Dam jacked up trucks

[awdjdmtalon]

So this afternoon we were on the way back from my brother-in-laws house. We are 1/2 way back on our 2 hr trip. when I hear this SMACK on the windsheild. It is so hard and loud that it wakes up my wife.

She was like WTF! A rock just hit the windsheild. And it cracked it. I couldn't see it. It is right behind the mirror about 3 in right of center. Right now it is about the size of a dime w/ 3 legs coming off of it. I know when I go out in the morning it is going to be half the windsheild.

I guess the jacked up redneck truck in front of me kicked up a rock.

So when I get home I call my insurance comp. Follow the stupid promps, and get a contracted company that handles the glass claims. I talk to some stupid girl, who has to keep asking me what is your Last name? B/C you can hear all the other stupid girls in the call center carring on and talking at the top of thir lungs. So after 15 min of this. She tell me that "I am unable to confirm the coverage at this time, but I can set you up an appointment w/ a glass shop to have the window replaced. But if the claim is not cover or denied you will be responsible for the repair. Do you want me to set this up for you."

I tell her "UM, NO! call me when you get your act together when you figure out my coverage." GRRRR! I am going to call at luch tomorrow and talk to my agent and get this resolved.

Rant over.

[SteveTheTech]

Aww that's sucks. Glad to hear the glass didn't shatter or damage your car in any significant way. Could have been much worse that car is so much smaller than the monster trucks that roam the woods of Va.

I would try to insist on OE glass. The insurance company should have it's A game back by Monday. Good Luck.

[Q451990]

If it's out of your field of vision, and it doesn't crack much more, you can probably have it repaired vs. replacing the whole windshield.

They inject a resin in the crack that keeps it from running and makes the crack pretty much invisible.

Heath

[uncbeers]

I had that done on some chips that were sure to lead to a crack on my new windshield. However, I'm not completely sure it is hidden so well. It could just be me though and I may be thinking of the chip as though I'm outside the vehicle looking in? I'll have to check again next time I'm driving to see if I can spot it from inside. I think they'll only do this method if the damaged area is less than a $1 bill...

Story reminds me of the rock that went through (yes, THROUGH) my mom's windshield (passenger side) once. Nice hole (BB sized) but no crack was the end result for the windshield. I would have been in that seat that day had I not been in Europe for the week.

Insurance should have no issue covering it though (provided you have the glass coverage).

[awdjdmtalon]

I'm not sure if I have glass coverage. That is why I called them. STUPID call center. And if they will only repair it, I have ways of making it bigger then a dollar bill. Can of compressed air for your keyboard, held upside down so it freezes the windsheild, then heat gun to rapidly warm it whilt tapping on it will make the cracks spread like a STD!

[SteveTheTech]

LOL, nice. I have accidently tapped on windshields before and watch them spider the whole thing.

I am sure you are speaking hypothetically of course though.

[awdjdmtalon]

Why YES I do mean hypothetically. We are calling for some cold mornings here in the mountians the next few mornings. And I know I will need to use the defroster to clear the windsheild. And we all know how bad that is for star chips on windsheilds.

[SteveTheTech]

Thermal expansion is torture for compromised windsheilds. Growing up in the great white North I saw this happen quite frequently.

[bentrod]

There's no way this one is repairable. That only works on chips where there's no or very minor spider webbing. I agree with Steve, insist on OEM glass as some of the aftermarket glass is junk. Please keep in mind that most passenger airbags are designed to bounce off of the windshield during deployment. Inferior glass or installing where it's too cold can jeopardize a passenger's safety.

[G_whizz]

Uunngghh... that's a downer...

Good luck with the insurance.

[awdjdmtalon]

Hey Steve. Can you check w/ parts to see what a windsheild for my 04 Coupe will cost. Thanks.

[SteveTheTech]

My online catalog says its ~$815. I don't know how close that is, my parts manager/friend is out today and I can check for you when he gets in tomorrow.

[awdjdmtalon]

WOW!!!! $815 My insurance will only cover up to $400. Looks like it will be aftermarket glass.

At least I know the glass guy we use pretty good. I know he will do a good job. He does dam good work. So I know there will be no issues. Plus my insurance warrantys the repair for life.

