Windshield Stress Point
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 2
From: Randolph, NJ
Windshield Stress Point
My new truck came with a cracked windshield. No biggie, so did my old one. I am about to get it fixed but the PO said that this is the second time the windshield has cracked like this. No stone chip, he claims he ran the defroster on a cold day and the crack came up from the center bottom of the windshield and then spread outward. He felt there was a stress point that caused the window to crack like that. The truck doesn't seem to have been in any accidents or anything. Has anyone heard of this? Is there anything I can do if this is the problem?
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks,
Jim
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
It doesn't say what kind of truck you've got, my friends 96 B4000 has been through 2 front windows. The last time he was just washing it on a hot day. When he sprayed cold water on the front window it cracked from top to bottom at about the middle of the window. Never seen anything like it before. The other time was a simple rock chip, but it really spread quickly cracking from top to bottom again.
Ron
Ron
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
I've seen vehicles other than Rangers crack the windshield when they are garden hosed on a hot day in the sun. Washing in the sun should always be avoided.
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Feb 13, 2004 at 03:18 PM.
New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
My '98 had cracks on the passenger side in both panes, I took it to Ford when back when it was still under warranty. No stars or chips, the cracks started from underneath the gasket. It took a little while, but after being dissatisfied with the service tech, I took the problem to the Service Manager, and after a few good arguments I got a new windshield for free and under warranty.
Ford will not warranty thier glass to road damage (chips, stars, etc), mine got covered under poor manufacturing, or cab flex. I also got lucky when I caught the service tech telling me the windshield was only one layer of glass! (single layer windsheilds have not been DOT approved since the 50's or 60's!)
What cracks windshields when water is applied, is the sudden temperature change. It's something I keep in mind up here. If you throw hot water on glass at a temperature of only 10 degrees, it will probalby shatter.
Temperature change will also cuase stars to turn into cracks during the next season. (winter-summer, summer-winter) This is just caused by the expansion rate of glass, nothing can really be done about that.
Ford will not warranty thier glass to road damage (chips, stars, etc), mine got covered under poor manufacturing, or cab flex. I also got lucky when I caught the service tech telling me the windshield was only one layer of glass! (single layer windsheilds have not been DOT approved since the 50's or 60's!)
What cracks windshields when water is applied, is the sudden temperature change. It's something I keep in mind up here. If you throw hot water on glass at a temperature of only 10 degrees, it will probalby shatter.
Temperature change will also cuase stars to turn into cracks during the next season. (winter-summer, summer-winter) This is just caused by the expansion rate of glass, nothing can really be done about that.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
Sub zero temps and hitting the windshield with the defroster will often crack them.
Try a little test at home..... Put a drinking glass in the freezer overnight. Take it out the next morning and light a match or lighter and hold it 2-3" below the frozen glass. The glass will at least crack if not shatter.
Try a little test at home..... Put a drinking glass in the freezer overnight. Take it out the next morning and light a match or lighter and hold it 2-3" below the frozen glass. The glass will at least crack if not shatter.
