WTF? Window Exploded

TheScaryGuy · January 29, 2003

Okay, on my way to class this morning in MI. Really cold night the night before, as I'm leaving I notice glass all over behind the van. I look at the hatch and the edges are all gone and it looks like someone punched it out from the inside. At first I thought it must have been a burgler, but nothing was stolen, then I examined it more carefully and figure that somehow the cold put some weird stress on it and made it crack and pop out. Any ideas anyone? Its at the shop right now getting a new rear hatch window.

Shaners · January 29, 2003

I've heard of them "popping" from both extreme heat and cold.

Dkalvin · January 30, 2003

I don't know if it's an urban myth or not but, I heard when the Camaro was redesigned in 83(?) that they had problems with the rear hatch blowing out. Supposedly the car was too airtight and the pressure blew out the hatch glass. Maybe Mervz or a G.M. tech could answer this myth.

bowtie_pasta · January 30, 2003

My folks just had this happen to their caddy. They were on the freeway when it happened. It happened to the small side window on the drivers side (it's a coupe). At first they thought someone was shooting at them.

I don't recall them saying it was extremely hot or cold out. Weird.

racer · January 30, 2003

I seen it happen when it extremely hot I keep my windows opened a little when I park my vehicles outside during the summer

Wingnut · January 30, 2003

I had it happen exactly halfway between OKC and Dallas. It was loud as #### when it went too. 10 degrees outside to boot.

I had glass all over me, so I pulled off at the next exit. As soon as I get out, a lot of the glass that had gone in my shirt was now going down into my pants....So I'm standing in this parking lot, it's 10 degrees outside (it's also 1 a.m.) in plain view of everyone driving by on the highway (I was under a big light in order to see) dropping my pants to get the glass out.

People were honking away. About that time I figured out why.

Anyone that has made this drive would probably be able to tell you the only business ventures on the side of I-35 just south of the TX/OK border are gas stations....and porn shops....

Of course, I wasn't at a gas station.

SnakeEyeSS · January 30, 2003

yup, it's due to extreme atmospheric pressure inside or out of the vehicle, we talked about this in Physics a while back. Also if rapidly changing temperatures affected the glass.

Wingnut · January 30, 2003

I don't know if it's an urban myth or not but, I heard when the Camaro was redesigned in 83(?) that they had problems with the rear hatch blowing out. Supposedly the car was too airtight and the pressure blew out the hatch glass. Maybe Mervz or a G.M. tech could answer this myth.

I saw it happen to an IROC Z once.

It may have been due to the 2 18" woofers he put in the back though.

I hear their pretty loud...

....Jeez I crack myself up.

MountaineerTom · January 30, 2003

I doubt this is what happened in your case, but I remember in high school, a friend decided to spray his car off at a car was on an extremely cold day. The car wash sprayed warm/hot water, and as soon as that water hit the windshield, BOOM, it shattered.

It was pretty funny. Glad it wasn't me though.

Snacky · January 30, 2003

Anyone that has made this drive would probably be able to tell you the only business ventures on the side of I-35 just south of the TX/OK border are gas stations....and porn shops....

Of course, I wasn't at a gas station.

Yep, made that route before

99silveradoz71 · January 30, 2003

I had it happen exactly halfway between OKC and Dallas. It was loud as #### when it went too. 10 degrees outside to boot.

I had glass all over me, so I pulled off at the next exit. As soon as I get out, a lot of the glass that had gone in my shirt was now going down into my pants....So I'm standing in this parking lot, it's 10 degrees outside (it's also 1 a.m.) in plain view of everyone driving by on the highway (I was under a big light in order to see) dropping my pants to get the glass out.

People were honking away. About that time I figured out why.

Anyone that has made this drive would probably be able to tell you the only business ventures on the side of I-35 just south of the TX/OK border are gas stations....and porn shops....

Of course, I wasn't at a gas station.

Excuse me while I whip this out..ha

sincityZ71 · January 30, 2003

I had it happen exactly halfway between OKC and Dallas. It was loud as #### when it went too. 10 degrees outside to boot.

I had glass all over me, so I pulled off at the next exit. As soon as I get out, a lot of the glass that had gone in my shirt was now going down into my pants....So I'm standing in this parking lot, it's 10 degrees outside (it's also 1 a.m.) in plain view of everyone driving by on the highway (I was under a big light in order to see) dropping my pants to get the glass out.

People were honking away. About that time I figured out why.

Anyone that has made this drive would probably be able to tell you the only business ventures on the side of I-35 just south of the TX/OK border are gas stations....and porn shops....

Of course, I wasn't at a gas station.

That is a great story...lmao

Wingnut · January 30, 2003

I had it happen exactly halfway between OKC and Dallas. It was loud as #### when it went too. 10 degrees outside to boot.

I had glass all over me, so I pulled off at the next exit. As soon as I get out, a lot of the glass that had gone in my shirt was now going down into my pants....So I'm standing in this parking lot, it's 10 degrees outside (it's also 1 a.m.) in plain view of everyone driving by on the highway (I was under a big light in order to see) dropping my pants to get the glass out.

People were honking away. About that time I figured out why.

Anyone that has made this drive would probably be able to tell you the only business ventures on the side of I-35 just south of the TX/OK border are gas stations....and porn shops....

Of course, I wasn't at a gas station.

That is a great story...lmao

Yeah, and what really sucked is that I had to finish the drive without a drivers window.

My heater works great. But not at 80 with no window.

I still can't feel my left ear.

bummed-n-Md · January 30, 2003

Had this happen to the side windows on my NIsson "Famliy van" back in the late 80's while we were stationed in Southern Califironia. The kids were in their car seats on one ocaasion. We were very fortunate on this occasion that the window next to them blew OUT instead if in. The next time it happened, (a couple of months later), my wife was driving to work just after she dropped of the kids at day care. This time the window (a different one) blew in and had glass all over the kids seats.

We were very lucky on both occasions.

bummed.