Windshield - WTH?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2015
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Windshield - WTH?
I've got a 2012 F250, which I've owned since 2016. I'm in upstate NY, where the temperature was about 7 below. Went out this morning, started the truck and began brushing the 8 inches of snow or so off the windshield. Heat was set on defrost. I got cold before I finished, so I went inside to warm up. I came out when I was warm and finished brushing the snow off. The windshield was cracked.
The exact same thing happened last winter. I had SafeLite put a new windshield in last March.
Now I'm sixty eight, and I've been driving here for over 40 years, including numerous winters where temperatures hit 20 to 30 below. And prior to last winter, I NEVER had a cracked windshield on any vehicle I drove. Is there something about the design of these windshields and heaters that make them especially susceptible to cracking in extreme cold? Anyone else having a problem with cracked windshields?
The exact same thing happened last winter. I had SafeLite put a new windshield in last March.
Now I'm sixty eight, and I've been driving here for over 40 years, including numerous winters where temperatures hit 20 to 30 below. And prior to last winter, I NEVER had a cracked windshield on any vehicle I drove. Is there something about the design of these windshields and heaters that make them especially susceptible to cracking in extreme cold? Anyone else having a problem with cracked windshields?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: NC
I've had 6 or 8 windshields replaced on various makes and models due to cracks. My Wrangler would get multiple chips and cracks until it wouldn't pass inspection, then I'd get a new windshield. Rinse and repeat for 20 years. Normally just a patch will keep the chip from spreading. I'm curious if you can find a tiny chip along your crack somewhere.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2016
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I just read last week that windshields are often tested for small dings/chips by taking a ball point pen and go along the crack. If it stops, that's where the ding is. Also, small hits can be found along the edge.
One more thing.. Warped frames by collision or manufacture can cause windshields to keep breaking due to stress fractures.
Not all glass is the same....When you get a quote and one says, $200.00 and another says OEM $500.00, there's a reason.
Cheap overseas manufactured glass is required to only meet DOT minimum specs and that's just what they do. They just meet the minimum.
The amount of tinting and if it has sound insulation can make the cost different. Thickness of the glass along with glass quality and seals can be cheaper.
One more thing.. Warped frames by collision or manufacture can cause windshields to keep breaking due to stress fractures.
Not all glass is the same....When you get a quote and one says, $200.00 and another says OEM $500.00, there's a reason.
Cheap overseas manufactured glass is required to only meet DOT minimum specs and that's just what they do. They just meet the minimum.
The amount of tinting and if it has sound insulation can make the cost different. Thickness of the glass along with glass quality and seals can be cheaper.
Senior User
Joined: May 2018
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I had a Honda Element with a manufacturing dimple on the windshield frame. That car continually cracked windshields in cold weather until it was finally recalled under warranty. I haven't had any problems like you describe on either my 2001 or my 2015.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,394
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From: Southern KS
I think the OP is asking why the glass is cracking just from applying heat when it's cold.
Good question and maybe the glass is just thinner or the heat is coming on much faster than what you've seen in the last 40 years.
I'm betting the heat is getting applied faster. I saw a lazy neighbor throw hot water on his frosted windshield to clear it. It cracked instantly.
Maybe it's better to set it on floor / defrost until the cab is warmed instead of full blast on the glass.
Good question and maybe the glass is just thinner or the heat is coming on much faster than what you've seen in the last 40 years.
I'm betting the heat is getting applied faster. I saw a lazy neighbor throw hot water on his frosted windshield to clear it. It cracked instantly.
Maybe it's better to set it on floor / defrost until the cab is warmed instead of full blast on the glass.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
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From: very South Texas
North East Ohio,, 2012 F 250... 166,000 miles.. truck sits outside all the time... original windshield.
You have been very LUCKY .. I have been driving for 54 years... 5 windshields, last count.
mostly from rocks off semi-trucks.
small chip.. first time to Heat windshield with defroster.. CRACK...
I moved to Texas 4 months ago..
You have been very LUCKY .. I have been driving for 54 years... 5 windshields, last count.
mostly from rocks off semi-trucks.
small chip.. first time to Heat windshield with defroster.. CRACK...
I moved to Texas 4 months ago..
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2015
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Thanks for the responses. To answer a question, the FIRST windshield was the original Ford glass, not a cheap replacement.
Two months after the windshield was replaced, a rock from a dump truck dinged the new glass. I had SafeLite come and repair it immediately. Today's crack goes right through the center of that "repaired" area.
SafeLight is going to replace the windshield under warranty, no cost to me or the insurance company that payed for the first replacement.
I think the idea of heating the whole cab, and not just dumping all the heat through the defroster is a good one, and I'm going to adopt it whenever it's lower than 30 degrees or so. I must say that both cracks were down low, just above the defroster vents where the hot air would first hit the glass.
Again, thanks for the responses.
Two months after the windshield was replaced, a rock from a dump truck dinged the new glass. I had SafeLite come and repair it immediately. Today's crack goes right through the center of that "repaired" area.
SafeLight is going to replace the windshield under warranty, no cost to me or the insurance company that payed for the first replacement.
I think the idea of heating the whole cab, and not just dumping all the heat through the defroster is a good one, and I'm going to adopt it whenever it's lower than 30 degrees or so. I must say that both cracks were down low, just above the defroster vents where the hot air would first hit the glass.
Again, thanks for the responses.
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Mountain Pass
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From: Calgary Canada
Glass expands when heated just like most other materials, so there are some pretty large stresses when one part of the windshield is heating up a lot faster than another part. That chip repair probably helps a little to prevent this, but ti's still a point of weakness and non-uniformity that would act as a stress concentrator. Sucks that it happened, but really, it's just a part of life.
Some places that repair chips give a "money back guarantee" if that chip spreads (usually just the cost of the chip repair), so you could save $20 or whatever on your new windshield if you went to the same place. Call and complain/ask.
Some places that repair chips give a "money back guarantee" if that chip spreads (usually just the cost of the chip repair), so you could save $20 or whatever on your new windshield if you went to the same place. Call and complain/ask.
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