, feel free to do that as well. My email is aurey at linux dot ca

Thx to all

A

[jfanaselle]

The dealership will look for any small knick or mark and determine that your windshield was hit by a rock. It's almost a lost cause because once the windshield forms a crack, the glass will chip around the crack and they'll say that you were hit by a rock there.

Your best bet is to have it inspected asap, before any chips form. I had a similar incident, but it turns out that my car was actually hit by a rock. It was hit just above the plastic cowl on the very bottom of the windshield. I had no idea that I had been hit until a crack started forming and worked its way up to where it was visible.

When I examined the area where the crack had started, it was very obvious to me that I had been hit by a rock. I just hadn't noticed it because it was on the black part of the windshield (lower than what you can see from inside the car). You can see in the pic two spots (at the very bottom of the crack) where the rock hit and bounced off.

[Ever Victorious]

Sadly, it seems the most vulnerable place for a windshield to develop a rock crack is right around the edges. My wife had a rock hit the right passenger side of the window right at the seal seam, and it cracked almost instantly to about 4" long. The rock was no bigger than your typical bit of rolled pea gravel.

I agree with jfanaselle, it's quite possible it IS a rock-chip caused crack, and you just don't know it with certainty.

Oh... and jfanaselle... I know I'm not the Pixel Police anymore... but your sig is a hair too wide, 600 pixel maximum.

[powergrip]

Hey all. I honestly tried to search the forum for that problem but I couldn't find a lot of previous post about it.

I was driving quietly on a road when my windshield cracked for no reason. It started at the bottom of the windshield, just in front of the driver (me) and it rose a few centimetres and then turned right and spread right across to the passenger's side.

I was wondering how many people have experienced the same thing. I've noticed a few comments here and there on the web and I figure here would be a good place to find people in the same boat.

I called the dealership and they ask me to bring in the car to inspect the windshield. Any tips on that as well? I except they will try to insist it was due to a stone hitting the windshield but I am certain it's not the case.

If you want to email me with your similar experience, feel free to do that as well. My email is aurey at linux dot ca

Thx to all

A

I was driving to work today and I noticed nothing. 2 hours later I went for coffee, started driving and noticed the crack. It was raining so I didn't notice it at first but it did creep up the drivers side about 3 inches and then take a sharp turn towards the driver's door. Upon closer inspection I noticed there was no chips of any sort that usually occur from rocks. I was looking for this specifically because I have read other reports of it happening to people. You can see a high res picture of my crack (no puns intended) in the link below. I will post a better picture when its not raining. However, do note that there is no primary chip that a rock would normally create. Looks like I'm off to the dealership. Anyone know if my bumper to bumper warranty would cover this? I assume it would.

http://www3.telus.net/public/r...9.JPG

UPDATE

I just came from the dealership. They found the POI (point of impact) Yep it was a rock. It's gona cost me a lot. They quoted something like $200 for the glass, $90 labor, some other crap for the molding. Said all in all it'll cost me $1000 to fix everything but my insurance should cover all but the deductible.
Modified by powergrip at 1:38 PM 4/7/2008

[Kokanee]

$1000????

You're being taken to the cleaner - a full windshield replacement shouldn't cost you any more than $600.

[powergrip]

$1000????

You're being taken to the cleaner - a full windshield replacement shouldn't cost you any more than $600.

Does it matter what it costs in the end? My deductible will still be the same in the end and the rest is covered by insurance. Is there something I'm missing? (This is my first car so you'll have to excuse the noobness)

[frankoV]

Maybe not, but it looks like another edition of "Dealer Takes What He Can".

Are you stuck on padding the profits of the dealership? If it ain't a warranty item, then try an autoglass place and see if they'll go cheaper -- out here some of them pay the deducible for you (OK, I know I'm just padding the profits of the insurance company when they don't have to pay out as much, and the local glass company . . . I'd just rather do that). You can always go back to the dealer with what the local says.

I'm not talking Apple or Standard -- I'm talking independent.

[lizd1972]

So I had a rock hit my windshield last Friday afternoon. Made a nickel sized star shaped "chip". I called insurance (AAA) and they sent me to this place for a free repair. The place tried to "repair" the chip but unfortunately it did not do the "magic" of making the chip go away like it should have. The guy did say it should be good for now as the repair should have sealed it. He said keep an eye on it and should I change my mind he could replace the windshield for $180 out of pocket (I have a 250 deductible so I rather just pay out of pocket). He does use OEM glass and has the versa glass handy. Interstingly enough he said he does a lot of versas because the windshield is so low they get hit Alot.

