Yeah so I was driving down the freeway on my way to work a few days ago and a rather large pebble made its way to the base of my windsheild where it chipped the glass causing a crack about 6 crooked inches long. Since then, I've noticed that the crack has increased another 2 or 3 inches.

I can't "feel" the crack from the inside but I can barely feel it from the outside. As mentioned, the root is a tiny chip right at the base of the windshield. My question is, is there anything I need to do at this point? Like any kind of damage control? Is there some sort of sealant that can be applied? I just want to make sure this thing doesn't spread across the whole damn windshield as I don't have the funds right now to do a replacement.

Same thing happened to my front window. It started as a small chip then spread. Only mine is in the center of the windows (annoying!). This happened right before the summer but I havn't had the time, money, or desire to have it fixed. Luckily mine has stopped moving. currently it's about 18-20 inches long. A few people that i've talked to said it can be fixed but no one seems to know where. ;(

-Greg

I have only heard of chip repair. I think after it starts cracking it's too late. I think there is some coating on the glass to keep it from shattering that's probably why you can't feel the crack.

Windshields are basically a sheet of glass, a sheet of plastic (some polymer, I think) and another sheet of glass. That only one of the sheets is cracked is not a surprise.

Sadly I don't know of "run stop" for windshields.

The "coating" is in the center, and (not that this is the first time it was demonstrated to me) on Saturday it was demonstrated that the coating works.

The window in the driver's door ended up in my lap, in pieces. The non-windshield windows lack the shatter-resistant layer. (Well, the back window might also have it. I'm not sure)

Check your state regulations as some states (eg Massachusetts) mandate that your car insurance has to cover the windshield repair without a deductible or at-fault judgement against you. YMMV.

Over here you just call up Autoglass and they come and inject some goop into the crack which makes it invisible and stops it spreading.

Not sure what that goop is, but I guess there must be a local garage/windscreen repair shop that'll do it.

some goop into the crack which makes it invisible and stops it spreading.

Yeah, they do. Unfortunately, I think that cracks above a certain size will require replacement. In the UK, at least, I think a cracked windscreen will cause you to fail your MOT (roadworthiness test -- once a year).

Fortunately, most UK insurance policies don't incur a no-claims penalty for glass replacement -- although you still have to pay the excess -- as I found out the other week when some [censored] broke into my car. Fortunately, there was nothing in it, but I had to replace the driver-side rear window, and bend the driver's door frame back into shape where they'd tried to force it.

And I've got to take the car for MOT this month, which is going to cost more money. Cars, eh?

A 2 or 3 inch crack will probably require windsheild replacement. If your insurance policy has comprehensive glass then your set. They are usually very good about replacing broken glass (doesn't leave bad marks on your policy record). Anyway, I would defientely try to go thru your insurance company first. They may recommend a company to do the job but there may in all liklihood be no charge (and a lot of places will travel to your home or work to replace it). Of course I'm in NY and all my ramblings may not apply in Ca.

In Virginia, if the crack touches two sides or crosses your field of vision, it will fail inspection. This just happened to me ... My insurance company covers repairs for free, but replacement is not. However, the glass company basically only charged me $50 instead of my $250 deductible .. Turns out the insurance system is so screwed up that they WAY overpay for replacements, so glass companies have crazy offers like this.

ms

When I was driving on the Pa turnpike my windshield was assaulted from a stone kicked up by a truck. My insurance company gave me the choice of replacement or repair. Since it was less than the size of a quarter and in the far corner of the windsheld (out of driver's view) I opted for repair. A few months later the crack got bigger. I called the insurance company and they arranged for replacement from the same glass company. Didn't cost a dime; however, I'll probably go right for the replacement in the future. The repair didn't work and even if it had, the sight of the crack was still visible and slowly over time started to annoy me.

In SC, the insurance co. has to cover it and replace it with no penalties if you have comprehensive coverage.

getting a diesel through an MOT

step one thrash the life out of it to clean out exhaust

step two if you can find the boost pipe going to the fuel pump and crimp it or take it off the fuel pump as it will cut your boost fueling meaning you run way too lean meaning you get a nice clean exhaust

Hmm... Getting this image of you thrashing the hell out of a ship and then driving it up to a MOT garage

Ships easy

Stop engine

Wait a few hours

open door and get in there with a fire hose

nice clean exhaust

step one thrash the life out of it to clean out exhaust

Every day, every day .

Actually, less so now that I've moved down to London. I'm not too worried about the emissions -- they were fine last year, and not a lot's changed. It's other stuff that's starting to cost money -- I had to replace the brake discs a few months ago, and I'll need to get the gaiters done before the MOT this month.

And, since I don't have a clue how to do all of this stuff, that means more expense.

It's not helped by the fact that while doing a U-turn the other week, I managed to kerb the left-front wheel and take out the sidewall -- took the tyre almost completely off the rims. That tyre was a bit dodgy anyway -- I had to keep topping up the pressure every week.

Fortunately, I was only doing about 3mph, so no harm done. Unfortunately, my spare was under-spec, tread depth-wise, so after the AA man replaced the punctured tyre with the dodgy spare, I had to drive directly to the tyre place for two new tyres.

So, on the bright side, my brakes and tyres are all OK for the MOT.

Gaiters?

Edit: Ah. CV Boots.

If on the cheap hunt around you can get gaiters that are split along the length and glue together once on the drive shaft.

but i would just take the drive shafts out.

undo drive shaft nuts, lift up car take wheel off, pop the ball joint, get the strut out the way and pull the shafts out easy.

But if taking it to a garage to get gaiters done if milage is high have think about getting bearings done at the same time since the struts are just about out anyway it doesen't take much more time to get bearings pressed out and replaced.

Hmm. Your definition of eay must be different to mine!

I replaced a boot on a Mk1 Golf a few years back and I can distinctly remember the frustration of trying to 'pop' the ball joint. Of course, Haynes chose exactly that moment to be vague and useless.

For damage control, you can apply a thin coat of clear nail polish to the tips of the crack. That will prevent it from propogating further. You only need to coat the tips, and not the whole crack, but I tend to coat the whole crack anyway, just for peace of mind. I carry a bottle in my glove compartment just for that - it was hard to explain a few times...

Just make sure you use clear... bright red would be more annoying than the crack itself

You ever seen the size of hammers marine engineers use

Must be pretty big if to clean out the engine you actually go inside it and hose it out!

included one crew member inside inlet manifold

Always remember to take them out before starting engine

Not a hammer, but I have seen the size of some of the spanners that marine engineers use. One of them, I questioned my ability to lift.

Always remember to take them out before starting engine

ROFLMAO