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Cracked Winshield on my work van..

Ted W. | Posted in Tools for Home Building on March 6, 2009 07:13am

So I’m driving along enjoying the nice weather we’re finally having, and I hear a quiet little “crack”. Almost inaudable but distinctive, so I glance over to see at the lower, passenger side of my windshield a short crack about 2″ long. Dont know what caused it, probably a pebble but there was no car in front of me. Could have fallen from a building, seein’s how I’m downtown. Or maybe just a stress crack.. I really don’t know. But it looks like it will continue or, worse yet, shatter at some unpredictable point.

Well… I’ve heard of these repair kits for auto glass. Anybody have any experience with this?

~ Ted W ~

Cheap Tools – BuildersTools.net
See my work – TedsCarpentry.com

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Replies

  1. User avater
    JeffBuck | Mar 06, 2009 07:25am | #1

    have ya heard of insurance?

     

    $50 makes a windshield problem go away.

    just saw a coupon for $15 off my deductable ... I've had them replaced for the whole deductible taken care of.

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

    1. User avater
      Ted W. | Mar 06, 2009 07:41am | #2

      No, I never hurd of inshureence.. =P

      I only have liability. It's a work truck. But thanks for the tip.~ Ted W ~

      Cheap Tools - BuildersTools.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Mar 06, 2009 07:49am | #3

        btw ... only repair kit I've heard of is for small chips.

        resin is supposed to stop the chip from spreading.

         

        never used it ... have always hoped the chip's would grow into a full scale crack ...

        and the damn insurance would kinda pay a little for itself!

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

        1. User avater
          Ted W. | Mar 06, 2009 09:54am | #4

          Yeah, you're right.

          I think I'll do myself a favor and head straight to the auto glass shop in the morning, since hitting the express way would be a really bad idea. They'll probably have it done in a couple hours for a couple hundred bucks. And the world will look Oh, so much brighter, through a shiny new windshield. =)~ Ted W ~

          Cheap Tools - BuildersTools.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com

          1. brownbagg | Mar 06, 2009 02:39pm | #5

            here, they come to you, at YOUR jobsite and install the windshield

          2. User avater
            Matt | Mar 06, 2009 03:32pm | #7

            I think generally when you get a little crack, it turns into a big crack later.

            I have a crack that started with a rock or something.  A few weeks later it cracked more.  Few weeks after that - even more.  The good thing is that it started near the lower right corner (passenger side) and kinda a u-turn and ended up on the other side of the same corner, maybe 12" long all together.  I've passed state safety inspection at least 4 times since then.  I guess it isn't in the drivers vision area so inspection says it's OK.  So, it's been that way for at least 5 years.  OTOH I was looking at my windshield the other day - as Nigel said - it is all pitted, etc....  As soon as I get some money :-) I think I'll have it replaced...

          3. User avater
            Matt | Mar 06, 2009 03:42pm | #8

            PS - I looked at your web site.  I'd recommend having someone go over it it with you to check for typos and maybe hone the language a bit. 

        2. andybuildz | Mar 06, 2009 03:51pm | #9

          Thats what I did a few months ago....for an added $25 I got glass breakage added on to my insurance...waited few weeks b/4 I called the glass company...then they came to my house and put in a new windshield right in my driveway. All paid for.

           

           

           

           

          http://www.cliffordrenovations.com

          Why do I keep...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ZkQC0riwc

          http://www.ramdass.org

           

          1. AitchKay | Mar 07, 2009 06:57pm | #10

            Be careful what you admit to!AitchKay

          2. User avater
            SteveInCleveland | Mar 25, 2009 08:35pm | #21

            Look, I like the way you think.  Get me your resume, pronto.

            Sincerely,

               B. Obama 

             

             

            "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

  2. USAnigel | Mar 06, 2009 02:54pm | #6

    You will love a new windshield!

    Not just the crack will be gone but all the little pits and haze!

    They will come to you!

  3. AitchKay | Mar 07, 2009 07:09pm | #11

    I had a guy suddenly switch lanes, then put on the brakes right in front of me.

    Pow, a load of beaded ceiling took out my windshield!

