Windshield Crack

[jerseyguy357]

I got a vertical crack that is one inch long and very thin. I can't afford a new windshield. The crack has not increased, it is on
the top of the windshield. Please help, thank you

 

[Chris142]

its just going to get bigger.

 

[TheLastWord]

Check your insurance. Many policies have special coverage for glass.

 

[jcy]

OP's username is awesome

did you ask your insurance company about filing a claim? the repair might be covered due to state law. when i filed a claim they said if the crack can't be completely obscured by a dollar bill, then it's a full replacement for $100 aftermarket, $400 oem. if it's smaller, then it's a repair which could be free

 

[CKN]

I got a vertical crack that is one inch long and very thin. I can't afford a new windshield. The crack has not increased, it is on
the top of the windshield. Please help, thank you

Type of vehicle? Do you have a "black box" behind the rear view mirror?

 

[Exhaustgases]

A window fix it person may be able to fix it and stop it from spreading.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

You can try one of those windshield repair kits from Walmart

 

[Lubener]

I got a vertical crack that is one inch long and very thin. I can't afford a new windshield. The crack has not increased, it is on
the top of the windshield. Please help, thank you

If the crack is in any way within the driver's view, most won't repair it. Also, once the defect has spread from a "star" chip (which can be repaired) to an actual crack, the windshield needs to be replaced.

 

[Cujet]

From what I have seen all glass repairs are pretty much useless. The idea that some form of clear resin can "glue" the glass with enough strength to prevent future problems is completely in error. At best, the resin can somewhat hide the problem.

Push on it from the inside and the crack will grow, no matter what.

 

[John105]

OP's username is awesome

did you ask your insurance company about filing a claim? the repair might be covered due to state law. when i filed a claim they said if the crack can't be completely obscured by a dollar bill, then it's a full replacement for $100 aftermarket, $400 oem. if it's smaller, then it's a repair which could be free

imagine nobody would have snagged that username? my gmail is the same thing, my buddy said in 2008, how in the heck were you able to get that (it's the name of a major city).

maybe depends on the car but I thought windshields were very affordable nowadays, my Maxima was $114 so I didn't use insurance (I was afraid it would go up even though comp). the BMW I wanted OE so I used insurance as at the time it was $680. Meaning if one does Safelite I thought it was relatively cheap when you just use their glass

 

[Cheetah-kins]

You can try one of those windshield repair kits from Walmart

I've used those kits at least a half dozen times successfully on multiple vehicles. Done carefully they work extremely, imo. In fact I've never had a crack get worse and require a windshield replacement after using the kit. I would try that before replacing a windshield you can't afford, OP.

In regards to the poster who said the repair kits don't work because if you push on the glass it will cause the crack to get worse.. uhm.. don't push on the glass!

 

[SC Maintenance]

imagine nobody would have snagged that username? my gmail is the same thing, my buddy said in 2008, how in the heck were you able to get that (it's the name of a major city).

maybe depends on the car but I thought windshields were very affordable nowadays, my Maxima was $114 so I didn't use insurance (I was afraid it would go up even though comp). the BMW I wanted OE so I used insurance as at the time it was $680. Meaning if one does Safelite I thought it was relatively cheap when you just use their glass

Depends. My Nissans are $200. My Toyota is $1200.

 

[fsdork]

From what I have seen all glass repairs are pretty much useless. The idea that some form of clear resin can "glue" the glass with enough strength to prevent future problems is completely in error. At best, the resin can somewhat hide the problem.

Push on it from the inside and the crack will grow, no matter what.

In my experience, having had some chips with localized "starring" fixed, and having let others go, there seems to be some value in getting them sealed - if for no other reason than to prevent water intrusion leading to freezing and expansion of ice within the defect. Purely anecdotal, of course.

 

[Pew]

I've used the RainX windshield chip repair from walmart before with good results on chips. However, that was with rock chips. IMO if the 1-inch crack is in the way of the driver's view, has reached the edge of the glass, and/or is growing then I'd get it replaced via my insurance asap (I did so in my current vehicle early this year, a bad rock chip started to spider out more and more.)

 

[DukeOfFrontenac]

Try one of those repair kits. Nothing to lose except a couple bucks. I've had good luck with them.

 

[D60]

Here glass shops used to take a Dremel and a tiny bit and drill each end of the crack. The idea was to stop it, but at the time they didn't charge at all because there was no guarantee.

I'd expect a nominal fee -- perhaps credited toward a new windshield? -- but call around and ask if this is still a thing. Or get a tiny diamond bit and chuck it up. I specifically remember he used a Dremel and I ASSume he needed the (much) greater spindle speed.

What do you have to lose by inquiring? Try mom 'n pop places, I doubt corporations want to mess with this.

 

[DriveHard]

Drill the ends of the crack with a glass drill, and tons of water (constant flushing), then fill with the windshield glass found at most auto parts stores and amazon. Find one that uses the syringe for pressure and suction.

 

[ecotourist]

I've had repairs done on cracks with variable long term success. Some worked perfectly for years. Some cracked within a few months to years. A crack that extends to an edge doesn't seem to be repairable for any length of time.

A double stone chip within my field of view (same stone hit twice!) didn't work out - there was terrible distortion. But it was a repair at a glass place on condition the result was satisfactory. So they replaced the glass at a good price and deducted the cost of the repair.

In one province the cost of glass replacement was different when you had insurance. Cheaper if you didn't. Doesn't seem right but that's what it was.

 

[KrisZ]

If you drill small holes at both ends of the crack, that will stop it from spreading, but you need to be careful not to drill all the way through.

 

[John105]

All kidding aside I guess the assumption is OP doesn't have comp insurance. Mine was not free windshield, but free repair. It's ok if not in driver view. It looked like a white pimple. But mine got cracked worse unrelated to the repair so I insisted upon OE. That is an almost hour long argument with at the time the lizard co.