Cracked Windshield

[carneyman]

So I was driving back to school about a year ago and all of the sudden, my windshield cracked. Nothing hit it or anything, although there was a crosswind that day. It was loud as hell and at first I thought the dash had cracked. I was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and what they thought might be the cause. Seems like a bad deal if you ask me. Its one thing for it to crack when a rock hits it, but when your just driving?! I mean come on, its a WINDshield...its supposed to be able to withstand a little bit of pressure!!

[Nick99Chevy]

No chips in it at all before that?

[pwall]

Mine cracked this past winter at the top near the rear-view mirror.

My buddies Silverado is also cracked under the wiper blades.

In both cases, no previous damage to either windshield.

[carneyman]

No chips in it at all before that?

 

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None, it was basically a new window...got the dealer to put it in as an incentive...

[firefighteremt3100]

You probably picked up something...rock or whatnot, and didnt see it. The reason I say this is the windshield is designed for a certain strength and is actually what gives your roof strength in rollovers. Either that, or you got a faulty windshield.

[carneyman]

You probably picked up something...rock or whatnot, and didnt see it. The reason I say this is the windshield is designed for a certain strength and is actually what gives your roof strength in rollovers. Either that, or you got a faulty windshield.

 

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Its possible, but it would have had to have been thrown by my own tires as there wasnt any other vehicles around...and if thats the case, then that means my pickup is suicidal...

 

And it really didnt sound like a rock hit it...unfortunately, i know that sound well. It really just sounded like the windshield cracked for no reason.

[firefighteremt3100]

You probably picked up something...rock or whatnot, and didnt see it. The reason I say this is the windshield is designed for a certain strength and is actually what gives your roof strength in rollovers. Either that, or you got a faulty windshield.

 

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Its possible, but it would have had to have been thrown by my own tires as there wasnt any other vehicles around...and if thats the case, then that means my pickup is suicidal...

 

And it really didnt sound like a rock hit it...unfortunately, i know that sound well. It really just sounded like the windshield cracked for no reason.

 

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Probably possible. I had no one around when I broke the windshield in my work truck. I figured it was something that fell from a tree or something. Who knows. Guess thats why insurance companies make the big bucks

[slemmer]

I got a couple of tiny chips from stones thrown from a transport in front of me. Truck is only 8 months old. My compreshensive is $500, so I'll be out of pocket when and if I get it replaced.

[az'03Silverado]

Was it really hot out? Here in Arizona when the temps get above 100 a windshield can crack due to the heat. It will get really hot and any abrupt temperature change (like a sprinkler, water balloon, sudden shade) will cause a crack especially if there is a weak spot.

[pwall]

I got a quote for $250 to have the windshield replaced (Speedy Auto Glass). And this is without an insurance claim.

Sounds good to me. I haven't replaced my windshield yet as the crack is at the top and is only about 4inches long. I'm hesitant to replace the glass for a small crack in the windshield.....think I'll wait until it gets worse.

I'm concerned that the new glass just won't seal as good as the 'factory'.

[redvett]

If your truck is still under warrenty and there are no chips in the windshield try the dealer. Could be a bad glass.

[dewfpo]

Windshields expand and contract at a different rate than the metal frame around it. That's why there's so much cushioning (gasket around it). I have an 85 Ford that the windshield would snap or pop loudly just sitting in the sun in my driveway. I took it back to the dealer and told them I don't want this thing to explode in my face when I'm driving down the rode. They said no worries. It's been 22 years and it stopped popping after the first year or two. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if there is any binding of the windshield when it is installed, and the windshield expands or contracts enough the binding can cause the windshield to crack. When they replace it, have them check for any pinchpoints in the windshield frame near where the crack started.

 

DEWFPO

[sflichel]

Windshields expand and contract at a different rate than the metal frame around it.  That's why there's so much cushioning (gasket around it).  I have an 85 Ford that the windshield would snap or pop loudly just sitting in the sun in my driveway.  I took it back to the dealer and told them I don't want this thing to explode in my face when I'm driving down the rode.  They said no worries.  It's been 22 years and it stopped popping after the first year or two.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, if there is any binding of the windshield when it is installed, and the windshield expands or contracts enough the binding can cause the windshield to crack.  When they replace it, have them check for any pinchpoints in the windshield frame near where the crack started.

 

DEWFPO

 

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I agree, a good cause is some kind of pressure applied to the windshield to cause this crack. If something is not right and the windshield is under a bit of pressure even a bump resulting in a little twisting action of the cab can cause a crack, it doesn't take much when the glass is already stressed.

[pm26]

I worked in a glass factory years ago and sometimes a pane of glass will crack or even explode into pieces suddenly without any damage on its surface. This happens primarily due to improper annealing , i.e. insufficient relieving of internal stresses trapped inside the glass after the glass is made and cools to room temperature. What annealing does is that it raises the temperature of the glass article close to its softening point (glass has no melting point as such) and then cools it at a very slow predetermined rate. This way, most of trapped internal stresses are relieved and such glass article will be fairly durable over its lifetime.

 

There have been incidents with improperly tempered sunroof glass panels on some cars, which shattered suddenly without any damage being visible while people were driving their cars.

 

Glass is a clear solution of inorganic oxides. The highest percentage is silica oxide, followed by calcium and magnesium oxide, and smaller percentages of other oxides, such as barium oxide. Silica oxide obviously comes from melting of sand. Becuase all sand contains small percentage of iron oxide which colors the glass grean, very small quantities of other chemicals, such as selenium and cobalt are utilized to decolorize the glass to make it more clear. One teaspoon of cobalt will turn several tons of glass blue.

[fossil]

Could be a stress crack.

I used to own a Pontiac Bonneville and those cars were notorious for havng the windshield crack for no reason, always about 3 -4 inches from the bottom and travelling full length from one side to the other. Dealers and glass shops told me it was because of stress from a design flaw with the car, ie: body flex.