    So now I've built a thingy that looks sort of like an oversize bench-hook:

    A rip of 1/2" ply extends from my dashboard back through the pass-through window into the cap on my pickup. A chunk of 2x6 hangs down from it in back to keep it from sliding forward, and another chunk stands up at its front edge to stop materials from flying through the windshield.

    A few 1 1/2" holes in the ply allow for snug strapping of smaller loads, and the inflatable boot seal between the cab and the cap keeps all but a few drips of rain out, so I can carry 14-footers out of the weather.

    Now if I could just remember to toss it into the truck before I head off to the lumberyard...

    Aitchkay

  4. Junkman001 | Mar 07, 2009 07:27pm | #12

    Cracks are generally unrepairable.  Put up with it or replace.

     

    Mike

    Insert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
  5. Junkman001 | Mar 07, 2009 07:30pm | #13

    Just re read your post. Windshields don't shatter.  They're saftey glass with a membrane between two layers of glass.  If you don't have ins. leave it be, just your luck you'll have it replaced and the next day get a stone chip!

     

    Mike

    Insert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
  6. ajs | Mar 08, 2009 03:50am | #14

    I got a short crack like that in my van windshield and ignored it. Then a month or so later when driving through some ice/sleet stuff, I had the defroster cranked up, with one of the defroster output ports near the crack. There was a pop and the crack grew to be about 16 inches long. Probably would have been smart to have the windshield replaced when it was not a real problem.

  7. CardiacPaul | Mar 08, 2009 06:25am | #15

    Ted,

    I had a cell phone with US cellular that kept dropping calls one day when I was talking business, of course I'm driving & re-dialing, really pissed me off, having to call back & explain, this was early days of cell phones. I felt embarrassed explaining this & could hear the frustration in the other persons voice.

    I know, Your thinking "WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS GOT TO DO WITH BROKEN WINDSHIELDS!!??" I'm getten there,

    After the um-teenth time I had alittle    RAGE!!   I threw that FRIGGIN phone as hard as I could & shattered the windshield, should of see me explain that one to the wife, cost me 3 or 4 hundred out of pocket plus 35 dollars for the phone deductible.

     Another Profitable Day!

     

    Paul

     No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.



    Edited 3/7/2009 10:27 pm ET by CardiacPaul

    1. ANDYSZ2 | Mar 08, 2009 10:27am | #16

      So that's what they mean by"showing your temper"

      ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?

      REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST

       

  8. Nails | Mar 08, 2009 05:15pm | #17

    TW......Local auto glass co here in central Illinois said they would be happy to replace my wind shield but they could fix a straight line crack if it was less than the length of a dollar bill or a circle chip if it was less than the size of a quarter.

    Said  ok they took in the shop 20 min. later , two rock chips and one straight line fixed .............$45.00 .........that was 17 months ago ..no problems.

  9. schris | Mar 08, 2009 11:00pm | #18

    FWIW electrician drove around with cracked windshield. Stopped by the police twice,the 2 tickets he got were more than the cost of a new one.

  10. mike4244 | Mar 09, 2009 03:52am | #19

    ten or so years ago I was driving down a rural road,heard a pop. Looks like a beebee shot hit the windshield.No rocks,no cars in  front of me for miles.Luckily it only cracked about 1/2 " long with the beebee indentation in the middle.Hasn't gotten any larger.

    mike

    1. User avater
      Ted W. | Mar 25, 2009 03:17pm | #20

      Thanks for all the feedback, folks. I got it replaced the next morning. In my area a cracked windshield will get you a ticket for sure. The cost was $240, done in about an hour and I was back to work. ~ Ted W ~

      Cheap Tools - BuildersTools.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com

  11. User avater
    SteveInCleveland | Mar 25, 2009 08:41pm | #22

    Did someone say "crack"?

    I've got 40 lbs of it under my skirt.

                  - Roseanne Barr

     

     

     

    "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

    1. User avater
      Ted W. | Mar 25, 2009 10:39pm | #23

      The president AND a celebrity? You're impersonations are impressive indeed. Now can you sing Star Spangled Banner for all us hearing impaired?

       

      LOL =)~ Ted W ~

      Cheap Tools - BuildersTools.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com

      1. User avater
        SteveInCleveland | Mar 25, 2009 11:38pm | #24

        I don't know, the last one was pretty weak.  I can't picture Roseanne in a skirt. 

         

         

        "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

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