[jspec603]

Tree branch fell in a windstorm. Less than $500 to repair, paid out of pocket.

[07V84Z]

Good luck with that man. I had a rock hit my windshield and chip it. I had planned to call the insurance company the next day, but as I was driving to Best Buy (on a cold rainy night) I turned on the De-fog just when the car warmed up, and not 30 seconds later I heard a sharp splitting sound and saw a crack had spread out on both sides of the chip mark. (which was right in the center of the windshield about three inches up) The cracks spread instantly out to about 2 inches from the edge of the windshield and then curled up. Made a nice smile on my windshield. $250 Deductable+Insurance = New windshield.

[Knightro2]

You guys need to move to Florida then. heh heh. If my windshield gets cracked due to natural outside influence (ie, rocks, branches, etc.)...my insurance company is required by Florida law to replace it for free with no deductible or raise in rates. There is even a place around here where if you bring your car to them to get the windshield replaced you get a free box of steaks as well.

[powergrip]

You guys need to move to Florida then. heh heh. If my windshield gets cracked due to natural outside influence (ie, rocks, branches, etc.)...my insurance company is required by Florida law to replace it for free with no deductible or raise in rates. There is even a place around here where if you bring your car to them to get the windshield replaced you get a free box of steaks as well.

Geez man, I best be moving to the US of A lol

[bucksnort]

That's fine and dander but there is no "Free Lunch" in Florida and insurance. You pay 5-6 times more than me on homeowners and 4-5 times more on auto. I just had a new w/s put in this winter on the Elantra. $250 out of pocket on a bill of $340. This was the first w/s replacement I've ever had to do, and that with 100's of thousands of miles.

As for the Canuck dealer charging $1000 for a w/s, not only does your gubbermint screw you but your dealers feal they can do the same

[Ever Victorious]

That's fine and dander but there is no "Free Lunch" in Florida and insurance.

I'd also advise anyone against going to a "free lunch" windshield shop under insurance. The lunch isn't actually free, they inflate the cost billed to your insurance by the cost of however many lunches they give you. Insurance companies have figured this out and have started raising the rates of customers who frequent these weasel shops.

Oh, and last time I had to replace a windshield, the total cost was less than my deductible, so out of pocket it came. Good quality work, and I didn't use the cheap replacement glass either... used OEM grade glass.

[artaxerxes2]

Does it matter what it costs in the end? My deductible will still be the same in the end and the rest is covered by insurance. Is there something I'm missing? (This is my first car so you'll have to excuse the noobness)

Yes, you are missing something. 2 points actually.1) if you can find someone to replace the windshield for less than deductible, you will save money (that's what I did)2) you don't have to use insurance. They ususally say it's not a driver's fault that he gets hit with a stone that cracks the windshield, but it's also usually a major hassle to use insurance.

I've used a service (in Toronto) where they come to your house with a new windshield (exact model as the versa), install it, and take away the damaged one. It cost me a grand total of $400, less than my $500 deductible and I didn't have to wait.

Now, that was in Toronto. I can't say for sure about where you are.

A.

[Knightro2]

That's fine and dander but there is no "Free Lunch" in Florida and insurance. You pay 5-6 times more than me on homeowners and 4-5 times more on auto. I just had a new w/s put in this winter on the Elantra. $250 out of pocket on a bill of $340. This was the first w/s replacement I've ever had to do, and that with 100's of thousands of miles.

As for the Canuck dealer charging $1000 for a w/s, not only does your gubbermint screw you but your dealers feal they can do the same

Ehh, a small price to pay for sunshine, white beaches, teal water, my boat and girls in bikinis. heh heh.

[furl]

I have had the same problem 3 times now. When it first cracked I took it to the dealership where I bought the car. The said that a rock caused the crack. I had a local glass company replace it for $230.00. 3 months later, I had the same crack again. I replaced that one about 2 weeks ago and when I went out to my car this morning, same crack in the windshield. I think that there is a design flaw with this thing.

[tama48]

Mine got hit by a small stone. I paid $100.00 deductible and car insurance paid the rest. No big deal at all.