Motors How dangerous are windshield cracks?

I've had a small crack in my windshield for a while, but I had it "terminated" via drilling a small hole and filling it with super-glue. (I'm sure it was slightly more technical than that, but that's what it looked like to me.)

I, being the genius I am that fell asleep one day in Physics class, had my defroster on high to melt the ice (rather than scraping it off myself).

The crack spread about an inch yesterday after not moving for about 4 months, and then today it very quickly spread about 3 feet or more. (it now only lacks about 6 inches from covering the entire width of the windshield.)

Now, if I ask a windshield repair shop if this is dangerous, I'm sure they will tell me how not only will I not get the ladies, but I will surely die if I drive more than the distance between my current location and their shop. (And they will assure me their shop is the closest one.)

So, should I rush out and buy a new windshield considering I drive the interstate every now and again, or just wait until I'm going to sell the car? (anyone want to buy a car?)

And what should I take into consideration when I do buy a new windshield. Are all windshields the same?

 

3 FEET?!

Get it replaced asap. Something gets thrown up and hits that when you're on the freeway and you've got shattering glass hitting your face whilst you're trying to drive. Or, it'll render the window so cracked you wont be able to see through it.

 

See if your insurance covers replacement windscreens. I know many in the UK do, not sure about US insurers though.
I'd say that if the crack is that big, you're in danger of the whole windscreen breaking. Better safe than sorry.

 

bah! That's what I figured.

It is a leased vehicle, so I'm required to have "full coverage" so I'm pretty sure windshields are covered by it. I just hate relying on insurance since it makes my rates go up, but oh well, life goes on. That's what budgets are for... to be spent when you least expect it!

Thanks for the quick response, I'll call my insurance company on the lunch break and see what's up.

Should I just go to any auto glass shop and get a new windshield, or do I need to find a special kind of glass that doesn't suck? I don't want to pay top dollar, but I also don't want to get something cheap since I'm hoping this is a not-so-common purchase.

 

Hmm, apparently it'll be about $150 + molding + tax, which kind of shocked me. I spent more on my cell phone yesterday, so this isn't so horrible. (Not that I enjoy spending $150 on a new windshield, but that's better than the $400ish I was expecting)

 

Being a windscreen, it won't explode all over you - they're laminated so that won't happen, but it still can shatter within the laminate completely obscuring your vision.

I had a large crack form across mine in my first car after a stone hit it, flung up by another car. Within half a day I had a 6 inch crack. After 2 days it had spread to almost halfway across the screen, frost overnight really screws it up. I got it replaced straight away.

 

It is dangerous - get it fixed.

Over here when you claim on glass cover it doesn't usually make your rates go up afaik, you just have to pay the excess. It doesn't count as a claim on the main policy. Not sure what the situation is on the US of A though.

 

insurance companies in the US like to screw you for all you're worth. So your rates may go up. It's not that dangerous really but you can get a ticket for it. So get it replaced within the month.

 

if your worried about puttin your rates up check how much it will cost to replace without the insurance... then see which you would prefer...

Eitherway get it changed!

 

If it's a relatively new car i would get it fixed, but it's not as big of a danger as some people are making out. This is becuase windshields are made by laminating to sheets tempered glass onto a sheet of vinyl. As a result windshields and with stand an impact from a 10lb bowling ball from several meters. As an example my parents van had a crack that went from the bottom of the windshield right to the top and it was like that for about a year without any issues. We eventually got it replaced as the DMV here wouldn't test me in a car with a crack windshield

 

The problem is not with the crack per se, it's the fact that the crack will weaken the windscreen. This means that it is liable to shatter with little warning - not a nice feeling when you're driving on a freeway at 70+mph...and while the screen shouldn't actually break (it should shatter, but remain in place because of the lamination), it will mean that you won't actually be able to see where you're driving - afain, not nice when you're on the freeway.

I've had my windscreen shatter on the motorway here (got hit by a sheet of flying polystyrene) - luckily I was in the slow lane preparing to pull off at a junction, so I was able to find my way to the hard shoulder - but it was scary enough for me

 

Well, I'm going to call my insurance company over my lunch break and see what this means, but either way $150 USD isn't too bad. (about 76 GBP)

 

The other reason that not be metioned that if what ever reason you flip your car youll lose a large amount of strength that the windscreen supplyies and might end up calapseing the roof with you in. its like wearinf a seat belt. i never had / been involved in and accident but it all it takes is that one bump and your dead where you would have lived.
so all it takes is that one bad driver on freeway who decides to side swipe you and you on your roof.

 

its not worth it in the US, your rates will go up ( if its covered) much higher than the 150 cost.

 

idd very true

 

also while at the windscreen place see if you can get the little patches they will probably have there

its just a clear adhesive plastic sticker that goes on as soon as you get another chip

then you take it in and pay the 30AUD(at least thats the cost here) for it to get filled

this takes less than about 10 minutes and saves you the cost of the entire windscreen

the stickers prevent the air and moisture getting in which causes the glass to lose its bond with the laminate

<-- good friends with a guy who runs a windscreen business

 

not only anything thrown up on from the road into the windshield will put it through. but even accelerating more as it puts more wind pressure onto the windshield. I would get it replaced straight away as that blowing in can cause a fatal accident.