Just have to come up w/ $250 for my deductable. Looks like I will be taking on some side work this week.

[SteveTheTech]

Seriously though I am surprised that it is over a grand list price on an OE windsheild. I would say go PPG or something comperable, depending on what you can get in the middle of no where. Will they you supply the parts as you may be able to get them cheaper than they would be able to do through insurance.

MMMM good old side work, the bane of my existance.

[bentrod]

Your glass guy can get OEM from an outside vendor, for A LOT less than Infiniti charges. Everytime I've had a WS replaced through SafeLite Glass, they obtained an OEM for the same price as the aftermarket.

Another trick to consider, if you have a deductible, is to go to a glass shop and ask what their best price would be for cash and tell them you don't have insurance. Most glass shops get a breakage allowance from the suppliers. They say they broke the WS and will pocket the cash. I've had WS's replaced for $100 cash.

[bentrod]

Steve, Does your shop actually do their own glass work? Almost all dealers and collision shops I know sublet this work so they don't have to eat a broken piece of glass.

[Sentientbydesign]

Why YES I do mean hypothetically. We are calling for some cold mornings here in the mountians the next few mornings. And I know I will need to use the defroster to clear the windsheild. And we all know how bad that is for star chips on windsheilds.

This is EXACTLY what happened on my I30. I was driving one afternoon and a shard of metal came flying at me. It grazed the hood, the smacked the windshield and left a small crack.

I drove it like that for about a year not knowing that I could epoxy it. Then, just around New Years, I'm driving at around 4 am and I turn on my defroster. But stupid me, doesn't think to turn the temp down from 80. Next thing I know, I have a 2ft long crack along the bottom of my windshield.

[SteveTheTech]

We also sublet glass work, it is a serious PITA that none of use have or want the tools for. It is so much easier and less hassel to have others do it.

[uncbeers]

Not that I condone it but insurance is so EFFFED up why not play their game? What about getting glass coverage today and then calling in a week with a broken windshield? I know it isn't ethical but is anything insurance companies do to us ethical? Last time I checked they can drop us for making too many claims a year. Wonder what happens if I just pay their monthly payments periodically and only 50% of the dues? Jerks!

I was in VA beach a few years ago (2004?) and heard they had their first snow in a long time a few years prior. Guess glass coverage claims went way up (if the people even had the coverage) the following days when the residents decided to 'defrost' their windshields via hot water.

[awdjdmtalon]

I just got off the phone w/ the glass shop that we use. They are going to waive $50 of the ded. b/c we use them soo much. They also told me that my insurance denied the request for OEM glass.

I would add the glass coverage, but I have already filed a claim w/ my insurance. Plus I could not do that. Karma would come back and bite me square in the arse.

[SteveTheTech]

That's the smart way to deal with it we do not need people here advocating insurance fraud as that is a felony.

[uncbeers]

That's why I said I do not condone it! Those insurance companies just piss me off with their tactics. I think the final straw was when I heard Home Owner's Ins. was going to drop somebody I knew because they made their first claim in 10yrs and that was "one too many" for them.

In all fairness, I have Farmers for my car and they have been very good but I also know my agent from way back so that helps. Just to clear the record, I have glass coverage (seems to be a necessity in the state) and have never used that tactic.

[Jacko3]

Man,

I had this same problem with my G a few months ago---seach for that topic if you can. Insurance company sent an autoglass guy out to fix the windshield. They did a pretty decent job of fixing the windshield.

The only problem I have with the G is that it is too delicate a car on the exterior. Any and all things can cause severe danage to its exterior.

This weekend, on one of my crazy drives on Saturday evening, I went over something again. Whatever the stuff was, pulled out the right clear corners---I didn't realize it until sunday morning when I went to gas my car. Fortunately, it was easily pushed back in and clipped itself back. The engine and transmissin are the best things on the G--bullet proof.

I don't know of any one with their G who has all their alignment being as perfect as when they first bought the G, especially with sports suspension--you feel all the bumps and rattles on the road. My little nissan flys over bumps with great joy and with little care in the world. This week, I am driving little nissan a little more to show my appreciation for her staeady and good suspension--still has the same struts and shock absorbers she came with 15 years ago.

[suby01]

sucks dude. did she sound cute at least we need a rant section